356 BASIC DOCUMENTATION

[Bill Romano]

The basic documentation for any 356 includes at least:
1. Owner's Manual
2. Workshop Manual
3. Catalog of Spare Parts

Charlie White and I offer a variety of copies of the original materials and Porsche offers the PET catalog that covers I think every Porsche ever made. Hopefully this thread will be useful.

You can contact me by email to wsr6@mchsi.com and I'll send you a PDF of my offerings.

Charlie is the documentation expert and has a great web site that you can access via the Registry's vendor list.

Thought I would start by providing a comparison between PET and original catalog illustrations. I guess either works but the original illustrations are truly works of art in comparison.

[Mike Smith]

I could not agree more - It never ceases to amaze me how many owners do no have or do not look in their Drivers Handbook

[Jim Neil]

I would add Joe Leoni's electrical books as a "must have" for any 356 owner; I have found mine invaluable over and over again!

http://www.356electrics.com/index.htm

[Charlie White]

Here's my website which has an extensive comparison of PET part diagrams and original factory parts book diagrams. There is no comparison. Bill Romano is correct, the PET diagrams are inferior to the origianl factory parts book diagrams!

http://members.aol.com/_ht_a/derwhite/P ... rison.html

CW

[Tom Farnam]

Porsche 356 Reference Library List
prepared by Tom Farnam, as of March 31, 2008

This is a list of books a 356 owner may find useful and interesting. This is a synopsis of some email messages of mine to folks looking to build their reference libraries. It's one man's opinion (based on 37 years of 356 ownership and maintenance), and should at least give you a starting point. Lots more information is available on the Registry web site as needed. Of course we can look forward to additions, corrections and further suggestions, thanks to the Talk List/Forum

Whether your preference is hard copy you can carry along or electronic resources, both are useful at different times. The total cost of all this will not be very high, and will seem dirt cheap the first time you find the answer you need. The first place to turn is the incredible on-line resources of the 356 Registry web site, especially the Tech Section. www.356registry.org/Tech/index.html The Tech Section is growing regularly, thanks in no small measure to the efforts of Barry Lee Brisco and all the members who provide new material. Put that together with a few other URLs and you have far more information than was available to dealership mechanics "back in the day".

There are 356 parts manuals available on-line from the official Porsche factory web site at https://techinfo.porsche.com/techinfo/V ... nuineParts then: Country: US; Workshop information; Genuine Parts - Catalog; Select Vehicle; download. Or you can use the Parts Manuals found on the Registry Tech site. These are a bit more cumbersome to use than a photocopy or CD version (see below) but adequate.

Perhaps equally useful to many 356 owners is Ed Rutherford's animated site, which also includes an electronic copy of the B shop manual. Take a look at http://www.cyberwerkstatt.com/

You will also want at least the following URLs in your system, and probably will add more as you spend more time with your car. All of them advertise in the 356 Registry magazine and are listed on the Registry web site:
NLA (Brad Ripley's company) http://www.nlaparts.com/store/
Eleven Parts AG http://www.elevenparts.com (Zurich-based, works closely with NLA)
Stoddard on-line parts catalogue http://www.stoddard.com/parts.shtm
Al Zim's "Zim's Autotechnik" http://www.allzim.com/
356 Registry Web site vendor list - www.356registry.org/Links/vendorlink.html

Original Engine? A useful site is Eleven Parts AG in Switzerland, http://www.elevenparts.com/ which will give you the engine number which was originally sold with your chassis. All you have to do is click on the "Karroserie" badge, fill in the data and they will reply with an email The Registry tech section includes a listing of vehicles which is searchable by engine or chassis number, but Eleven has access to the original Porsche factory Kardex data, which is no longer available in the USA. (Porsche Cars North America, usually referred to on 356 Talk as PCNA, refuses to release the original Kardex, instead claiming privacy issues and selling a "translation" known as the Certificate of Authenticity, expensive but often inaccurate.

An alternative with a slight difference is Eric Cherneff’s site http://www.356a.com/ which is based on factory data as well as reported data from owners. This allows you to see what changes have been made and reported to Eric. Take a look at his site, if your car is not there share the data with him.

