Porsche 356: The Engine Handbook: An Engine Assembly Guide

Porsche 356:

The Engine Handbook

An Engine Assembly Guide

COLE R. SCROGHAM

Copyright © 2016 Cole R. Scrogham.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored, or transmitted by any means—whether auditory, graphic, mechanical, or electronic—without written permission of both publisher and author, except in the case of brief excerpts used in critical articles and reviews. Unauthorized reproduction of any part of this work is illegal and is punishable by law.

ISBN: 978-1-4834-4364-5 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4834-4365-2 (e)

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Lulu Publishing Services rev. date: 1/15/2016

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Cole Scrogham has prepared Porsche cars and engines that have won races at the highest levels of Motorsports ...at tracks like Daytona, Sebring, Road Atlanta, Watkins Glen, VIR, Mid-Ohio and Road America. He has also prepared show-winning engines with correct details down to the proper plating of the last nut and bolt.

Real world experience in racing air cooled Porsche 356’s all the way up to the 3.8 RSR allows some interesting perspective into engine assembly. Often, turnaround times measured in days or even hours required unique approaches and timesaving techniques that are identified in this guide. Detailed photos also separate this assembly guide from others, which will become an important addition to any 356 owner’s bookshelf. Cole is credited with 8 National Racing Championships, along with winning the top prize for Porsche Concours preparation an unprecedented 4 consecutive times. His unique combination of racing and restoration skills are evident in the pages of this assembly guide, made clear in layman’s terms as a 356 engine is assembled from the bottom up.

Contents

Where to Begin?

The ‘’Bottom End’’

Connecting Rods

Crankshaft Gear Installation Tips

Crankshaft Assembly

Camshaft & Lifters

Engine Case Prep

The ‘’Marriage’’

Pistons and Cylinders

Cylinder Heads

The ‘’Third’’ Piece

Electrical, Fuel and Cooling Accessories

Where to Begin?

This handbook is designed to be a self-help tool to those who want to know more about their German automotive jewel ...as the sales brochures from the 1950’s declare our humble little bathtubs! ...When you are finished, you should be able to completely assemble a 356 engine, or at the very least know more about the details to discuss with your mechanic. This is not a technical manual with lots of facts and figures, but a real world version of the fun and pitfalls of Ferdinand’s jewel. You will find interesting facts, helpful hints and lots of photos from some of the over 100 engines that I have had the good fortune to prepare or rebuild. I hope you will find many hours of Porsche fun with your 356, and that this assembly guide will have an honored place on your shelf!

I can remember the first real trip that my Father took me on, it was about 5 hours from home to the Virginia Beach area in a 1959 356A Coupe. He had purchased the little Silver coupe from a gentleman that insisted everyone (including himself as the driver) remove their shoes and place them behind the seat so not to soil the carpets and mats! As a young person this taught me early on that a Porsche 356 is a special car, and from that moment I have always loved the 356. From its cozy size to fantastic road feel, there are few cars even today that allow the passenger to experience being rightly connected with the road. While it is getting more and more difficult to find proper parts and technical support to keep these relatively simple vehicles running, they all deserve the best of care since by comparison with modern vehicles they are not that expensive to keep running.

If you can master the simple concepts in this handbook, it will be relatively easy for you to maintain your 356 in top condition, and not be afraid to perform basic maintenance as well as complete engine rebuilds (if necessary) with only basic mechanical skills. I hope that you