356 talk

Rocky Mountain 356 Club

Rocky Mountain 356 Porsche Club OVERSTEER January 2006

356Talk Board for December, 2005

356 Talk Board Message Search

To all Registry Members,

I have a VERY exciting announcement to make. We now have a new search feature on www.356registry.org that allows you to search through thousands of archived

356Talk List messages from the last 5+ years! (Thanks to Robert Boyle!)

I encourage all current Registry Members to give it a try. It's a great resource, especially before posting another question to the Talk List. Remember that most questions have been answered before and the best part is, you won't have to wait for someone to respond!

To access this new feature, you will need to sign-in using the password printed in your latest Registry issue. If you haven't joined the Registry yet, this is a perfect opportunity! You can join online today by using the link: http://www.356registry.org/Membership/

Richard Millang www.356Registry.com Webmaster

356 Parts Book From Porsche

Hi All, Porsche has put their PET parts manuals online in PDF format for most of

their models including the 356. It's easily saved onto your computer for printing, etc.(368 pages) http://www.porsche.com/usa/accessoriesandservices/classic/classic-originalparts/originalparts-originalparts/ . Under the wheels section of the 356 manual, check out the Rudge wheels. I don't know if I'll order the knock-offs with the ears or not.

Have fun. Regards, Steve Ross

Seat Belt Buckles

Q. Hi All, A good friend (and fellow 356er) is wanting to install shoulder belts and doesn't like the buckles sold by PEP, JC Whiney, etc. Any other good sources of nice period correct buckles (no crest)? Also other sources of good belts, inertia reels, etc? TIA, Bill Shea '64SC coupe

A. Bill, Check out Snappin Gator Belts. I do not have their info at hand but they

make period looking belts in a variety of colors. I saw them selling their

wares at the AACA Fall Meet in Hershey last month. They made the belts with

period correct buckles you have seen in my Speedster. Eric Wahlberg, #3985

A. Andover restraints has period buckles. I have them in my car if you want a

picture. David Jones

Heating Your 356

Q. Is there anything that can be done to improve the operation of the heater in a 356B? My feet get very cold while I am driving. Don ( Philadelphia )

A. Thanks for all the advice as the heating system on my 356B seems to be working fine now. Apparently the "flapper box valve?" was open on the driver’s side. Don

Rocky Mountain 356 Porsche Club OVERSTEER January 2006

December 05 Talk Board Con’t

Mice

Q. I remember we had a trailer in western Washington and mice often found their way in. We tried everything!! and only those high frequency noise makers available at Home Base or Home depot was the final purveyor of ridding mice. Safe for your pets too, or so [they] say. I opened the hood to my Grand Cherokee on the weekend and a Rat was looking up at me. When I pulled out my longitudinals in 2004 there was a mouse nest. My welder said if a mouse jumps out he charges double. I suspect those High frequency do-hickeys are a good buy. Sean Longhi. 65 Coupe.

A. I just keep a mouse trap next to each wheel and check them often. I never get mice in any of the cars – yet I can watch them at night running in and out of tiny holes in the terracotta walls, so I know they're around. (the cars are kept in an old carriage house in my yard) Emil '64C Euro coupe

A. To keep mice out get a box of moth balls and put some in a container in the stored car. Leave the windows cracked a bit unless it's a convertible. Works like a charm.

A. A liberal scattering of fresh mint leaves in the trunk, interior and engine will keep them away. Don't forget the glove box. Leave its door open. Don't use a car cover. Mice like dark places.

Mint smells better than moth balls and works better. You can vacuum it up in the Spring or save it in an air tight container for next year. Not recommended for reuse in a mint julep. Ed

Steering Box Fluid Level

Q. What is the correct technique for checking the fluid level in the steering box of my 64C? And, if I need to add fluid, is it okay to mix Swepco with whatever is in there now? Steve 64C #127596

A. Refilling steering boxes ZF: Open the top of the steering box 8mm allen wrench after 1959 10mm before.

Use regular gear oil or grease depending on the amount of leakage. Swepco

will probably go past the seals. al zim

New Rust Cleaner

"Evapo-Rust"

Has anyone had experience with this product. ( www.evapo-rust.com ) I just read a review. It is described as a new standard in rust removal; removes rust without acids. It earned Cleantech Magazine award for Outstanding New Technology in industrial cleaning. Available in AutoZone stores. No affiliation - just curious and afflicted with rust. Bob Strickler '53 Cabriolet

Epoxy Primers

Q. I'm planning on sanding my 57 coupe to bare metal and am wondering if these primers keep moisture, rain etc. from bare metal surface rusting. I have used lacquer primers in the past and know these primers don’t protect bare metal. Any recommendations on what primers to use that do a better job? The car will probably sit without color coat for some time. Thanks, Alex

A. Glasurit metal etch epoxy primer is what I put on my car which has been in restoration for 3+ years. At one point I had to sand off this primer after a huge

amount of metal shrinking was done to make the panels pretty (torch burnt up the primer where the metal was shrunk, felt my best option was to start over). Sanding the stuff off was like sanding metal off of metal. Very durable with a very aggressive bond. From what I know, this primer is quite water proof. Peter Z

Rocky Mountain 356 Porsche Club OVERSTEER November 2005

356Talk Board for November 2005

Provided by Dick Bartlett

Turn Signal Arm

Q. My turn signal arm does not return it has lost all detent and return action. Any ideas what to check and how? Thanks! PS - I put in the electronic turn signal relay from Al Zim and it is fantastic. I highly recommend it if you have any fast/slow/etc. turn signal problems. Al George 55 356A 63 356B

A. You probably broke the return spring that is on the switch itself. If you expose the switch in the car you might see the remains of the old one. It lives in a vertical position and pulls the trip fingers up or down. It is about 3/4 inch long and has ring ends. It lives at the steering shaft end of the switch and faces you. Look at the bottom of the housing you might find it there. You can buy them seperatly and maybe Brad of NLA or Al of Zim's stock them. They attach to a little finger with a notch on its top, it takes a bit of grunt to maneuver it into place. Alan

A. I would suggest you go to a good hardware store that has a large spring collection and purchase the spring from them. Or you can take the last loop of the spring and move it to a position that will hold it in place with a pair of needle nose pliers. Hemostats work best for installing the spring. al zim

A. The turn signal lever spring on my C broke around 68. I went to a typewriter repair shop and found a spring. It is still working. Frank

What's a "typewriter repair shop"? Alan Goldman

Powder Coating and Decals

Q. I have been told that most water-based decals do not adhere very well to metal surfaces that have been powder coated. I just had my engine tin powder coated. Does anyone sell a decal set that has overcome this particular problem? Any advice will be appreciated.

A. Go to a model shop and buy a bottle of Micro Kristal Klear and a can of Model Master Lacquer Overcoat. Apply as directed. In later years you may cus because it won’t come off. Jack

Door Switch for Interior Lights

Q. I am in need of the subject switches for my 1963 356C. Stoddard's has a part number listed for the C, but my Porsche technician tells me that it is not correct (based on his experience from ordering one). Does anyone know where I can purchase the correct switches? Dave Registry Member No. 16871

A. EASY...(Easypor@sbcglobal.net), leading 356 parts supplier...mostly used, but in excellent condition. Emeryville , Calif. Geoff