356B Interior got thrashed

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John Avery Howard
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356B Interior got thrashed

#1 Post by John Avery Howard »

Hello, I am starting the reconditioning of my Father's 356B S90. The engine, Brakes and Fuel System were brought back by John of John's Mobile Engine Repair. A great guy to entrust your car to.

The Exterior is faded and has light scratches and wear but the inside is my concern. The window gaskets failed and the interior had daily moisture cycles for apparently years. Most of the interior chrome got damaged. Unplated bolts are rusted. Turn signals aren't signaling. Blaupunkt looks tired enough I am not going to apply power to it.

My questions to the assembled experts:
1) Many of the nice trim parts appear available on Stoddard, NLA Sierra etc. Should I buy and replace or should I save the originals with cleaning and replating? Do I dramatically lower the value of the car to buy the new parts? Time aside, is plating actually more expensive?
2) Who have people used to get the radio rebuilt?
3) I live in the SF Bay Area. Is there a great specialist on these interiors that I can work with?


So many questions...

Best Regards
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John
1962 356BT6 S90

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Mike Wilson
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Re: 356B Interior got thrashed

#2 Post by Mike Wilson »

John:

If you get the gauges checked and restored, new chrome bezels will be installed. Palo Alto or Hollywood Speedometer can do them.

The bezels for the ignition switch, wiper and headlights can be rechromed as well as the faceplate for the defroster/heater vent (but it should be disassembled for the best result). The grab bar can be rechromed but decent repros are available, same goes for window cranks, interior door handles and luggage strap loops and screws. You just have to weigh the cost of chroming these items vs. replacing them. If you have original speaker grills, I'd have them rechromed.

I'm not familiar with upholstery shops in your area. I'm sure others in your neck of the woods will weigh in with suggestions and recommendations.

If you scroll down in the threads, there is one on radio repair shops. I've used a couple of them but will be trying another for comparison. However, your radio doesn't appear correct for the year of your car. I believe it should be the T series Blaupunkt Frankfurt but you can double check Charlie White's site for the correct radio for the year of your car.

All the best,

Mike
Mike Wilson
Lomita, CA
'63 B coupe

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John Avery Howard
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Re: 356B Interior got thrashed

#3 Post by John Avery Howard »

Great info. Thanks Mike.

I'll check on the Radio. Pretty sure my dad got it when he bought the car new in Boston, But there could be a story. Luckily, he is around so I can ask him.

I will need to research chrome shops and see what level of imperfection they can handle. Sadly the seats took the water poorly too. I will be making good friends with somebody in the re-chroming business.
John
1962 356BT6 S90

Edwin Ek
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Re: 356B Interior got thrashed

#4 Post by Edwin Ek »

It's worthwhile to try and recondition original parts when possible. You will be living with your decision about the interior work for a long time- as long as you own the car. Be willing to travel. Two well-known shops in So. Cal. are Autos International and Autobahn Interiors. Roy Nielsen in Cambria is famous too- he started Autos International.
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Phil Planck
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Re: 356B Interior got thrashed

#5 Post by Phil Planck »

Go to a GM parts counter and buy a can of GM chrome polish. Hopefully they still carry it. Try it on the vent face plate first. May not be perfect, but nice patina.
Phil Planck

Dan Epperly
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Re: 356B Interior got thrashed

#6 Post by Dan Epperly »

I chose to renew my interior chrome it's not perfect but is original. If you aren't going for concour car and have a worn exterior it makes for a better fit.

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Jules Dielen
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Re: 356B Interior got thrashed

#7 Post by Jules Dielen »

Get a box of brillo pads for the chrome parts, cant hurt to try and save some of the original parts. Replacing or replating is a lot more expensive. Watch out with the clock, its a plastic glass that scratches easily. The other gauges are glass, brillo does not damage it
Jules

Water pumps are for windshield washers only.

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John Brooks
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Re: 356B Interior got thrashed

#8 Post by John Brooks »

It's not all that hard to clean up. But you might just take it to a good auto detailed, throw a couple hundred bucks at a professional auto detailer and let them bring it back first and then just maintain it. From the photos yours is not all that bad. But a good detailer has all the special chemicals and polishes to get it right the first time.

Just check with the local club, or online for recommendations. It may take a couple days and it will sound expensive at first, but it's a good investment
John Brooks

62 Roadster
66 912
84 Cab
getting pushed around in porsches since 1965

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Jim Alton
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Re: 356B Interior got thrashed

#9 Post by Jim Alton »

John Avery Howard wrote:Great info. Thanks Mike.

I'll check on the Radio. Pretty sure my dad got it when he bought the car new in Boston, But there could be a story. Luckily, he is around so I can ask him.

I will need to research chrome shops and see what level of imperfection they can handle. Sadly the seats took the water poorly too. I will be making good friends with somebody in the re-chroming business.
Those look like the radio knobs in Janis Joplin's 356C/SC
from: https://barnfinds.com/janis-joplins-porsche-356-art-car/
from: https://barnfinds.com/janis-joplins-porsche-356-art-car/
It's possible it was dealer-installed but not sourced through the Porsche parts pipeline.
 
Jim Alton
Los Angeles County, CA
1958 Porsche 356A Cabriolet
1965 Porsche 911 Coupé
1966 Volkswagen Type 2
2003 Porsche 986 Boxster

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