'59 A in the Swiss Alps

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George Krompecher
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Posts: 217
Joined: Thu Jul 26, 2012 2:27 am
Location: Switzerland

'59 A in the Swiss Alps

#1 Post by George Krompecher »

Now that I finally have my own 356, I am working on making it safer, more original, more practical. I know it will never win concours events and that is not my aim. To me the hours in the garage are therapy.
Since the motor won't be in until winter, there are many other things to attend to.
I have the dual master setup to put in, to be done later.
I have repaired (soldered/shrink wrapped) the wiring to the license plate/reverse light cluster, and repainted the inner structure.
I have made and fitted the missing clips under the seat rails that hold the front carpet in place.
I have swapped the front grilles for clear lenses in the headlights, , cleaned the silvered reflectors with distillated water and added quite a few missing springs. I also turned on the lathe the spacers that go under the tab on the chrome ring.
I have replaced the plastic caps by the door mirror bolts with silver painted originals.
I have transferred the washer bag in the correct side of the trunk and rerouted the tubing.
I have removed the black paint from the fuel filler cap and fuel level sender, replaced the cork seal under the sender.
I have bought a 12V battery, connected it and no untoward smoke appeared. Blinkers and horn not working (?).
I have replaced the wiper shaft seals by the windshield, originals were stone hard and cracked. I removed the stupid overspray from the nuts at the same time.
I have switched the sockets in the rear lights so that I have red rear and stop lights and orange blinkers. It involved removing both bulb sockets by bending the folded lips, then redrilling the outer side orifice from 19 to 22 mm, making a steel plate drilled to 19mm to place the single filament bulb socket on the outside part of the light, and bolting/epoxy-ing it to place, then re-folding the socket lips in place.
I have replaced the rear lid grille screws with slotted head ones, much easier to tighten.
I have fitted a glove box lock with key.
I have cleaned up the indicator ring on the fuel petcock (painted matte black), now I can see the res. auf and zu scripts. I also replace the 1 weak cotter pin with 2 good ones.

And, I have a question: Is my horn ring original or a modded full circle ring? The edges look suspisciously like they were sanded.
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Doug McDonnell
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Location: Augusta,Michigan

Re: '59 A in the Swiss Alps

#2 Post by Doug McDonnell »

I don't know A's but found this about the 1/2 moon horn rings: Re: horn ring
#3 Post by Ned Gorski » Wed Oct 19, 2016 12:33 pm

The back is a easiest way to tell the difference between a cut down and a true half ring .. a real half moon has a reinforcement rib on center running from spoke to spoke same thickness .. the cut down ring the reinforcement rib gets wide at the corners .... not sure what the repro horn rings look like .. from i i hear they are an exact replacement

Regards Ned
1965 356C 2000 BMW 740i Sport 1967 Honda CL77 There is never enough time to do it right, but always enough time to do it over.

George Krompecher
356 Fan
Posts: 217
Joined: Thu Jul 26, 2012 2:27 am
Location: Switzerland

Re: '59 A in the Swiss Alps

#3 Post by George Krompecher »

OK, I'll look for the rib. Thanks.

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Jules Dielen
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Re: '59 A in the Swiss Alps

#4 Post by Jules Dielen »

Hi Georges,

Your horn ring is a cut full ring. Your car came with a full ring. I have one available if you need one.

Here is a pic of an original 'half' ring from a pre A car
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Jules

Water pumps are for windshield washers only.

George Krompecher
356 Fan
Posts: 217
Joined: Thu Jul 26, 2012 2:27 am
Location: Switzerland

Re: '59 A in the Swiss Alps

#5 Post by George Krompecher »

Hi Jules,
Thanks for the precision. I thought as much, never having seen one like mine in photographic archives.
I kind of like it as is. When I manage to remove it (darn horn button removal....), I will try and reshape it like an original half circle if it's at all possible. I am directing funds towards more pressing issues now, like braking and lighting.

