Getting back on the road

[cosmiccharlie]

Hey Pelicans,



I have a 63 356b that has been sitting around for about a year, much longer than I anticipated, unfortunately. It was my daily driver all through college for about 5 years. My father owned it since ’78, but never really restored it. I decided to get it running with my tuned type 1 engine from my beat up Beetle so I wouldn’t have to shell out big money for a piece of crap “regular car”. 356’s have been a big hobby of my grandfather back in the ice ages, so I was able to get parts here and there by digging through piles of junk at his shop. Over the years, the car has been compromised on parts; it never was intended to be a show car. I believe it should be driven all the time. The biggest compromised part is the VW engine. Not a big gripe really, because it’s more reliable than the ’64 C engine I do have for it. Being a poor college student, I couldn’t give the attention and $$ the Porsche engine demanded. Now I live in Atlanta, my 356 is in Macon in my old man’s garage, I want it back! Here are my problems right now. A VW motor doesn’t really fit very well; I always had trouble with pressure plates.

The Porsche pressure plate is too thick to fit inside of the ’66 VW flywheel, so I always used a VW stock weight 180mm diaphragm type PP without the center ring. Sucks, because they are only good for about 8 months before the throw out bearing cuts a groove in the fingers and bends them. Also, you get a loose pedal and not very good grab even when the PP is brand new. I got a new TO bearing a while back (from Pelican!) because the original is locked up (this is why it’s garaged!). When I install my new TO bearing, I want to put the optimal PP in that will last and not harm my new TO bearing. Can you tell me the best one with a Porsche like grab? Ok, problem #2. My brakes are really crappy and always have been. It’s had new wheel cylinders, shoes, and master – they still don’t stop the car well. The brakes feel like they should if you haven’t driven it in a couple of days, but after you apply them once, the pedal is really stiff and doesn’t travel at all. It takes a lot of force to stop the car, basically. I was thinking of putting a VW double piston master in it. Can it be done? Is there any other explanation for my bad brakes? I really need some advice; the net hasn’t been much help. I remember you guys helping me fix a 356 cluster gauge from a 914 version. I want my 356 !!!



Thanks,



Ben

[Zeke]

How old are the brake hoses? Always check those if they are old before spending any money on any other parts.