356 for modern driving - recommendations?

356 for modern driving - recommendations?

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johnnyBv8

Original Poster:

2,417 posts

190 months

Monday 17th September 2018
quotequote all
Hi,

I'm looking for recommendations of a 356 specialist that could source and upgrade a 356 to an agreed spec. This would be used alongside an Eagle E-Type, and I'd like to achieve similar... i.e. an original 356, but subtly upgraded/updated to ensure it's reliable as an everyday car. Likely to therefore be aspects such as upgraded headlamps, alternator, electronic ignition etc etc. This may be sacrilege to some (sorry!), but to put it in context, the Eagle is a re-engineered car (enhanced to their SuperSport spec), so to most people it still looks like a fairly standard E-Type. This is the approach we'd like with the Porsche too.

Thanks

Edited by johnnyBv8 on Monday 17th September 16:04

Double gauche

316 posts

96 months

Monday 17th September 2018
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Porsche Reading were doing something like this for a client
speak to Riccardo

Cheib

23,111 posts

174 months

Monday 17th September 2018
quotequote all
I think the 356 equivalent of Eagle is Rod Emory....based in California which is a slight issue!

https://www.emorymotorsports.com/

Like Eagle he develops his own parts which are only available on his cars. Have a look at these disc brakes he's developed that look like the originals

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bl-rpWAAIFU/?taken-by=...

He's also developed his own 4cyl 911 engine

https://www.instagram.com/p/BleQPmXgLrA/?taken-by=...

He's best known for his Outlaw and Special cars which are tweaked in looks and mechanically.




Couple of vdeos on Jay Lenos garage well worth looking at.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwln2ji-yOE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AzMWgXgM3EM

OPC Leeds had an Emory car recently that was up for £265k and appears to have sold. had both the original and an Emory engine

https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...





johnnyBv8

Original Poster:

2,417 posts

190 months

Monday 17th September 2018
quotequote all
That's really helpful - thanks. Will make contact with Rod Emory, but still interested if there's anyone else in the UK doing this kind of thing.

Cheib

23,111 posts

174 months

Monday 17th September 2018
quotequote all
johnnyBv8 said:
That's really helpful - thanks. Will make contact with Rod Emory, but still interested if there's anyone else in the UK doing this kind of thing.
Be interested to know how you get on...think there's something like a two year wait for a car. I assume he can do a RHD one if that's what you want.

BertBert

18,953 posts

210 months

Monday 17th September 2018
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There are probably several UK specialists that can help. One I know of is Lee Mayor restorations, although he's plenty far away being based in Preston! I'm not connected, just bought a restored car from him and I'm impressed with his work and him. He had a lovely 356 Outlaw that he was working on last time I was there.
http://www.leemayorrestorations.com/
Bert

johnnyBv8

Original Poster:

2,417 posts

190 months

Monday 17th September 2018
quotequote all
Cheib said:
johnnyBv8 said:
That's really helpful - thanks. Will make contact with Rod Emory, but still interested if there's anyone else in the UK doing this kind of thing.
Be interested to know how you get on...think there's something like a two year wait for a car. I assume he can do a RHD one if that's what you want.
Ok, thanks. I'd guess that his cars probably find their way back to him for resale, as they do with Eagle. Would probably just go LHD, as it'll be used for winter trips to Switzerland.

gordmac

83 posts

134 months

Sunday 7th October 2018
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Apparently Subaru 16v heads can be fitted to a Beetle engine, presumably also the Porsche engine?

supersport

4,040 posts

226 months

Sunday 7th October 2018
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ash73 said:
Might not be up to the OP's standards, but a Chesil might be worth considering as an everyday car?

http://www.chesil.biz/Chesil_Home.htm
As pretty as they are I don’t think they make a daily.

We went to look at one earlier in the year with the cues that it would be used regularly by the wife.

Sadly it was utterly impractical and could probably not be used easily with the roof up. It wasn’t modernised in anyway. Pity is beautiful.

frozen-in-wiltshire

152 posts

83 months

Sunday 7th October 2018
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I really struggle with the idea of a genuine and original 365 being majorly engine-out customised. Personal thing, no offence meant.

you might be better (and an awful lot wealthier) getting a 356 replica and working that over instead - looks the same, goes better, does what you want, saves you money too - a lot.

and you can keep your totally original 356 in the garage for the odd weekend - and sell it for a profit in future as well (which I seriously doubt would be possible with a majorly re-worked 356).


ooid

4,049 posts

99 months

Monday 8th October 2018
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I had a chesil replica for a few days, last year in december in London. It was a fairly crisp example with a beetle air-cooled engine. It was a quite practical car to be honest, worked everytime (even during freezing cold last year), and massive fun in London, since most areas have speed limits with 20. Parking is super easy with their size. The only problem though, they attract loads of attention! I mean a lot! I've parked near Shard, and it took massive attention, even though there was a huracan nearby hehe, had to go back and park the car somewhere less crowded at the end.

Nevermind the porsche badge, even if its replica they are absolutely fantastic having small 4 pot air-cooled and convertible option.

Chewykneeslider

130 posts

129 months

Monday 8th October 2018
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I've got a '65 356 and have done just over 3k miles in it this summer including a trip to Le Mans, so I'm probably qualified to comment.

The 356, for what is, is very good, but only up to about 60mph. In common with a lot of cars of the era, it is under geared compared to modern stuff, and that means that the engine is quite buzzy and loud at motorway cruising speeds. 80mph+ is more than possible, providing you are willing to endure the engine, gearbox and wind noise. The radio is quite unlistenable at these sort of speeds.

I built my car over the course of 3 years, and included what I considered to be a generous quantity of sound deadening insulation, but if doing it again, I would add more, particularly around the rear firewall, above the gearbox, and on the floors.

Most people think that in order to go faster, you just put in a bigger or tweaked engine, not so. Mine is pretty much SC spec (95hp stock) but with a 1720 kit, and on the dyno it was doing 104hp. This is more than enough power and torque to see 100mph at 5,000rpm or so. I would pursue changing the final drive ratio for something to give higher cruising at lower revs, and these gearsets are around, and available at a price. You have to make sure that all the ancilliaries like generator and regulator, air thermostat, and oil cooler and relief valves are all in good operating order, when they are, then they are suitable for use for many thousands of miles without issue. Like most things, before 'Magpie theory' (where folks are attracted to shiny things) kicks in, make sure that you understand and appreciate the stock stuff, and that it is working perfectly before shelling out much monies on shiny things that proport to offer solutions. There is no car in my experience like the 356 which suffers so badly from so many things being adjusted wrongly.

You will need Koni adjustable shockers to keep everything nicely under control and pointing in the correct direction at speed. All the other shocks are junk in comparison.

johnnyBv8

Original Poster:

2,417 posts

190 months

Tuesday 9th October 2018
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That's great advice - thanks. Re earlier comments on purity, the Emory cars probably go a step too far, at least in terms of what we were thinking - looking for more of the Eagle Engineered approach of improving an original car, retaining original engine etc (rather than the Eagle Speedster which is probably more aligned to an Emory 356).

Edited by johnnyBv8 on Tuesday 9th October 12:12