The Official 356Talk Forum

I finally got started on tearing down the 4-cam motor to try to get it running again - somehow holes in pistons are not conducive to smooth running....

I'm trying to see if the collective can help me identify which car my 4-cam motor might have originally been fitted to. The serial number is very low - P90009 - possibly the 9th production 4-cam motor which would leave me to believe it was originally fitted to one of the very early 550 Spyders. The cylinder head is date stamped 19-6-56 which would indicate a June 1956 build date assuming the head is original to the engine. I bought this motor in 1973 when I was looking for a 4-cam engine for my Carrera coupe - Ernie Cabrera knew a guy in Jacksonville that had some spare engines and he acquired it for me.









According to all of the books I've seen the Carrera 356 engines started at P90500 so any one that could help figure out exactly what I've got would be appreciated. Its a 1500cc Type 547/1 with the sand cast Solex carbs and camshaft driven distributors. As you can see I need two 85mm pistons for cylinders 3 and 4 - the other side is in good shape.

I would suggest that you contact Jacques LeFriant 619.247.7495 he is a very knowledgeable 4 cam person an may have the parts to help you get your car together. al zim

Al thanks for the plug i would have 4 new pistons Billy Doyle may have originals. The heads i beleive are not from a very early 547/0 but are early 1500.
FCF
jacques

Jack, I am sure that Steve Heinrichs can you tell you more about #90009. Not sure but it was likely installed in one of the first 10-15 spyders

Thanks for the responses guys - I've PM 'd Steve to see what he can tell me. I suspect that this motor is an "assemblage" of parts from at least two engines - on the good side the crank and rods seem to be in really good shape and I've got a replacement for the one burned valve in #3 cylinder. There's a corner of a fin busted off one of the heads but otherwise they seem to be good as well. The cylinders are probably usable as is but I'm going to get them relined by L&N while its apart.

Pistons 1 & 2 look pretty good - if I can get a couple of good used stock 1500 pistons I was thinking of having L&N coat all of them as well. If necessary I would put 4 new pistons in.

I'll keep everyone posted on what else I find out. - Thanks

Hi Jack
I coat cylinders as well
jacques

Jack,

Jacques recently did a set for me for one of my engine projects. He also supplied me with new forged pistions. All i can say is that i am extremely satisfied with the product and service.

Joris

Joris - that looks very pretty but the crown on those pistons looks much higher and the valve pockets deeper than the ones that are in my engine - higher compression ratio?

I'll give Jacques a call tomorrow and see what he has to say. I'm waiting to see what Steve has to tell me - we were out of the house at a neighborhood party all evening so we haven't had a chance to talk yet.

An update - after talking with Steve the engine is from 550-0022 and ran at Sebring in 1955. One of the two heads has been replaced with one that was built in 1956 but the rest of the engine appears to be original. Steve thinks that Spyder 550-0022 was a Hoffman import that was raced in the USA and at last word was in Italy. Interesting history to go along with already historical car.

The original engine for my car is 90684 and was probably removed from the car in central Florida during the mid-1960's - it would have had chromed engine shrouds and an exhaust system with four pipes exiting from the center of the muffler.

Steve is right - 0022 is alive and well in Italy. I will ask the owner what engine he is currently running in it. The car has not been restored and is in very original condition

http://type550.com/spyder/550-0022/

Motor 90009 being from 550 Spyder 0022 is a 547/0 4-cam and was a "side oil" line case design. The first small number of pre-A Carrera's were fitted with these 547/0 motors.

Jack's original 356A Carrera motor 90684 is a 547/1 4-cam with the case oil line position designed for better alignment and fitting in the 356 motor compartment.

Michael

Michael,
Any photos?

I guess this is what Michael means by the side oiler configuration

Jack.
Appreciate the photo, but is the side-oiler the AN fitting on the left, or the AN cap on the right, or the hex-head plug up there on the right?
I'm not trying to be pedantic; I'd really like to know what that means.

This is new and fascinating information to me as well - I'm guessing that it is the AN fitting on the left. Look at the picture of Joris' engine above - see the undrilled boss on the upper left corner? That is where the oil line fitting on my engine is located - it looks like his engine has the fitting exiting out the back end of the motor.