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Re: '61 356 Project

Posted: Wed Mar 27, 2019 6:43 pm
by David Aronson
this is what a B rod and ball for accelerator pedal looks like. Hope it helps. I just happen to be putting mine together today.

Re: '61 356 Project

Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2019 10:37 am
by Ken Tuvman
David - thanks for your reply - regarding your #29 comment - you're saying using a screwdriver will separate accelerator pedal from rod and then we can feed the rod through the rubber matting, is that correct? Picture is helpful and thanks.

Regarding #30 - I think we'll be able to use our existing fuel petcock - ran it through the ultrasonic cleaner about 10x before getting all the crud out - passages now free - the brass feed tubes rotted off - there's still something left on the main feed (longer tube) and my son will braise another brass tube - we figure once the it reaches reserve, time to get fuel - we have a new fuel sending unit on tank but have read the fuel gauges not so accurate - will probably write down odometer and figure about 150 miles per tank, depending on how car is driven.

Nice airplanes!

Re: '61 356 Project

Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2019 12:25 pm
by Mark Schumacher
Ken

I live in S. Minneapolis. I am at the tail end of re-assembling a 356A and have recently done almost all these things. Let me know if you need any help. My project is still on the lift and might serve as a good visual aid as well.

Mark

Re: '61 356 Project

Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2019 6:18 pm
by David Aronson
Yes, simply pry the cup away from the ball. Then remove the floorboard and then you can service the entire pedal assembly.

Re: '61 356 Project

Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2019 6:20 pm
by David Aronson
The design of the accelerator/manual rpm booster assembly is very complex but compact. You can tell a German engineered it. Not simple but totally functional in a small space.

Re: '61 356 Project / Transmission #43200

Posted: Sat Apr 13, 2019 5:56 pm
by Ken Tuvman
Our 356 Coupe showed us some love today - car sat for past 20 years - tank was professionally renewed, new petcock, new fuel sending unit, fuel pump got new diaphragm and gaskets, Weber carbs were inspected and also got new diaphragms, new fuel line and filter. We had some back pressure issues and all kinds of soot was shooting out the exhaust pipes - the muffler is pretty stuck from sitting and probably some contact rust so rather than pulling it off, we used a air tool to cut a notch in the bottom and cleared out a bunch of acorns and mice nests. They must have been living it up in there but not anymore! Carbs need to be balanced but she's running on her own and sounds good. Timing is good. Valves seem good - we will check clearances but she sounds good.

It snowed here in MN this week so we're going to wait until salt is off the roads to go for a test ride and we still have to bleed the new brake system.

In case Vic Skirmants reads this post, the transmission number is 43200

Re: '61 356 Project

Posted: Sat Apr 13, 2019 6:04 pm
by Ken Tuvman
Pics

Re: '61 356 Project

Posted: Sat Apr 13, 2019 6:05 pm
by Ken Tuvman
We cut a precision slot in muffler to dislodge the mouse nests!

Re: '61 356 Project

Posted: Sun Apr 14, 2019 3:17 pm
by Ken Tuvman

Re: '61 356 Project / Bleeding Brakes

Posted: Tue Apr 30, 2019 9:14 pm
by Ken Tuvman
We replaced all the brake lines and hoses and a new master cylinder - we're having a difficult time getting the pedal off the floor - with a bungee we can pull the brake lever back - it seems like we've gotten the air out of the lines other than the correct pedal action - one mechanic at the shop noted the m/c is pretty low so gravity isn't going to be our friend - tomorrow we're planning to pressure bleed from the top - just wondering what if your experience could help us.

It's drum brakes all the way around.

Thanks much,

Ken

Re: '61 356 Project

Posted: Mon Jun 17, 2019 10:18 pm
by Ken Tuvman
We were making good progress but left side sounded weaker than right and we had some difficulty tuning the carbs - valves were set correctly - went for a test drive from my son's shop and returned with a knock in the engine.

Now engine will be pulled and we'll figure out what needs to done. Good news - his father in law and 2 other mechanics are master certified technicians so we should have adequate brainpower to sort things out.

Re: '61 356 Project

Posted: Thu Jul 25, 2019 9:56 am
by Ken Tuvman
We removed engine and disassembled it and found a huge amount of debris - acorns and even a mouse skeleton! This debris was on top of the cylinders on one side of the engine, so I'm sure had we kept driving the car we'd have overheated it anyway.

We disassembled the engine. The spark plug electrode tip in #4 cylinder was pushed together where there previously had been a gap - we found a tiny piece of metal debris that could've been a small washer that interfered in that area. Aside from that, everything looks pretty good - I have a lot of positive experience with my engine builder as he's always done top shelf work on my engine projects - he says the cylinders look good - they're not scored at all and we don't need to oversize rings. The previous owner had recorded compression and said it was running very good when he owned it.

As I'm cleaning parts (while crank and heads are at the machinist getting cleaned up.

I noticed one of the pistons is different than the rest - They're all Mahle and 3/4 have a H stamp with the numbers W021 and 1/4 has an F stamp and W031 - all the pistons look identical and they're in pretty decent shape as are the cylinders (also at the machine shop).

Going to call Mahle NA and ask them about the piston discrepancy.
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Re: '61 356 Project

Posted: Thu Jul 25, 2019 1:45 pm
by Wes Bender
Thanks for reinforcing what some of us recommend when the question is asked, "Should I partially dismantle my old engine that has been in storage for (fill in the blank) years, or should I just turn it over by hand a couple of revs, check the oil and start it up?"

With the value of these engines today, especially if they are numbers matching, it makes good economic sense to remove the engine, tear it down and make sure everything is in good shape. If you take the easy way out at first, you'll eventually do it anyway....... (see Doug McDonnell's tag)

Re: '61 356 Project

Posted: Thu Jul 25, 2019 8:25 pm
by Ken Tuvman
100% Wes Bender!

Re: '61 356 Project

Posted: Mon Aug 12, 2019 6:36 pm
by Ken Tuvman
Been sandblasting engine parts at the shop & painting - takes lotsa time to go things right!

Seats back from upholsterer

Generator rebuilt & now A-OK

Clutch, Pressure Plate & Flywheel bring sent to clutch shop . . .
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