With the engine out of our low-mileage SC, we could really take a look at all of the drivetrain and give it a once over. Unfortunately, one of our first checks—that of adjusting the valves—showed that we had an issue with our case studs. Several of them were broken.
The hood handle is one of the first things you see when looking at the front of a 356 and it's hard not to notice when the handle is a little dingy or pitted with corrosion. Our 356 hood handles are an excellent, yet inexpensive way to solve this problem. They are perfect recreations of the originals.
Deves Piston Rings If you're rebuilding your engine and the pistons and cylinders measure to the original specifications, you should still replace the rings as a matter of course. We have had good experiences with the Deves line of rings and stock a selection for the early Porsches. The Deves rings are made here in the United States with same proprietary Swedish metallurgy that they started with back in 1928. They are designed to break in quickly and maintain compression for a good long time.
The standardization of bolt sizes and threads isn't quite as old as you might think. It wasn't until 1947 that standard metric sizing was created by the new ISO (International Standards Organization). The specs changed somewhat in the 1960s as 8mm bolts changed from having 14mm hex heads to 13mm. These older bolts and nuts with the larger hex are hard—if not impossible—to find. We've got a stock of a variety of 8mm bolts and nuts that will help you properly restore your 356. They're made in Germany and have a black oxide finish.
Stoddard NLA in 911 & Porsche World
They say you shouldn't toot your own horn—but it sure is nice when others do it for us! The June issue of the UK Magazine, 911 & Porsche World has a multipage feature on our company. We've uploaded a pdf of the article—you can find it at the bottom of the page linked here.
The Bosch CIS fuel injection used on 911s since midway through 1973 uses very specific pressure settings to make sure that the proper air and fuel ratios are fed to the engine. We have both the Factory replacement pump as well as a high-quality aftermarket Bosch piece in stock. They work on all normally aspirated 911s from 1973.5 through 1977.
Early 914 Window Roller Set
Like nearly all cars, the 914 received new door beam reinforcements in 1974 to comply with Federal DOT regulations. The changes also meant that the 914's smallish doors needed a different winding mechanism for the windows. The later parts are pretty straight forward—but the early cars have four tiny plastic rollers in each door that have long since crumbled to dust. We have a kit that replaces all eight of these rollers as well as the small metric washers that are used.
A friend of Stoddards, Dan Mainzer is working on a Concours-level early 914-6. We stopped by and took some pictures of the assembly project. While it didn't quite make it to this year's PCA Parade, it's still a stunning piece that will be on the showfield soon.
For Sale: Low Mileage B Coupe
This 1962 356B Coupe looks like a great bargain with an asking price of just $59,500. The owner states that it has just 53,000 miles on the odometer. The ad is on the 356 Registry's classified section and frankly, we're surprised it hasn't sold yet!
If you're replacing the front suspension pan on a early short wheelbase 911 or 912, you're going to have to also think about the brackets that the windshield washer bottle mounts to. We have the top and bottom brackets, as well as the felt pads that protect the bottle from damage from vibration.
Early 356 Fresh Air Vent Pull
The fresh air vent on the early 356 used a serrated pull rod that you turn and push or pull to the desired spot. They've been unavailable for years, leaving little option for those restorers who have seized or damaged originals. We've got excellent recreations in stock with a stainless rod and chrome plated bezel.
Late Arrival: Porsche Classic Radio With Navigation!
The great thing about old Porsches is that they are reliable and can be driven daily if you choose to. But old maps aren't the best way to know where your going—you need a navigation system these days. Porsche Classic has released a fully functional modern head unit with navigation for vintage 911s, as well as newer cars like the 964 or 993. The single-DIN sized unit comes with external USB connections for your iPod or IPhone. You can read a review HERE.