BOOKS
Porsche Driver's Manual for your model (aka “Owner’s Manual”)
First place to look, fits in the car easily, has an amazing amount of details if you take the time to read it. These are available as reprints or copies, ask on 356 Talk if you can't find one.
Elfrink's 356 Technical Manual (available at Block's Books "BLOCKLAB@aol.com")
Fits in the glove compartment, retreat to this on the road or until you get a Workshop Manual
356 Workshop Manual (photocopy for your model from Charlie White "derwhite@aol.com")
There just is no substitute for this if you are going to be doing your own maintenance. Learn to use it. If you have a computer in your workshop, B/C model Workshop Manuals are available from Charlie on CD, and from Bill Romano in combination with Parts Manuals.
356 Parts Manual
Makes it possible for you to find the parts you need, and the exploded views are often helpful for assembly (or disassembly). At the very least get the PET manual from Porsche, personally I find it useful to have both hard copy in the shop and Bill Romano’s DVD in the office.
356 Electrics book for your model (from Joe Leoni "Joe@356electrics.com" or Block's Books)
Invaluable if you are trying to do any electrical work, with color wiring diagrams, trouble-shooting examples, etc.
DO go to Joe's web site www.356electrics.com , and if you are going to drive your 356 at night, order and install his HLR (head light relay) to greatly improve headlight function, especially with a set of H-4 halogens (up to the level of modern autos). It's also worth buying and installing his SSR (switch saver relay) to improve starter function and reduce VERY high starting current flow through the ignition switch (they are getting $carce).
CD of B/C Workshop and Parts Manual (CD or DVD from Bill Romano "wsr6@mchsi.com")
This is a superb "back up" or "in your office" version of these manuals. Unless your workshop and "necessary room" are equipped for viewing of these electronics they may not replace the printed version, but are a great supplement for the office or other location. Bill has added a series of goodies to this, think the latest is Factory photos.

DVD of 1st 20 Volumes of 356 Registry Magazine, from Diane Morrill at the 356 Registry Goodie Store 356goodiestore@sbcglobal.net, which will give you over two decades (1974-1997) of technical and non-technical reading. The Registry Trustees gave all members a “dividend” early in 2008 in the form of a DVD of Volumes 21-30 of 356 Registry Magazine. Think it’s available from the Goodie Store for newbies, check with Diane.

Non-technical Books
There is a substantial amount of literature available, far too many for listing here, especially since there is a good (if slightly out of date) list at http://www.356registry.org/tech/books.html The Registry list includes several sources for those books as well.

Frequently Asked Questions

12 volt conversion? Why? 6 volt system works very well if you clean and maintain it. Some cleaning and maintenance suggestions can be found in the Registry Tech section, including: http://www.356registry.org/Tech/electricalcleaning.html

Dual braking? If you need to do major brake work, change to dual master, otherwise just replace all the rubber lines in the brake system unless you KNOW they were done recently, they have about a 10 year safe life span.

DRIVE IT! The more the better! The AAA Gold Card Plus gets 100 mile towing, that and a cell phone are MUST have, add tools as you are comfortable using them.
Many cell phone chargers will work just fine on 6 volt systems - try yours.

Insurance - see the Registry web site, my choice is Hagerty due to their stated value coverage.

Oil - see the web site, consider adding a full flow oil filter from Precision Matters (Ron LaDow's outfit) http://www.precisionmatters.biz/ or one of our other vendors.

Winter care/storage Get a "Battery Saver" from Mick Michaelsen (Chatham Motorsports, ad in Registry or "ChathamMS@aol.com". It's much better than a simple trickle charger, well worth the few dollars involved.

Hard to start the engine after car sits for a week or more? Probably just need to fill the float bowls before cranking the engine.

My preference is a simple and inexpensive approach http://www.356registry.org/Tech/fuel-pr ... ution.html which even gives you a "forced" chance to check the engine before starting it.

Some prefer an electric fuel pump hidden under the passenger side toe boards, for details of that approach see http://www.356registry.org/Tech/electri ... ll_t6.html

[Nick Daffern]

Thanks for a truly comprehensive and informative article.

[Tom Farnam]

Thanks Nick - as noted that one has been simmering and being stirred a bit for several years, sort of like a good slow-cooked stew.

Now, what book do you most often reach for when doing some maintenance project on your 356? (For me it's a photocopy of the Workshop Manual which I made in about 1973. Still have the original, just use the copy for greasy fingers.)

What book did you start with? (My first was the Driver's Manual which came with the car, then I got a copy of Elfrink's book.)

Which book is your favorite Porsche history? (Think mine is still the original one-volume Ludvigsen "Excellence was Expected". Read it cover to cover at least twice.)

So many pages, so much fun.

KTF

Tom

[Nick Daffern]

Tom,
I'm a newbie to 356's, but I start with my owner's manual. I then go to the shop and parts manuals. Elfrink is a good book, too. The List is a great help, as are individuals like Bob Campbell, Al Zim, Brad Ripley, (and others). I've printed up your list to keep as a reference.
I also like "Excellence Was Expected; and I think Steve Heinrich's "Type 540" is invaluable for Speedster specific information.
We're very lucky to have so many resources available to help us maintain these wonderful little cars. The Registry, and all the specialty vendors, do a much better job supporting the 356 than the Porsche factory. I only hope this continues well into the future. I'm selfish and want to enjoy my car into my senility.

KTF,
Nick