Canuck 1960B T5 Coupe Resto

[John Pierce]

You are so right! The car is symmetric so when I finish one side I go to the other and repeat the process when everything is still fresh in my mind. It's easy to forget the details.

[Scott B]

I've been working on a number of sections in the car that all tend to shake hands together. I have had to virtually rebuild the shifter tunnel at both ends and all around the bottom three inches. I cut out tube as one assembly and re built brackets. Getting this all back in in right order will be a challenge. I do not want the tunnel welded in before the floors. So I believe I will weld in the floors, then the tube assembly with the tunnel last. Also got the heal panel fitted and in and working on getting the inner rear side panel on the drivers side fitted. This piece needs work on every side and edge. Just won't fit anywhere close. I have cut it in two now and will position and weld in the front half first.

[Scott B]

[Scott B]

[JTR70]

Nice work on the tunnel conduits!

[Scott B]

Thanks Justin - figuring the order of how to get the tunnel, the tunnel tubes with the rear welded back in to heal panel and the floor is a real challenge. Now that I know exactly where the tubes fit in the tunnel I believe I can weld in the floor, then add in the tubes and weld in to heal panel - epoxy coat and the as a final step weld in the tunnel itself over the tubes and on to the floor.

[Scott B]

The rear inner side panel is now in and welded in most spots. This was a bear - I had to cut the panel in half and reshape a lot of metal to fit. The rear of this panel also extends into the rear engine and bay and intersects with three pieces of metal. A complicated area. The side piece for the firewall has also been shaped and fitted and ready to go in. Before I weld this piece I need to remove the tube that carries the rear hood release cable. I need to remake this and form it. I would like to put this in after the next media blast but want the rear firewall closed up. I need to confirm if I can thread the new formed hood release tube through a small hole at the bottom where the firewall meets the frame after all is welded or do I need to weld in place the tube before I close in the firewall. Some rust under the tube so I want this exposed when I blast.

[Scott B]

Finally finishing up the engine bay where the inner rear panel and other pieces all intersect and shake hands. Complicated area where there are three overlapping pieces of metal to refit, in order and weld all together.

[Scott B]

focusing on the engine bay got a lot of tar to scrape and some rusty area that need some patches. I ground off the old inner engine tin that is welded into the engine bay and started to test fit the engine metal frame tin work. Overall a good fit until it meets up with the transmission cross-member piece/frame. It meets up but extends out into thin air. Is the engine tin to wide or is the bottom shape of the trans

mission cross-member frame not shaped correctly?

[JTR70]

Coming along nicely Scott.

A-cars have this drop-tab that the lower closing tray mates onto. I imagine a B/C car will have something similar. I hope someone with a T5 will show us the definitive part.

Great progress!
Justin

[Scott B]

working on putting in the new engine tin in the engine bay with the restoration. While searching around the internet I found some good photos but they are showing something I was not aware of.
Question 1: On the passenger side the photo below shows a half circle cut out in the engine tin where it joins up with the cross-member frame. Is this unique to the B and if so what is used for or is this a modification someone is making for other reasons than original?

Question 2:
The photo below also shows a curved support panel under the engine tin to the frame - inside the engine bay. Is this an original piece for the 356 B and if so who makes this piece?

Thanks for your help.

Scott

[John Pierce]

Hi Scott,

The B and C cars had the heat shield underneath the engine pan surround. The half-circle cut out with upturned edges is for the rear electrical harness to enter the engine bay.

HTH

John




Heat shield.



Passenger front corner of engine pan.

[Phil Planck]

Johns post would be exactly the same as mine. I did take exception for the wire harness opening and shaped it so I could use a round grommet.



Phil

[Scott B]

John and Phil thank you for both for responding. The hole with rubber grommet is an elegant solution. I Have checked for reminents of the heat shield and looks like me car did not have it. It was born in the fall of 59 so must have predated the introduction of the shield.
Scott

[Phil Planck]

Scott
I'm no expert on when the heat shield was added, but Porsche did it for a reason, which I assume was to help keep muffler heat out of the engine compartment. Unless you are trying to go for totally correct for your body number I would add it. Mine was pretty rusty, but salvageable on my 63 T6B. In this pic you can see the spot weld holes where it was originally attached.



Phil