George Krompecher
356 Fan
Posts: 217
Joined: Thu Jul 26, 2012 2:27 am
Location: Switzerland

Re: '59 A in the Swiss Alps

#6 Post by George Krompecher »

Today was brakes day. The car not having been driven for at least 5 years, and having single circuit brakes were motivation enough.
I bought a dual circuit master cylinder kit, and new flexible lines. I ended up re-making the left front rigid line, as the one in the kit was too long for my liking.
I took advantage of having the car on the lift to remove the US rear lights and the gasket-less rear reflectors, to correc these details.
I noticed the 5.5J rims in the front are touching the suspension arms, another incentive to go back to painted 4.5'' wheels with radial tires (non whitewall).
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George Krompecher
356 Fan
Posts: 217
Joined: Thu Jul 26, 2012 2:27 am
Location: Switzerland

Re: '59 A in the Swiss Alps

#7 Post by George Krompecher »

Today I finished the master cylinder conversion, and while changing the flexible lines in the rear, I noticed the pivot for the throttle was seriously worn. I turned a new piece on the lathe and welded it in place, and presto, ready for another 60 years.
Does someone know what the screws on the chrome door frames are for?
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George Krompecher
356 Fan
Posts: 217
Joined: Thu Jul 26, 2012 2:27 am
Location: Switzerland

Re: '59 A in the Swiss Alps

#8 Post by George Krompecher »

I would like to repeat my curiosity: Does anyone know what these screws in the door frames are for?

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Doug McDonnell
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Re: '59 A in the Swiss Alps

#9 Post by Doug McDonnell »

Unless it is a home made frame that requires them for some reason? Not a clue why they are there.
1965 356C 2000 BMW 740i Sport 1967 Honda CL77 There is never enough time to do it right, but always enough time to do it over.

George Krompecher
356 Fan
Posts: 217
Joined: Thu Jul 26, 2012 2:27 am
Location: Switzerland

Re: '59 A in the Swiss Alps

#10 Post by George Krompecher »

Weird, It is very well done, symmetrical and with quality hardware, which is why I thought it was original. Maybe for wind chaneling, with transparent panels attached.

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Jules Dielen
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Re: '59 A in the Swiss Alps

#11 Post by Jules Dielen »

It is coming along nicely George! The screws are likely for some rear 1/8 plexiglass wind deflectors that were available for a while. Not sure these were a factory accessory in addition to the wind wings or if the rears were only an aftermarket accessory. They started about half way of the door and looked like a triangle. Then at the rearmost door post they were about half way down. Does the other door have the same?
Jules

Water pumps are for windshield washers only.

George Krompecher
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Posts: 217
Joined: Thu Jul 26, 2012 2:27 am
Location: Switzerland

Re: '59 A in the Swiss Alps

#12 Post by George Krompecher »

Good to know Jules. I'l pay a visit to the local glass shop.
Any pictures of these in your files?

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Jules Dielen
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Re: '59 A in the Swiss Alps

#13 Post by Jules Dielen »

Hi George,

This is all i have, sorry. A little information is better than nothing at all right? These were made of plexiglass.

In this pic you can see the mounting holes in the plexiglass, they mount on the inside of the frame.
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Jules

Water pumps are for windshield washers only.

George Krompecher
356 Fan
Posts: 217
Joined: Thu Jul 26, 2012 2:27 am
Location: Switzerland

Re: '59 A in the Swiss Alps

#14 Post by George Krompecher »

Thanks Jules,
The shape is triangular with a concave long edge? I can't tell for sure on the screen shot.
I have something to make a template of now, and have them cut by the local glass shop.

Edit: In our own garden! see parts catalog page on post #1 here:
viewtopic.php?t=49167
On the german parts catalog: Scheibe Entlüftung

George Krompecher
356 Fan
Posts: 217
Joined: Thu Jul 26, 2012 2:27 am
Location: Switzerland

Re: '59 A in the Swiss Alps

#15 Post by George Krompecher »

Fond them on Der White's excellent pages:
https://derwhites356literature.com/356- ... sLATE.html
Item #7

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