Help with a 64 356

Eddie Brown · Eddie Brown's Garage

Hi. I have a friend that recently bought a 356 project. He wants to turn it into an Outlaw style car. The car has quite a bit of rust, although the pans, and longitudinals have been replaced. He's trying to find a good body shop with 356 experience here in the Central California Valley. We're in Bakersfield. But if not here, who would be a reputable person to perform such repairs?.

His motor is the original to the car. He wants to turn it into a 2 Liter Twin Turbo. I'm of the idea of adding a single turbo and fuel injecting it. This brings the question of who could build him such a motor?. I've got experience in T1's and T4's. I haven't built a 356 motor yet. I know that a turbo header alone would be a totally custom piece.

Where could I find info on possible combinations to increase the displacement on a 1600 motor?

I would appreciate any help and/or ideas.

Take care,

Eddie.

id10t · 12-18-2004, 07:06 PM

There is an outfit that makes 1800cc cylinders for the 356 engine, but if you're going outlaw, why not use either a type IV engine or one of the 4 cyl. 911 engine conversions?

Eddie Brown · Eddie Brown's Garage

Personally, if it were my car, i'd rebuild the 1600. But I know that a T4 would fit the bill nicely as long as a good exhaust is installed. The reliability would be great. I think that my friend doesn't really comprehend how complex it would be to build a turbo motor based on the original.

Right now I have a mildly built 1911cc T4 that really makes my 70 Bug move. That same motor would be perfect in his 356. He's ridden in my Bug and liked the power. I'd have let him drive it to understand the benefits of natural torque that the T4 provides.

I'll have to refer him to Jake and see what he can cook up for him. BTW, my friend's gonna have Chuck Beck build him a 550 Replica....mmmmm

59convertibleD · 12-19-2004, 07:13 PM

Putting a 2 liter twin turbo into a 356 is nuts. The transmission will blow up and the suspension, brakes, and transaxle are not designed for that kind of horsepower. Sorry, but it's a dumb thing to do and will destroy the value of the car.

You can get 110 horses out of the original motor with some careful changes and the car can handle that. But don't go over that horsepower. See Duane Spencer's book on building high performance 356/912 engines.

Barry