The Official 356Talk Forum

356s with a 4 cam motor that use the high throttle linkage cross bar rearward of the motor use a throttle rod that is longer than the one used on pushrod cars. This is the rod that extends from the bel crank on the transmission to the throttle linkage cross rod. The length of rod needed depends on how many 5mm spacers are used between the motor and transmission. Spacers are used to have the starter gear engage the flywheel ring gear at the correct depth.

A stock Carrera 2 used 1 x 5 mm spacer between the motor and transmission. The throttle rod is 867mm long.

If a 904 flywheel is used then 2 x 5 mm spacers are needed between the motor and transmission. The throttle rod for this application is 877mm long.

Classic Parts in Germany sells a special flywheel 4 cam flywheel that requires no spacer between motor and transmission and allows use of the stock 200 mm C/SC clutch parts. The throttle rod for this application is 855mm long. Most vendors sell only the 867mm length for a stock Carrera 2. When this version is used with 2 spacers between the motor and transmission only 3 or 4 threads of the ball socket can be engaged, and only if the drop lengths are adjusted to the max. Likewise when using the classic Parts flywheel with no spacer between the motor and transmission the ball socket cannot be screwed on far enough and some threads need to be cut off.

PR Services in the UK will make custom length throttle rods for anyone that needs one. Last one I ordered made it from Essex in the UK to Seattle, USA in 4 days. Great service!

Why does the rod length increase by about double the spacer’s thickness?

The rod length increases by more than the spacer thickness change because the rod runs at an upward angle of about 45 degrees from the transmission.

I'm much too impatient to wait for a shipment. Don't tell anybody but I've always made my own out of welding rod.