Road Trip Advice for Newbie

Same position as Porsche 356 ? Was this hard to do ?

 

Thanks, Curt...

I did that a couple of times too.  The parking brake on the rear drums is lousy.  Don't trust it to hold your car on a hill.  I switched to rear discs & that's a huge improvement in the park brake too.

I share your thoughts on comfort.  I've driven 10 hours in one day & have not been uncomfortable.

I had my speedo re calibrated,

However, now there's another choice.  Special Edition is now selling better quality VDO gauges that are of the correct diameter (uses a rubber gasket to compensate for our larger replica holes).

The speedo works off of GPS.

Contact Carey @ www.beckspeedster.com

Dsrtfox;

 

Yes, location is as a 356. The ebrake was part of the build by Vintage Speedsters.  I only know this as I exchanged a few emails with Park Place, prior to Chris buying this great car.

 

Art

Thanks Art,

   I always wondered why all the manufactures didn't adapt this. The first give away is to look between the seats. I've been tempted to get a kit 356 for a while now so I can do what I want to it "Subbie power" but if I sell my 1956 T1 A I would never be able to have another. I can't afford both...

The parking brake will work as intended if the rear brakes are adjusted properly and then you adjust the parking brake cables; iIrc it should take 3-4 clicks to hold the car solidly. Of course, I would never park on a hill and leave the car in neutral, leaving the parking brake to do the job by itself; that would be foolish...Al

My e-brake works well, but I have the tunnel-mounted version.

What I'm curious about is, do some manufactures put the parking brake handle under the dash like Porsche did ?

Yes, but I believe the 356 style costs extra!

 

When adjusted properly, shoes and cables, the drum e-brake will hold the car very well. Mine works fine and I even have the original style Spyder e-brake handle which has less travel than the stock VW handle.

Dsrtfox;,

 

I'm not sure, in this case, VS; I think this is a fairly new option.  Perhaps Beck, IM, JPS; offer this but I have not inquired.

What I do know, if you are looking to replicate what Porsche did, it is very costly!!

 

The parts, and there are many, and if you can find them, cost over $300.00.

 

If I had a 1956 T1 A,as you, I WOULD NEVER, NEVER SELL IT.  Well, one foot in the grave I would  give it to my heirs.

 Art

Intermeccanica installs the under dash e-brake, not sure if it's standard or optional.

Hey Art,

I bought my A when mere mortals could still get in. I will attempt to post some pics in this thread. I go way back with 356's. Got my first one in 73, a 65 euro SC with sun roof. Cost $2,400. than got a 56 Speedster for $2,200, sold it for $2,800 and thought I made a Killing. Had a 60 Roadster, 61 Cab and a couple more coupe's. Than I moved to Arizona from Chicago (best move I ever made) in 77. Than raised a family, worked for30 years and retired. I had 5 classic Fords, sold them all for a good stack and found the A in the back of a VW shop in 08 and gave him $30,000 for it. Back where I started...

   The first give away of a kit is the E-brake between the seats. That's why I asked my original question.

   When I cash out my son will have my Porsche up for sale before I hit room temperature :-) I'm 66 so not planning on leaving just yet.

   The problem with a real one is you can't leave it out of your site and paying Hagerty big bucks for $100,000 policy. You get to feeling like it owns you.

   Great web site you guys have here, I really enjoy visiting.

Curt in Arizona...

It's an option which Henry can do on any car.  The parking brake between the seats may be a giveaway to a non-original 356, but it's great for controlling the car as needed - parking or driving.

 

It's standard on all SAS-produced cars.  

It's a tell, but there are many others.  Some manufacturers better than others & some have upgraded:

- Shifter (Vintage Speed gets close)
- Door Tops
- Door Cards
- Interior Shape
- Carpet vs. Rubber floors
- Column
- Wipers
- Reserve lever
- Pedals (except IM)
- 8 vs 10-hole wheels
- Speedo on left

Under dash P-brake option on IM.  Have on my car.  Very nice.

Phil:

 

Got that 356 article up on the wall of your Man cave yet?

 

You'll note that (for mechanical simplicity and reliability) Stuttgart reverted back to the pull-up lever between the seats.

I like having my E brake between the seats....it's great for handbrake turns and setting up a drift.

Yup. Yes Sir... I know when I'm coming into a corner at 130mph the first thing I reach for is that E brake. Its an everyday part of my driving routine.

 

 

 

 

Ron, the only drifting, I'll be doing is on this thread.

Whups - did I put a 1 in front of that 30?

I love this web site.  Some of us care how close our cars look to the real thing and some of us could care less.  I'm in the care less category, because it's not and it's never gonna be.  

Tom;

 

And all that is before you open the engine lid!

 

Art

Thanks for all your reply's guys...

I thought about drifting once, I also thought about wearing a speedo but at 74 and 30 pounds over weight, I decided against it.

 

It just didn't seem right.

 

Perhaps it was the wrong application.

 

I was afraid that people would laugh at me.

 

Perhaps I have over thought it and should just go ahead and do it.  

Bart you sound as strange as myself. I applaud you.

^^^What Troy said^^^No matter how much you make it look like an original, it will never be (and all the P snobs will tell you that it doesn't have a vin so they will never accept it), so why not have some fun with it?

 

Bart- Go for it!

Just to be clear.  I'm fine with making them as close as possible and I enjoy seeing the work.  It's just not something I do.

Well, I had Henry make mine as close to an Intermeccanica as he could, and he did. 

 

Not too many P snobs around here, but I was worried about IM owners.

My point is that, although I wanted mine to look as original as possible, the hand brake is one of several tells that I'm not willing to pay to change.  Like MUSBJIM says, 31 flavors...

My tweaks have leaned towards function over form (e.g.  Hydraulic clutch, improved heat, custom side curtains,  CSP shifter.....)

The park brake lever isn't worth fooling with IMHO.

Hey, Ron, if you have enough power, hit the service brake, pitch the car with the wheel, and floor it. Believe me, the rear wheels WILL break loose....

 

Who needs an e-brake, except to park?

"you get to feeling like it owns you."

 

mm hmm. 

That goes for TD's too huh...

Thinking it's more related to the expense, worry and limitations (cuz: "investment") of owning a real, valuable, classic. I know it totally turns some guys' cranks. But I am much happier to let them own them, as long as I get to see them once a year, then to lust after that kind of headache. 

 

My preferred headache is a little different.

 

I'd much rather have a toy that costs like a toy and that I can co crazy fixing and modifying and, mainly, driving.

 

My goal is to have the most authentic-looking fake MG TD in the nation, even though my engine is at the wrong end.

 

Also: reliability, safe handling and milage and good highway pickup.

 

So I have plenty to do. 

 

To each his own!