Pre A SOS

[VCG]

Hello, This is just amazing to see, somehow I managed to miss the earlier postings the first I saw was the gearbox which is just beautiful, as is all the rest. I have a question about what I think could be the 'choke' cable shown on a wooden board, although the construction is very different to our '55, what's the source of the cable or if you had it made what is the total length?
Vincent

[Phil Parry]

Making progress:
Carbs are back from Carburetor Rescue in the US. Jim and Candace provide an excellent service. They really know their stuff and - just as important - they communicate and explain what's what. Very pleased.

Green Mann filter. Those with fluted lids had green lids. Those with smooth lids had black lids.



Tacho back from Palo Alto Speedometer in Hollywood. Great service, quick turnaround, good communication.



A collection of purchases from Stepan Gencev in the Czech Republic. Looks like we have the balancing tube for a 1500 Normal engine, so need to swap that for a Super tube. The 1952 parts catalogue, 1953 supplement and 1955 parts catalogue are a 'little' confusing when it comes to 53/54 cars.

[Phil Parry]

By the way, does anyone know of a source of Pre A window channels / window lifters? The metal strip that the door window sits in.

[arprea]

Yes! Virtanen restoration panels makes them according to original. Excellent quality - tell regards from me.

http://restorationpanels.com

[Phil Parry]

Some Pre A engine trivia courtesy of much head scratching here and also thanks to James Davies across the pond.

This is all about carburetor compensating lines, also known as balancing tubes.

Confusion arises because there was a 1952 parts catalogue, a March 1953 supplement and a 1955 parts catalogue. The 52 and 53 documents are somewhat incomplete and there is virtually nothing about 528 (1500 Super) engines.

What we think we have established is the following (for the very few people out there who need to know!!):

Figure 7 of the 1955 parts catalogue, which shows the carbs / fuel system shows a very wobbly 14mm compensating line (part number 502.08.311), which is correct for:
- 506/2 1300 engines
- 546/2 1500 engines

Figure 7 shows two sets of manifolds. The ones on the outside edges of the diagram are skinnier and correct for 589 and 589/2 1300 Super engines. Confusion creeps in here because these manifolds use the 18mm compensating line shown on figure 9 (part number 528.08.311), NOT the one shown on figure 7. The reason they're shown on this diagram is because the 1300 Super engines use 32 PBI carbs and everything else figure 7 is relevant to those carbs.

Figure 9 of the 1955 parts catalogue, which shows the carbs / fuel system shows a less wobbly 18mm compensating line (part number 528.08.311), which is correct for:
- 589 1300 Super engines as explained above
- 589/2 1300 Super engines as explained above
- 528 1500 Super engines
- 528/2 1500 Super engines
You can buy these from Albert Haefner at http://www.classic-parts.fr/pieces-porsche-356

[url=https://flic.kr/p/L7BWjC]

The 1952 parts catalogue shows the simplest compensating line of the lot, which is for 369 (1100 engines), 506 (1300 engines) and 527 (1500 engines). It is part number 369.08.262.1 on page 31 referring back to illustration IV on page 26. James speculates that the simplicity of this tube is perhaps because the split window cars had a different set of linkages for the throttle, a cable setup, not a rod linkage. The same tube was used even for those 527 engines that had 40 PBIC carbs (these were mounted on the 32 PBI manifolds atop an adaptor plate).

[Phil Parry]

Many months have passed since my last post. Summer 2016 has whizzed by. It's Goodwood weekend and for some reason I'm not there and there is no Castle Hedingham!! The Kings Head Klassic was a nice fix and a good first year for the boys at KK. I suspect it will get bigger and better every year.

The Pre A is now in primer and soon to be in top coat. We've sprayed out two different Adria Blue forumulas (can't say formulae!). I'll post pics shortly and would be really interested to hear people's views.

[url=https://flic.kr/p/M4VNpz][url=https://flic.kr/p/M4VNpz]

[roy mawbey]

Phil,

The car is looking fabulous, super job indeed.

Roy

[Phil Parry]

Thanks Roy. I thought it may interest someone else pulling together the parts for a Pre A engine to see some pics which match some of the pages of the 1952 and 1955 parts catalogues. I know I would have found this useful a few months ago.

In this first photo, substitute the black tube shown two posts above where I refer to part number 528.08.311 and figure 9 from the 1955 parts catalogue. I've since obtained the T-piece that connected the carb linkage to the right hand carb and the missing rod circled at the bottom of the page - again from Albert Haefner at Classic Parts France. Can't find the bolt shown at item 17 anywhere though. Will have to improvise.

[Phil Parry]

I have early heads that take the 8mm diameter valve stems and so needed little valve extension caps for these, shown as item 24 on the second image. I meant to take a better photo of the rockers with the cupped adjusting 'screws' fitted before I handed the parts over to Ian Clarke last week who is building the engine - but the third image will have to do. The top rocker in the photo is upside down, showing the cups that sit over the top of the valve. The bottom rocker is the right way up as you would view it installed in the engine (with the valve covers removed) showing the nut that secures and adjusts the screw.

[Phil Parry]

By the way, still missing one of these pulley covers with the relief (for the oil pump cover / tach drive) in case anyone has one...?

[Phil Parry]

Note that valve cover retaining clips are not the same size as on later engines (despite several people insisting that they are).

[Phil Parry]

[neilbardsley]

Thanks for sharing. Starting to take shape. I'm sure Mr Clark will do a great job on the engine

Sent from my MotoE2(4G-LTE) using Tapatalk

[Mike Smith]

I do have the Special Spring retaining Bolt that you `were` looking for - Item 17

I have also seen that piece of Sheetmetal - somewhere amongst our piles of rubbish ?

[Phil Parry]

Mike
That's great. I definitely still need item 17. It's proved most elusive. Paul had a hunt for the pulley cover a little while ago but couldn't find one with the relief.
We still need to get that trip to the library organised (we're an exciting pair!) - summer disappeared in a flash!
Hold on to item 17!!

And I should have added that there is a special Mike Smith Oldham Coupling in the photos - to eliminate wear on the tang on the end of the oil pump drive where it slots into the cam pulley!



See you soon
Phil