Porsche 356 Replica - Which engine?
Porsche 356 Replica - Which engine?
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Discussion

blakebull

Original Poster:

4 posts

136 months

Wednesday 17th March 2021
quotequote all
Hi all,

I'm seriously considering purchasing a replica Porsche 356.

I have a villa abroad and I'm looking to import the body kit from the UK and build the car over there. I've been reading online that the best chassis to put on the car is a VW beetle which are easily available to purchase where it'll be and take off around 12-13 inches and reweld etc.

My question is, what's the best engine to put in this?

I've read online that a lot of people in the US are installing 2.5lt Subaru Boxer engines. However, they're hard to find over there.

Any recommendations would be helpful and your reasoning as to why.

Many thanks
Blake

Edited by blakebull on Wednesday 17th March 17:25

markiii

4,095 posts

212 months

Wednesday 17th March 2021
quotequote all
depends how accurate a replica you want.

I'd be tempted by a Subaru 3.0 Flat six and sod originality

blakebull

Original Poster:

4 posts

136 months

Wednesday 17th March 2021
quotequote all
Hey Marki

Thanks for the reply!

Aesthetically, I'm going to keep it as period as possible with modern day touches. Air con, heated seats, radio, and sound system etc.

With regards to the engine, I'm really open to anything

Cheers
Blake

pete.g

1,530 posts

224 months

Wednesday 17th March 2021
quotequote all
You can get brand new VW flat fours in all sorts of sizes and states of tune, as they're in demand for resto-mods and the racing scene. I would go air-cooled with a decent power output -120hp will be plenty in a 356 rep.

I have only one experience with a Subaru 2.5t engine - they have a reputation for 'boiling' - blown head gaskets, and I fell victim to that. I know the Yanks put the 2.0t into Boxsters, maybe it's a better shout.

I suppose if you want to run an air-con compressor, then a modern design might be better.


markiii

4,095 posts

212 months

Wednesday 17th March 2021
quotequote all
blakebull said:
Hey Marki

Thanks for the reply!

Aesthetically, I'm going to keep it as period as possible with modern day touches. Air con, heated seats, radio, and sound system etc.

With regards to the engine, I'm really open to anything

Cheers
Blake
well my ultimate would be an aircooled Porsche flat six, but they aren't cheap these days

loughran

3,098 posts

154 months

Wednesday 17th March 2021
quotequote all
The flat six is a arguably a bit heavy for a 356 and spoils the poise.

Consider if you will the Polo engine, a flat six reconfigured as a flat 4.

Now available as a kit.

http://www.polomotor.com


blakebull

Original Poster:

4 posts

136 months

Wednesday 17th March 2021
quotequote all
loughran said:
The flat six is a arguably a bit heavy for a 356 and spoils the poise.

Consider if you will the Polo engine, a flat six reconfigured as a flat 4.

Now available as a kit.

http://www.polomotor.com
That's for response!

Any idea on pricing for these?

loughran

3,098 posts

154 months

Thursday 18th March 2021
quotequote all
blakebull said:
loughran said:
The flat six is a arguably a bit heavy for a 356 and spoils the poise.

Consider if you will the Polo engine, a flat six reconfigured as a flat 4.

Now available as a kit.

http://www.polomotor.com
That's for response!

Any idea on pricing for these?
Around $30k so probably not my best recommendation this week. smile

A more sensible suggestion would be to have a look at DDk, a forum for early cars that has good replica content.
It's a convivial crowd that love a project and are incredibly knowledgeable about all things pre 73 Porsche.

https://www.ddk-online.com/phpBB2/index.php

Wilmslowboy

4,574 posts

224 months

Thursday 18th March 2021
quotequote all
My mrs has had two over the years, both had rebuilt 1800cc VW engines (circa 110 bhp)

More than enough performance and a lovely noise.


If we had one again it would be great to have a 5 speed gearbox.



How about a electric motor ?
https://chesil.co.uk/electric-chesil-e/




EvoSid

1,116 posts

81 months

Sunday 21st March 2021
quotequote all
Why not put in a Subaru Im
Imprezza Turbo Engine into it ?

