Welcome to Abcgt Forum

[bbspdstr]

"I own a 1964 euro Irish green/blue leather cabriolet #159111.
I have the COA that the combo is as delivered.
Anyone else with this factory combo?
I have owned this car since 1978.It was white for 35 years until SH confirmed my COA"

I can see fights starting...."It's my356"..."NO, it's MY 356"... etc.
Fighting over the color combo was 'over there' and should just be thought of as 'curious' over here.....pictures would be great! In all my years around 356s, I have not seen that combo but it's my two favorite colors.
Gotta watch that "SH" guy....he's been known to get in trouble for trying to help 356ers....jus' sayin'

Cool combo, relax and feel welcome along with the other newcomers here on Justin's great site (where pictures are most welcome! hint, hint)

-Bruce Baker

[my356]

Here it is in all it's original colours

[my356]

Bruce
If you send me off line your email address ,I can send you lot's of pictures of the finished car of Irish Green/Blue leather

[JTR70]

Hey Marvin,
Welcome once again! Just saw your photo; what a beautiful Cab! Thanks for posting it! Justin

BTW: to add an avatar photo go to your profile, there you will find a little square blue button to the right hand sign that reads "edit". You'll find the photo upload menu there...

[Don C]

Hi, my name is Don Cichocki, I live in Lafayette, NJ. Picked up a '65 356C September of 2013 that needs some work.
Learned about this site from Tom Perazzo.

[Pat]

Welcome to a really great site!

[JTR70]

Hi Don,

Thanks for joining us and welcome to our forum! This is your first 356? Any photos? Welcome once again and my thanks to Tom for putting out the good word!
Justin

[bbspdstr]

I'll second Justin's thanks to Tom.

Don, if you ask, there is not much you can't get from this site.
"Professional advice and enthusiast support" makes me feel guilty for being away for awhile even though I have been telling anyone who would listen that Justin's site is a great resource and just plain good 356 (and other Porsche) entertainment.

Yes, let's spread the word.

So, Don, welcome! For starters, please explain "needs some work." Is it drivable? (Of course, probably not in the storm going on in our area as I write this, but I do not know what part of NJ Lafayette is in, so maybe you aren't getting what we in SE PA are getting right now!

-Bruce Baker (former owner of a '65 C used as an everyday, get-to-work car)

[Don C]

Justin and Bruce,
Thanks for the kind words! Yes, right now we're getting slamed with probably the biggest snow storm this winter and my car is outside under a car cover.
I'm 63, retired, was a machinist for over 25 years, and this is my 1st 356. I had a 2008 Cayman 2.7 for 5 yrs but the 356 bug got me. I found a '65 "C" out in Detroit where the dealer would consider a trade plus cash. Short story, went out there, decided to do it, on the drive home I got 1/2 way (300 miles)and the engine blew. Trailered it home, removed engine, found I holed a piston from detonation. Probably a good thing because the engine was rebuilt in the early 80's and totally screwed up. A big bore kit was installed and the heads were cut to who knows what CR. The wristpin bearings were floating in the con rods so the oil holes weren't lining up.
One valve guide was floating in it's bore. Half the valve springs were in upside down. Where the front cam cap sits in the case 1 stud was missing and the other stud had no nut. There's more but that will give you an idea of what I was dealing with. Luckily the crank, cam, lifters, cases, and most everything else was in good shape. I've since rebuilt the engine using a Shasta 1720 kit and a Precission Matters full flow oil system. The engine had Italian Weber IDF 40's and using John Wilhoit's recommendations it's now jetted very nice. I'm still playing with the accelerator pumps as they are the old "cam & roller" type.
The body was "restored" in much the same way as the engine, patches & Bondo. They must have sandblasted the body because the whole thing looks like it has celulite! I plan to get it in good shape mechanically then drive it and decide later what I want to do.
Regards,
Don

[merbesfield]

Welcome Don. I love that color combination, white/tan. One of my favorites. Sounds like you are extremely competent with the mechanics. I wish I had that level of mechanical knowledge. It's the engine stuff that intimidates me. Keep on posting.

Edit PS where do you live. I'm in Atlanta and covered in snow as well. Feels like North Dakota!

[Don C]

Merb,
I live in northern NJ. It's about 11:00 AM and it's snowing like crazy and this is just the beginning. 1st picture is out the front window and the 2nd is the 356 under it's car cover. Won't be doing any work for a while!

[merbesfield]

Merb,
I live in northern NJ. It's about 11:00 AM and it's snowing like crazy and this is just the beginning. 1st picture is out the front window and the 2nd is the 356 under it's car cover. Won't be doing any work for a while!

Poor little 356! No indoor garage space? We have snow, but not like yours.

[roy mawbey]

Don,

Welcome, your car will be very nice. All the advice you need if you need any, especially with bodywork will be found here.

Cheers from a very soggy UK,

Roy

[Don C]

Guys, thanks for the kind words and encouragement!
One of my 1st projects this spring will be to enlarge my 10'X18' shed into 22'X18" garage. Makes me sick having to leave the car outside but it'll have a home this summer.

[bbspdstr]

Makes me sick having to leave the car outside but it'll have a home this summer.
Ha! My C didn't have a garage but the real trouble was having Philly people 'park by ear' and disrespect it's bumpers! That's what we'd get for actually driving them!

Don, that color combo is great, as posted previously. I recently did a PPI on a Roadster that was painted Irish green over the tan interior, neither original to that car. The new buyer is returning the exterior to Elfinbein hell (light Ivory), but the interior is staying due to the original being red and the new owner not liking that as much.

Good 'formula' for the engine, too. I like the J&E pistons in bored 'seasoned' C barrels. The 86mm can be felt, seat-of-the-pants, too.

Drive the wheels off the car when weather permits....before doing anything but safety items. Brakes; dual master (early 900-series), of course hoses if no paperwork says they are less than ~7 years old, tires (age, not wear) and please do NOT forget to check the special C steering coupler up front. They de-laminate, rubber from aluminum. (2 VW discs and spacers work fine.)

Being a machinist likely means you can teach the rest of us more than the other way around, but this place is where everyone can learn.

Yep, you have the same snow as we got in PA. We are over a foot and it's not over yet, just icing between snows.