Workin' on the ol' race car...

[John2.0T]

hey guys -

As some of you may have noticed during the march GTG my dad and I have an old Porsche 356 race car in the garage. We finally started working on it over the last couple weeks and here are some updates :).

Pics after getting it out of the trailer...
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y99/JBurgman/DSC02235.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y99/JBurgman/DSC02234.jpg

Up on jack stands...
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y99/JBurgman/DSC02658.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y99/JBurgman/DSC02659.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y99/JBurgman/DSC02660.jpg

After changing the oil and attempting to start... it just teased me with a few small sputters. Off with the carbs! Lots of gas varnish on both carbs after sitting for 5 years. Cleaned up all the jets and reset the idle needles, new plugs and wires.
We threw in some 92 octane fuel to get it started and made a few idle adjustments just to get it running somewhat consistently. It was SO rich at start up that the garage quickly filled with exhaust smoke . Played around with the Synchrometer and managed to get both carbs running together properly. It is still very rich and backfiring quite a bit but here are a couple videos. It'll sound much better on the proper fuel, timing and valve adjustment.

Idle - http://s3.photobucket.com/albums/y99/JBurgman/?action=view&current=MOV02661.flv

Couple quick revs with lots of backfiring -
http://s3.photobucket.com/albums/y99/JBurgman/?action=view&current=MOV02657.flv

I plan on doing a bit more tuning tomorrow now that my dad showed me whats up... and after some reading on Solex carb tuning
I'll have a couple more vids tomorrow with a real camcorder if all goes well

[vwmeister]

sweet! I'd love to take a peek of her sometime!

[iowaboostin]

Nice :tu: :D

[John2.0T]

thanks!

you guys can take a peek anytime :)

[iowaboostin]

So what're the plans for it in the future? Anything for the newer Porsche?

[John2.0T]

The rest of the plans are to get it back up to race spec. Valve adjustment and timing still needs to be done, brakes need to be bled with new fluid, new transmission fluid, etc.
There is a little bit of body work also due to the trailer ramp falling on the back end... not bad but an eye sore. New belts and fire bottle are on the way also.
We're taking a Skip Barber course at Road America in the middle of May - first race will probably be the VARAC Vintage Festival at Mosport.

Plans for the new one? Not sure on that its my dad's DD, haha. I think I talked him into a new set of summer kicks but thats about it ;).

[iowaboostin]

Very cool! My stepdad is big into restorations/etc so I've grown up around all of that stuff :tu:

I'm jealous, that Porsche is gonna be friggin' sweet when done.

[John2.0T]

feel free to come over any time and get your hands dirty - i can always use an extra hand ;)