Before I sell this old friend, I want to make sure we have completed full disclosure so there are no surprises.
1970ies history: A TWA pilot friend bought lots of rusty Porsches from back east and drove/shipped them to Calif for restoration. Our families rebuilt dozens of them. It was common to have 3 or 4 engines sitting around. I was building a Baja and was offered the engine. I was told it is a 1957, but I never verified this. The engine primary serial numbers had been removed. I was never able to find out when or why. As I was not going to use the engine for a authentic restoration, the exact number was not important. Depending on your use, it may be important to you?
I drove the Baja for a few years before it needed the typical rebuild. (machining done by Conamac in Los Angeles). A few months after the rebuild, I needed a family car, and I let the Baja rest in the back yard in the "Someday Pile".
I built the VW Baja from 3 separate VW bugs around 1980. There were a few modifications needed to put the 356A into the Baja. If you plan to use the engine as an ORIGINAL RESTORATION these will be issues to resolve.
1 The metal skirt part(that seals the engine compartment around the exhaust) is missing, and not useful in the open baja. The metal skirt on the flywheel side may have been modified to fit the Baja?
2 The original motor had a 6 volt generator. I put on a 12 volt (I think it is a 912 generator)
3 The regulator is currently attached to the Baja. I do not remember if it is VW or Porsche.
4 The throttle connection between the VW and the 356 was modified. I think the change was done on the VW parts, but am not sure.
5 There is a bracket on the passenger-side back side of the fan housing that was bent to allow installation. Whatever it holds/held is not included.
6 The tube between the carburetors is/was missing and has a home-made replacement part.
7 The original carburetor filters where replaced non stock parts.
Current
1 Upon removal yesterday, I put a wrench on the crank and verified that it moves. It moves easy for 1/3 a revolution then gets tight. I assume this is due to compression?
2 The carbs are currently frozen. I put some WD on the joints so perhaps they will free up? Gas tank was not attached but do not know if there was gas in the carbs when I stopped using it? Could be goo or varnish now?
3 I have a starter (still attached to the Baja, that I THINK is 6 volt to match the flywheel teeth. I'm not sure? I remember very fast starts so as to avoid not burning out the starter.
4 In 1980ish, I installed aftermarket VDO gages in the baja, which I am looking to sell. These include tachometer, oil temp, oil pressure, voltage, amps, fuel level and a analog clock.
Photos taken yesterday, before removal
Still Interested?
