engine is getting real close to installed

looking good Will. 

DANG! THAT engine looks awesome! 

Looking great, Will! One little thing- you'll find it easier to fit the under the crank pulley tin if you first remove the pulley itself and round off the edges of the brass 90° oil return fitting. 

Looks great, Will. I think a lot of the fitment issues are caused by the heater boxes. Aircooled.net posts this warning on their oversized heater boxes:

**PLEASE NOTE** These are NOT a bolt-on fit for Vintage Speed Exhausts and some A-1 Exhausts. To make these work with non-BUGPACK exhaust, you may have to cut and re-weld the flanges to match your aftermarket exhaust flange orientation. Do not order these for a non-Bugpack exhaust system application unless you are prepared to do this work. These boxes are NON-RETURNABLE once shipped.

Will: Looks really nice!  I posted this 356 engine picture a while back, but will repost as a comparison to your engine p they look really close in comparison.

I had to do some "adjusting" on the tin behind the pulley on mine after I did the full-flow mods.  Between hammer-banging here and there and some delicate work with a Dremel and cut-off wheel, I got it to fit but that will be minor compared to the mods on our exhaust.

Anyway, here's the pic, taken of an engine on a Dyno at the Spyder Factory in New Hampshire.

OK!  Stuff it in and let's go for a drive.  Coffee's on me.

nice engine and nice early bay panel in the background!

Thanks guys, it's been a long road!

Al, the pulley is temporarily in place (for the photo). I'm actually putting a 356 A four-hole pulley on and it will go on after the pulley tin is installed.

The brass fitting from the oil pump will be gone as well as I'm using all braided/swivel lines.

Mitch, yes, the heater boxes were part of the problem, the orientation of their flanges and length of the J-pipes. The exhaust, when totalled will approach $600 not including my labor. I sure hope it sounds like yours!

Steve, it's probably a week or two out, let's get a cup anyway, call me!

I am in awe of this impressive build. To me, getting the engine to look "right" is as important is getting the body and interior right. A true "replica" orientation such that, only the snootiest, and most careful P-car connoisseur would spot the differences. 

Few dare trod the road you're on.

Respect.

Will,

What's that on the right side of the pulley in the last picture? It looks to be a rod that rises up and has some type of recess on the top?

Paint the oil can orange and get rid of the heater ports on the fan shroud, and you might be able to fool some folks.  But fool them or not, this is a great looking engine.  Nice!!!

Robert, I'm not sure what you're referring to but if it's the black vertical pipe, that's the vent from the 356 (A) oil filler assembly.

Frazoo, not all filters were orange, quite a few were painted silver.

Will Hesch posted:

Robert, I'm not sure what you're referring to but if it's the black vertical pipe, that's the vent from the 356 (A) oil filler assembly.

Frazoo, not all filters were orange, quite a few were painted silver.

That's it. Thanks.

Very, very nice Will!

I've also seen blue, yellow and green filter cans from the factory...

Yep

Stan Galat, '05 IM, 2276, Tremont, IL posted:

Very, very nice Will!

Time 6 what Stan said. Not often do you get to see such dedication and patience. Nice one, Will.