The Official 356Talk Forum

Vic, do you think it could be useful for extra capacity (i.e. a couple lines and a trombone or similar) just to get a couple extra litres in the system? I think I am going to go with a GT Werks setup anyway - but curious if something in the area could help with more oil capacity (understanding air flow is more limited).

Thanks! W

Hi Warren,

I know your car well and have driven it more than a few miles. I do not recall the car ever running hot while driving it. Have you changed the distributor timing? What is the ignition timing at idle and also at high RPM?

It is possible to test your thermostat. Same as a 911. You will have to remove it to check its function. It cannot be installed wrong since the bolt holes are slightly offset.

It may be worth the time to stick a thermometer in your oil tank and see what you read. I understand you have had the gauge and sender calibrated, but there is still a possibility it is not correct. Tank temp might be a little lower, but if you are getting a very different reading, something to consider.

That said, I do like the idea of a front cooler. It can only help. My 72 911 used to go up to 240 degrees on hot days. Temps were in the 90s last week, and we drove it to run errands. Never got past 190 with a Carrera front oil cooler and Elephant Racing lines.

Hope you are enjoying the car. It was one of my favorites and a true "outlaw" not only because of the car's modifications, but its past ownership. It's a special car.

Eric,

Oh, that black Speedster!

I would think the cooler lines could be done any way you wish. That car(well known) is very nice but not remotely close to original. I would think that using the new lightweight black cloth covered hose with black or silver fittings would be in character with the other more modern tone of the car. I wouldn't drive myself crazy going with GT correct stuff but it's not my car. No matter what you do it will be nice.

Hi
Some considerations: some of us think that we should increase the dia from 15mm to 18mm in keeping with the 911/904 sizes. the Carrera2 used oil coolers that did not require the adapter plates and the fan shroud coolers. repros are available and suitable aftermarket coolers with built in fittings may be sourced.
j

Thanks for that - and appreciate the council. I am in the process of bringing it slightly back into the fold - have had new (and more reasonably sized) wheels made by Coddington (pretty cool 16s that are for disc - but are the wide 5 barrels - so with baby moons on, cannot tell it has discs, added badging, heavily adjusted stance back to 356, brakes redone, removed and relocate brake, new top restored and done, Abarth seats redone by Tony and new front end rack tbd - rear end lipo will be done in the fall. That said, looking for it to be an outlaw for sure, but way more in the fold than it was (i.e. a more reasonable 205 in the back replacing the 255s! and more of a sleeper.

So with all that said, as I get it closer to orig - want to put good money into it in something closer to period- rather than do it twice as it moves to sleeper/more correct.

W

Warren,

You said in one post the engine has 2/3 of the cooling of a 911-not so-it's more like 3/2, with a 6 cylinder oil cooler and fan cooling 4 cylinders. In re-reading the posts I don't see any oil temp. numbers-can you share? Anyway, please pull out the oil thermostat and test it-they do fail. As Eric said you should verify the numbers on the gauge-I forget who did the conversion ( NH or PA) and it doesn't matter-as a rule both get one of two ratings-"great, wonderful, super duper" or some version of "run Forrest run"

Tim, he said 240*. The fan is moving as much air as a 911. My 67 911S has no front cooler and 160hp DIN and never ever came close to overheating, even when I was in my early 20s driving it like the Ruf Yellowbird. It must be the twin plugs! Sorry Ron, I couldn't resist. Eric and I both asked about timing. I would keep advancing the timing until there is a hint of ping around 4000 rpm when the pedal is tipped in hard, then back it off a couple of degrees and drive it. Don't do any long top speed runs but otherwise drive normally to see what the oil temp does.

So, what number are you using for max advance now?

Threads are often useless without pictures.....These were taken before Warren purchased the car.....

Thanks Eric! Here a few updated ones today - if you look at the wheels, you can see what Chris Coddington did - they are wide 5 - without the excess cut out - and 5x130 in the centre - so you can mount A hubcaps, and still use disc brakes.. they are aluminum, brushed and certachromed - so they look like silver paint, until you get close, and the baby moons are alloy - pretty nice look live - and trick! Thats my 59 below the speedster.

Here are a few more.