1957 T2 1600 Engine Colour Information

[michael northwood]

Hi all,
I have a 1600 cc 60 HP engine # 67716 that is the correct engine for my 1957 (build date ) 1958 Speedster.

I am looking for advice on the correct colour for the following:
1. Coil ( blue or black ?)
2 Oil canister ( silver or orange )

I am unable to obtain confirmation from either Dr.B. Johnson or Laurence Meredith restores guide books.
Any assistance will be much appreciated

Regards,
Michael.

[Barry Brisco]

I am looking for advice on the correct colour for the following:
1. Coil ( blue or black ?)

I think black.

2 Oil canister ( silver or orange )

Could be either if it's a Framm filter canister, your choice. See http://porsche356registry.org/resources ... ecals.html

Best regards,

[michael northwood]

Hi Barry,
Thanks for the information on the oil canister and coil colours.
I meant to ask for advise on the colour of the distributor cap (brown or black ? )
Many thanks,
Michael.

[Mike Smith]

Don`t even consider Lawrence Merideth as a source of authenticity - It`s just a coffee table book (and I have cars in it)

Cap should be Dark Brown

[Barry Brisco]

I meant to ask for advise on the colour of the distributor cap (brown or black ? )

Michael, the cap should be dark brown. See http://www.nlaparts.com/store/distribut ... -1677.html

Cheers,

[Bruce Baker]

The workshop manuals are usually a good place to start with this type of information, but the A book uses earlier pictures than apply to a T-1 in regard to many details that may have been different during the evolution of pre-A through pre-B

It is safe to say that the coils were black (a larger diameter than available now and the decal is 'upside-down') and the choice of oil canister was shown by the decals in the B&W illustrations. It appears that it was usually a Fram, orange body with a black top. A silver Fram would be a decorator's option. 'Pumpkin Orange' would be an accepted T-1 filter color IF you have a Fram canister to paint!

First search the filter discussions that appear regularly on these forums and determine the type of filter, as the physical detail differences can source the supplier/manufacturer. (Porsche used a 'vendor d'jour' approach for those, or so it seemed.)

The pictures of a very early B show a silver/silver canister with an H-filter decal, but I do not remember those on a T-1 engine.

For a cap that is not in need of more than cosmetics, I have found that a cleaning and masking before a spray with Rustoleum "Painter's Touch" "Ultra cover" Kona brown will fool the casual observer. Mist over with a dulling spray while wet and....voila! It's what I use on the 050 caps after the body gets blackened for that quick-glance "yeah, it's original..." effect.

Otherwise, as noted, use a new Bremi for a cast iron distributor's cap. (usual vendors)

[Mike Smith]

Just to add to Bruce`s comments

Early Coils were 60 mm diameter - todays coils ar 55 mm Diameter

The early coil clamp was also a much more substantial affair - late ones look like an afterthought

[michael northwood]

Thanks Mike,
Would you have a spare distributor cap I could buy from you?
Regards,
Michael.

[Sterling Vaden]

Here is a blue coil original to a '58 engine. The Mann filter housing painted a candy blue, is not the original color.

There are many things that are NOT original to this engine, such as the case. I clear zinc plated everything way back when and had it in a VW bug for a while. That is why the regulator is attached to the generator. But somehow the coil survived all that time without being "refurbished".

[Barry Brisco]

Sterling, that is interesting to see a blue coil on a '58 356 engine. So you are the first owner of that engine after it left the factory, and it has always been in your possession?

Are there any markings on the coil?

Best regards,

Barry

[Jim Breazeale]

Sterling

You are going to have to provide some pretty solid evidence that that coil came on that engine. Good luck doing that.
I don't think spade terminals had been invented yet when that engine was made!
I don't want to start a pissing contest but that coil did not come on that engine originally, neither did the crank pulley.

Regards

[Vic Skirmants]

Nor the aluminum fuel pump mount.

[Sterling Vaden]

I added the spade terminals. The pulley is indeed later. What is wrong with the fuel pump mount? And indeed, I got the whole car in a pile of parts in '73... so what happened before that is a mystery.

SV

[Barry Brisco]

I added the spade terminals. The pulley is indeed later. What is wrong with the fuel pump mount? And indeed, I got the whole car in a pile of parts in '73... so what happened before that is a mystery.

Sterling, thanks for your response. So you got the engine as part of a pile of parts, 15 years after the engine was manufactured. Regarding your earlier statement that "Here is a blue coil original to a '58 engine": what evidence is that based on?

Best regards,

Barry

[Jim Breazeale]

I added the spade terminals. The pulley is indeed later. What is wrong with the fuel pump mount? And indeed, I got the whole car in a pile of parts in '73... so what happened before that is a mystery.

SV

The fuel pump mount would have been made out of bakelite plastic for your engine. Not many of them have survived. Yours has been replaced with an aluminum one.

Regards