The Official 356Talk Forum

Early engines had a rear most engine sheet metal piece with a spot welded shut cover over a crank start hole. At some point this part was changed to eliminate the hole and the cover. I believe this change occurred approximately 1959 or 1960. Can anyone with an original '59 or '60 shed any light on when the part was changed by saying which part their car came with and their engine s/n?
Thanks.

There is one on mine built 7/59.

The starting crank was eliminated on Type 2 VWs on 29 August 1958, so existing stocks of Type 2 breastplates with the hole (subsequently modified by Porsche) would dry up shortly afterward.

John - Cover over a crank start hole? Not on my 59.

John,
Your Chassis number would help to give this discussion a Data Point
(On the assumption that your breast Plate is known to be original to the car)

John, I see you revised your post, are you saying now that your car has the breastplate with the starting hole cover?
Thanks Jan for the input on when the crank hole was eliminated by VW, so I would expect the change would have occurred at Porsche some time in '59 as the vendor to Porsche used up his supplies of the of the early part to modify.

Thought I would add a couple photos....with and without the cover to clarify what I am asking about. Would appreciate it if anyone with a '59 who has original engine or original engine sheetmetal could take a quick look in there engine compartment and let me know if they have the cover or not,
Thanks

BTW, the part number did not change although the drawing in the 356B parts book does not show the access cover any longer.

Yeah now that I understand your question my 7/59 has one like the pic. Does anyone have a diagram of the device that they used to crank over the engine?

Alan
Probably no surprise to you, but a reference point nonetheless, my 3rd March 1960 T5B does not have the cover. Same as the first of your two photos therefore. Engine number P601801.
Phil