TheSamba.com :: View topic - Starting my first 356 restoration, any tips?

Sat Dec 01, 2007 8:22 am

I'm starting my first 356 restoration at work. It's a 1955 Speedster, and(except for the 356A motor) is going back 100% stock. I know my way around VWs pretty well, but this is my first Porsche. Overall the car is in good "driver" condition, but is showing it's age. Is there anything specific to these cars that always goes bad or needs replacment? Is there anything that is not avalible that I need to be extra careful with or pay special attention to? I've got NLA and Stoddard catalogs, are there any others that I should have? Thanks for the help.

Sat Dec 01, 2007 1:28 pm

if you are looking into a complete restoration, you have to strip it down pretty well just to see how far you need to go. My 356C looked great, until we started to remove paint, then all the rust repair becomes visable, 356 can be a real rust machine, spots that you never would think rust, can. and my car was fairly rust free compaired to most I have seen being repaired.

Check out Trevors panel works for metal parts, they are made in small lots, and he was able to provide metal parts that no one else has. he has a website, and was great to talk with on the phone. the other vendors you mention are also good, and carry things Trevors does not, but are more the common parts. also Zims, and Restoration Design have good parts in addition to the ones you mentioned. some vendors have a better repair piece that the other, but not the best of another part, so be selective,a nd ask around thoose that have doen it before for advice on who make the best fitting part for each part.

A speedster will likely require some custom made metal panels or modified coupe parts if many panles need repair, cause there are that many out there to justify production (thats why Trevors comes to mind as a source) I got a very nice nose and fendor from him, but had to wait for them to be made, well worth the wait.

althouh yours is a speedster, check out a well done private web site of one persons 356 metal restoration, google search "Brown House 356" and look at the extensive photos and discription of his metal repairs (he is a do it your selfer, great writting also. My car was a less rusted than his fortunalty. this gives a good idea of what might be involved, excellent read.

it is not trivial task to repair a 365 that is rusted. I am sure the value of a speedster justifies a big repair on even very rusty cars.

one thing is that the project can snowball, you really need to investigate the extent of rust/collision damage ont he entire car, before you start, else you may run out of time/money beofre it can be finished. On my somewhat rust free car (ha ha) we kept finding more panels that needed replacement

who wuold think that the inner wheel well can rust from inside the car? or them little bulges on a double or triple sandwiched welded together panel has rust forming inbetween the layers????

if not one, become a 356 Registry member, the help i have recieved from some very knowledgeable members was priceless, and there magazine is top rated. quite a few members have done there own repairs, and many professional 356 restorers are members, they have a small forum for advice also.

hope you car turns out well, mind posting a before photo??

thanks, and good luck

Sat Dec 01, 2007 2:38 pm

dave menche wrote: they have a small forum for advice also.

The 356 Registry does not have a forum yet...& I said yet...Hopefully early in 2008. See this thread:

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=255392

However, if you join the talk list there are a lot of old timers who know the ins & outs of 356's. Another place you may want to look into for repair panels is Restoration Design. Hard to get a hold of but good quality and good prices.

How about a pic of the '55 Speedster?

Sat Dec 01, 2007 2:55 pm

Yep, your right, it is a talk list, not as good a a forum for sure, hope the talk turns to forum. I am not to up on computer lingo. Th e talk list is does not archieve stuff in a easy way to search. My best results are to post a question,and then get email replies back, it works, the advice is very good, folks are helpful, but the talk format is difficult to use, and you have to be a due paying member to use it, however the modest dues pay for a fine 6 times a year magazine that is worth well more than the dues ten time over.

my bad

Sat Dec 01, 2007 3:50 pm

dave menche wrote: and you have to be a due paying member to use it, however the modest dues pay for a fine 6 times a year magazine that is worth well more than the dues ten time over.

Dave,
356 talk is free last I checked. You do nbot need to be a 356 Registry member...I agree with you on the 356 Registry mag. Awesome publication. Now its time 356talk evolved into a 356 forum.

Keeping my fingers crossed.

Sat Dec 01, 2007 7:10 pm

Thanks for the info so far. It'll be a complete strip it down to nothing restoration. It was originally white, and will go back that way, but it's currently yellow(and has only had 3 repaints). Here are some preliminary pics.

Sat Dec 01, 2007 7:13 pm

Bugman Jeff wrote: Thanks for the info so far. It'll be a complete strip it down to nothing restoration. It was originally white, and will go back that way, but it's currently yellow(and has only had 3 repaints). Here are some preliminary pics.

