356 T6 Roadster

[Tatzentier]

Is it true the 356 B Roadster is prone to developing cracks in the windscreen? Is there anything that can be done to it?
And is a T6 Roadster worth more than a T5? They look ever better in my opinion.
Ah, and another question: Are there any high quality 5,5 chrome wheels for a B available?
Thank you!

[echocanyons]

I am not 100% sure but I believe that the T6 roadsters are the rare twin-grille roadsters and only 250 were built.
Sorry cant help you with the windscreen problem
As for the wheels you can use the early 911,912 steel wheels they will fit no problem, I think the spare even fits. to my knowledge Porsche never produced a 5.5X15 wheel for the 356.

hope this helps
Kelly


[This message has been edited by echocanyons (edited 08-15-2001).]

[Tatzentier]

Yes, thank you Kelly.
But I think 911 or 912 spec. wheels won't fit, because the car is a 356B with drum brakes. I know Porsche never made 5,5x15 wheels for the B. But I think you can now buy them, because someone makes them. However, there is one design, which is supposed to be poor quality. My question: Is there a good quality 5,5x15 wheel somewhere? Is anybody making them?

[echocanyons]

Sorry,

I was thinking of disk brake wheels.

I believe that there are some aftermarket manufacturers in ?Brazil? that make these for the DRUM brake wheel pattern.

But I can't direct you to a supplier.

Wayne??? can you help?

Kelly

[Roland Kunz]

Hello

The factory had 5,5 for the central lock in aluminium and for the big 5 lug in steel.

Made for the race cars they where used on the Carreras in competition too.

But I don´t think they came as a stock option.

Most aftermarked wheels are good enough to have the car stand on it. Correct rims are damn expensive but can be delivered by Porsche or from the good aftermarked suplieres.

As far I know all 356 speedster have screenproblems. The roadsters have higher screens and a more heavy canvas top hoked up there. So the frame has more twist inside.

Grüsse

[Tatzentier]

Thank you.
Roland, Classic-Parts Hofmann offers 5,5X15 wheels for a B: But he says there is a question mark over quality. (Im Katalog heisst es: "Nur für Export"). The factory really sells them?
Grüsse

[Roland Kunz]

Hello

As far I know Freisinger and Bernd von Nolting are good hits. Most will offer the brasilian made things. They have no TÜV aproval ( and they never will achive that ) and therefore are not street usable in germany.

The factory will not have them on stock and let produce some to there specs. Like I said the rim was on race cars like the type 804 formula 1 so these parts never made it into regular production. In the 70´s the rims where offered as 5,5 or 6" for the Volkswagen Buggy made by Gute Fahrt automagazine. The later Karmann Buggys used the 4 lug rims.

Grüsse


[This message has been edited by Roland Kunz (edited 08-16-2001).]

[WFBowen]

Tatzentier:
356 Rdstrs/Conv.D's are prone to windshield cracks usually during installation of the glass, as (unlike the coupes/cabrios) the glass is not "floating" in the rubber channels. Hence, many windshields crack when the posts are tightened down and the glass is overly compressed into the rubber profile which runs along the base. Everything has to be just right for it to be tight enough to seal, but not stressed to the point it will crack.Never reuse the base rubber - it's a one-time fit. IF I remember correctly, my roadster had a center support rod on the windshield assy.
The T5/T6 Roadsters are, of course, very different. I had a T5 (made by Drauz) which is basically the Conv.D in "B" form. The T6 was built by D'leteran (sp?) in Austria I believe. Which one you prefer is a matter of taste - I always liked the single-grille cars, but the T6 has many improvements.
Finally, as far as wheels go, hand select a set from a VW/Dunebuggy shop (you'll be getting Brazilian wheels) and coat the inside with "Fluid-film" which is a spray sealant available at marine stores. Keep the chrome surface waxed at all times-the worst part about these wheels is the thin chrome (?) plating.
Bill.

[Roland Kunz]

Hello

I think it is writen D`Iteren. It was a belgium ( french part ) company.

The problem with the rims is that they are made from thin metall and chromed in one piece. Porsche rims where chromed and then welded together.

Those rims where importet by Mangels and it failed the TÜV aproval on the long therm load test ( Umlaufbiegeprüfung ). I think they broke off beside the welding. Now the rim was stresset on a bench and made several tousend cycles so they will not brake in short time. Mostly they will rust away faster.

Search for speedster on that forum:
http://forums.rennlist.com/scripts/rennforums/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=forum&f=8

http://www.google.com/search?q=cache:Bv1rrx7UuWk:www.findarticles.com/cf_0/m0BUX/4_31/60136598/print.jhtml+porsche+D%60Iteren&hl=en

Grüsse

[This message has been edited by Roland Kunz (edited 08-18-2001).]

[Tatzentier]

Bill, Roland
Thank you, this is very useful information.
I think the company that built the T6 Roadster is called D'Ieteren and they are near Brussels. They still exist actually and they are still connected with Porsche.
Anyway, the T6 Roadster seems to be quite rare.
I do have another question concerning the engine but I should open another thread for this I suppose.

[mein12]

Hello,

You can have wheels made that will be of the highest quality. They can be chromed and then finished just like the factory.
Just start with the factory wheels that you have and go from there.
There are a couple of shops in the L.A. area that can do this work.

FYI, JMB...

[Roland Kunz]

Hello

Don´t focus on chromed wheels as this will peak the price enormusly. I think Tazentier is in germany and therefor needs a TÜV aproval from the manufactorer. So he only can use aproved sources.
Beside the wheel manufactorers some wheel welding companys have the aproval and can weld a new wheel. You just need to cut out the old rim and ad a new bed. If you go chrome then the parts have to be chromed singular and welded after that. To protect the chrom this is done in a water bath.
Chromed rims need a X-ray from the welds if they are statically at the limit. This makes the rim expensive. But in some months the TÜV has maybe to follow the european standards and if the wheel is legal somewhere in europe and has a ECE aproval the TÜV has no chance to ban them.


D Ietieren is the largest car importer in Belguim. They also where involved in the production from Chevys and Mopars in Belgium.

http://www.dieteren.be

http://www.caranddriver.com/xp/Caranddriver/features/2001/April/200104_featu re_reunion.xml?&page=1


Grüsse



[This message has been edited by Roland Kunz (edited 08-22-2001).]

[Tatzentier]

Yes, Roland is right. L.A. is not exactly round the corner for me!
Here in Germany everything has to be TÜV-approved. It is a nightmare, but as Roland has pointed out, some things can done with patience and money.
And Roland: the way to go in the future may be the "Rote Nummer (07er?)". (a special registration):No more hassle with the TÜV and similar authorities. At least that is what I have been told, but I should investigate further.

[Roland Kunz]

Hello

We have different red registration types and they are far more restrictive compared to us temporary or dealer plates.

http://www.oldtimerinfo.de/cgi-bin/Ultimate.cgi?action=intro&BypassCookie=true

As germany still has some 10% unrestrictet highways wher people can drive very fast we must have a bit higher standards to keep acciedents caused by naterial failuers low. in fact germany hasa lower Highway loss rate then the staates. OK we don´t have to much SUV´s on the road and most time you spend between the trucks and can´t drive very fast. Not to forget that the average speed on the highway is around 90 mph.

The TÜV rules are very simple and if you understand the game you can play with them.
But I´m a proffesional and know all that stuff normal people will not know or understand and run into TÜV trouble.

Grüsse