Nurburgsingh

5,358 posts

256 months

Monday 22nd March 2021
quotequote all
Can you get a 4 pot from a 718 to fit?

loughran

3,098 posts

154 months

Tuesday 23rd March 2021
quotequote all
Here are the instructions for fitting a 718 engine into a beetle and everybody knows the 356 is just an old VW so it should work fine.

https://jalopnik.com/what-will-you-need-to-do-to-s...

Doofus

31,766 posts

191 months

Tuesday 23rd March 2021
quotequote all
Where's the villa? Will you be able to register the car?

Pistonsquirter

370 posts

57 months

Tuesday 23rd March 2021
quotequote all
The 3.0L 'H6' Subaru boxer is the bomb proof-est one, chain drive cams too! The 2.5 is the worst-est, avoid this at all costs.

Have you seen Hoovie's garage series on a kit 356 build? It will give you some ideas..

https://youtu.be/8bJUDIYXkls

I think some episodes are under the spin-off 'Car Wizard' channel.

I always thought an early Porsche Boxster 986 2.5L would be best, had for around a grand, can come with 5 or 6 speed transaxle, is a Porsche engine.. etc.



Edited by Pistonsquirter on Tuesday 23 March 12:04

Magnum 475

3,906 posts

150 months

Tuesday 23rd March 2021
quotequote all
You could also consider the Alfa Romeo 'Boxer' engine. They're pretty robust and not exactly expensive to buy. Or if it's raw power you want, then the Subaru 2.0T could be a good option.


Cheib

24,655 posts

193 months

Tuesday 23rd March 2021
quotequote all
No idea what you’re building your 356 replica on but I’d be thinking whether I really need that much power a 356 SC keeps up with modem traffic really well so you really don’t need much more power than that. If you go for a lot more power then you need to start putting bigger wheels and brakes on etc so you’ll be adding weight in the worst possible place together with probably a bigger and heavier engine. I’d be looking for the lightest engine that makes decent power rather than thinking I need a 3.0l engine which I am not sure you do

loughran

3,098 posts

154 months

Tuesday 23rd March 2021
quotequote all
As Pete.g says ^

pete.g said:
You can get brand new VW flat fours in all sorts of sizes and states of tune, as they're in demand for resto-mods and the racing scene. I would go air-cooled with a decent power output -120hp will be plenty in a 356 rep.
Fit an air-cooled engine for the full experience. 120hp will be more than enough, my engine makes perhaps 85hp and is a hoot, perfectly at home in modern traffic.

lemmingjames

7,761 posts

222 months

Wednesday 24th March 2021
quotequote all
Blake - is it possible for you to keep the thread updated inc. a build if plans come to fruition as its something im (mentally) toying with doing.

For me, id go with the subaru engine as its tried and tested. If you do go down the subaru route, would it be best buying a donor car so you could raid it for other bits and pieces as required?

TEKNOPUG

19,958 posts

223 months

Wednesday 24th March 2021
quotequote all
Subaru EJ engine come in about 50 different iterations. 1.5, 1.6, 1.8, 2.0, 2.2, 2.3, 2.5, 3.0, SOHC, DOHC, Carb, Single injection, Multi Injection, NA, Turbo, Twin Turbo and incremental power from 95hp to 320bhp and everything in between.

Your local market and will determine availability. How much power do you want and will water cooling be a big compromise on design and packaging? Obviously there is a ready supply of transaxles available too.

  • There is a ready supply of 2.5 NA engines in the States from the Impreza RS, which should not be confused with the turbocharged EJ205/7 engine.
Edited by TEKNOPUG on Wednesday 24th March 13:07

Pickled Piper

6,449 posts

253 months

Friday 26th March 2021
quotequote all
pete.g said:
You can get brand new VW flat fours in all sorts of sizes and states of tune, as they're in demand for resto-mods and the racing scene. I would go air-cooled with a decent power output -120hp will be plenty in a 356 rep.

I have only one experience with a Subaru 2.5t engine - they have a reputation for 'boiling' - blown head gaskets, and I fell victim to that. I know the Yanks put the 2.0t into Boxsters, maybe it's a better shout.

I suppose if you want to run an air-con compressor, then a modern design might be better.
I would do this. Keep it air cooled.