Installing a Type I into my 356. Need special tin. Help needed

On 24 Jul 2003 15:47:03 GMT, snipped-for-privacy@aol.com (ZSchralper) scribbled this interesting note:

What did you expect? You get a higher output engine for less money. It isn't snobbery, but envy you are seeing!:~)

As to your question, it would help to see the requirements. I suspect that you will have to install your engine with some of the tin-ware installed on the engine and then kind of figure out what you need. Is it possible that you could somehow combine the 356 and Type 1 VW tin-ware in a sort of bastard combination? Being completely unfamiliar with the actual dimensions of a 356 means I don't have a picture in my head about what you are looking at.

Hope this helps, but somehow I suspect it really fails the test!:~(

-- John Willis

Z-- My guess is that you should go to the fabrication route. I considered the same thing about 4 years ago make sense to go with the Vdub engine and get cheap power. I had a '63 356 coupe with a "normal" engine, which as you know is a real slug. I got the same snooty reaction from the porsche club guys and no help from the porsche shops either. I decided to ditch the idea and sold the porsche since it was going to also require considerable rust repair.

Pete ('62 bug convert)

Hi most guys that put T-4's into their 356's do their own sealing tin. Go to my site

First off, don't bother with any of the snobbery :)

The cars were meant to be *driven* and I think whatever gets them on the road is fine with me. I have fab'd the tin before for a 912 -> 356 transplant but I was able to reuse a lot of the original stuff. Get yourself an inexpensive metal brake and some flanging pliers and go nuts.

A decent set of nibblers (not just tin snips but nibblers) really help too because they don't deform the sheet you just spent an hour getting close to fitting. You can make inside cuts for manifolds and plugs too.

By the way, the normal engine with a set of 86mm jugs, 912 rods and a Vic Skirmant's cam ain't too bad. If you need someone to take the normal off your hands then lemme know - ha!

knt