Mating Engine to Bellhousing '58 356A

[Jim Alton]

Lordy.

I finally have the engine bolted to the bellhousing. I made one last try with care to have the engine vertical and it suddenly went to maybe 5 mm out so I was able to cinch it in with the bolts. I don't think that was the first time I tried to keep the engine precisely vertical.

This time I couldn't get a socket wrench on the top bolt on the starter side. Maybe it's the new 17 mm socket or maybe because I put a washer on it. Somehow a combination wrench didn't fall off that one long enough for me to tighten it from the engine side. I wonder if I'll ever be able to remove that one.

I really wish I had Ab Tiedmann's magic bolts with the little rods in the bolt heads.

There's still a lot of stuff to connect and some other work while the 356A is preventing jackstand theft.

[Mike Wilson]

Congrats, Jim! Yes, Ab's bolts are great! Rather than a socket, I use a ratcheting wrench on the top nuts.

Mike

[David Jones]

Get a hose clamp that will just fit on the head of the bolt and tighten it down well. This will prevent the bolt from turning quite well. Use some silly putty or similar to hold the bolt in place and always clean the threads before installation so you can spin the nut on easily.

[John Lindstrom]

Congratulations with that install Jim!

[Dan Epperly]

Lordy.

I finally have the engine bolted to the bellhousing. I made one last try with care to have the engine vertical and it suddenly went to maybe 5 mm out so I was able to cinch it in with the bolts. I don't think that was the first time I tried to keep the engine precisely vertical.

This time I couldn't get a socket wrench on the top bolt on the starter side. Maybe it's the new 17 mm socket or maybe because I put a washer on it. Somehow a combination wrench didn't fall off that one long enough for me to tighten it from the engine side. I wonder if I'll ever be able to remove that one.

I really wish I had Ab Tiedmann's magic bolts with the little rods in the bolt heads.

There's still a lot of stuff to connect and some other work while the 356A is preventing jackstand theft.

I just weld a nail onto the top of the upper bolts. They are handy for pushing the bolts in as well. Congrats on getting it in. Like everyone else I also struggle with it but when you finally find that sweet spot and the thing glides in its like hitting the lotto.

[Jim Alton]

This is far from my first time getting an engine out of or back into a Porsche. It was by far the worst.

I'm sure that if I had welding gear, duplicating Ab Tiedmann's bolts would be easy but buying a set of his bolts will be easier than learning to weld.

I did use some Silly Putty. I hadn't touched that stuff in decades so I was gratified that it was just 50¢ at Walmart--that's probably near what my parents paid when my 356A was new (but belonged to someone else). Sadly, Silly Putty no longer comes in little plastic eggs.

[Mike Wilson]

Body dum-dum works as well. Another option is to drill a hole in the bolt heads and insert a roll pin or something similar.

Mike

[Martin Benade]

A turn or two of masking tape on the shank below the head works fine too. Along with holding it from turning it helps keep the bolt from backing out of the hole while starting a nut. As others have said, have the threads clean and lubricated.

[Jim Alton]

Well, I just finished re-inserting the engine: the last part was the heater cables.

Now it's time for a little chassis lubrication and brake maintenance. I may need shoes; I could be at the limit of the brake adjusters.

[Jim Alton]

Not to mention figuring out what happened to the missing wrenches. The 17mm socket that ran away was round so it could roll and I also used it on the engine mounts. The 16mm stubby combination wrench has no excuse.

[Martin Benade]

16mm wrench? About all I ever use mine for is if I need a 5/8" wrench and can't find one, which is almost never.

[Jim Alton]

16mm wrench? About all I ever use mine for is if I need a 5/8" wrench and can't find one, which is almost never.

It was part of a set.

[gregg hake]

I ruined 4 evenings trying to install my engine only to discover this: The mounting rubber on the bell housing has a single nut and bolt per side that must be put on with the bolt head on the inside of the bell housing.
That looks pretty obvious now...but I certainly missed it and "practiced" installing my engine (and failing) about 10 times over the past 4 nights. The jpg shows a subtle difference of 1/8 of an inch (per side) can keep that engine from going all the way in... and really mess with my enthusiasm for this project !

[Jim Clement]

I "learned" Greggs problem / issue years ago.. wont forget that one..

[Vic Skirmants]

Gregg; this has been discussed OFTEN.