Looks like a prior owner is a big fan of cheese or the West Virginia Mountaineers football program.

Nice ride....

Sat Dec 01, 2007 7:24 pm

FYI, there is a lot of lead used on 356's. Especially, in the front door pocket area. I would suggest not stripping the lead. I stripped the lead off of my '58 coupe. Now I have plastic filler in those former lead area's.
If I had to do it again I would have left the lead.

Sat Dec 01, 2007 9:39 pm

Your right, the talk list is free, I was thinking the members only area of the website, Duh, I feel stupid.

agree with your lead comments, been there, suffered my mistake, also beware creeping rust under shinny lead.

the car looks great,!!!! may the iron oxide be few and far between, nothing like satisfaction of knowing how your car is restored, and the steps you have or had have taken to assure a good base of a car. \

have fun

Sun Dec 02, 2007 3:06 am

first things first take lots of picutres as ref.

the speedster is a car that if you do it wrong you will get hit in the final price.

check out the 356 restoration guide by Jim Kellog well worth the $20 bucks to buy it and read before you start to cut into anything

Final prep of the paint is a huge must with these flowing curves, it's all down to the level or standard to which you want to go..

if it is what I call a california then it's going to be a quick job to make it look nice for sale but will have so many covers ups it's going to hit the sale price ( california is what I call a on it's wheels strip it down and blow over a new coat of paint and back on the road in Ten days.. )

A factory job will take about 3-4 months and that's every thing off and onto a rottisory both top coats and undercoats off and start totaly from fresh. This sort of resto done right will fetch the bucks but will cost you the time..

Nice car to work on..l....keep us posted with pic's

Thu Dec 06, 2007 8:20 pm

Jim Kellogg book Guide to Do it yourself restoration is excellent and another good book is the 356 Porsche Technical and Restoration Guide
from 356 Registry
nice looking speedster
have fun
hank

Fri Dec 07, 2007 2:27 pm

I am going to be picking nup me 63 356 in 3 weeks. I will be going through the same restoration as you soon. I am just now reading up on the car and trying to fine parts suppliers. I know my way aroung a bug with my eyes closed and my uncle has been holding onto his 356 for me for over 20 yrs. I can't wait to get her and see start the build. I will be keeping a look at this thread for info.

Fri Dec 07, 2007 8:40 pm

Cousin of a Porsche wrote: I am going to be picking nup me 63 356 in 3 weeks. I will be going through the same restoration as you soon. I am just now reading up on the car and trying to fine parts suppliers. I know my way aroung a bug with my eyes closed and my uncle has been holding onto his 356 for me for over 20 yrs. I can't wait to get her and see start the build. I will be keeping a look at this thread for info.

Are you in Royal Palm Beach, Florida?

If so, you have a well known Porsche racing shop nearby.

Klub Sport: http://www.klubsportracing.com/

Check this site out as well:

http://www.356registry.org/

Sat Dec 08, 2007 12:23 pm

Congrats!
By all means join the registry. Then join the list of members who offer help to others who may be in 356 trouble while passing through your part of the world. Then beg borrow and memorize (I dont think its legal to copy) it, or you could buy "Secretes of the inner circle" by the "Maestro" now deceased Harry Pellow. Make a plan take pictures mark and bag everything, don't assume you can replace anything like you can on a bug. NOW a word about sellers on Ebay and other used parts just because they say the part is original and from a 55 speedster doesn't mean it's not from a 67 type III 12volt. They won't take it back Ebay won't help Paypal won't help just put it on the shelf with the others cause nobody wants to buy a 67 Type III 12 Volt Grosnitch. Take your time let it be a labor of love. I waited 20 years for my 62 S90 cab and will work on it forever.

You might want to suscribe to Excellence a mag about the marque it is mostely about modern porsches but it will help.

Dont be afraid to ask questions here about suppliers.

Check for a local club

Good Luck

Sun Dec 09, 2007 7:05 pm

mpribanic wrote: Cousin of a Porsche wrote: I am going to be picking nup me 63 356 in 3 weeks. I will be going through the same restoration as you soon. I am just now reading up on the car and trying to fine parts suppliers. I know my way aroung a bug with my eyes closed and my uncle has been holding onto his 356 for me for over 20 yrs. I can't wait to get her and see start the build. I will be keeping a look at this thread for info.

Are you in Royal Palm Beach, Florida?

If so, you have a well known Porsche racing shop nearby.

Klub Sport: http://www.klubsportracing.com/

Check this site out as well:

http://www.356registry.org/

Thanks I will.