356 World

Back to Basics!

by Glenn H. Hill

Because even the newest Porsche 356 is now 38 years old, there are many owners who are not aware of the maintenance needs of these early cars.  Today it’s easy to find stories in magazines or on the Web about poorly maintained 356’s coming into repair shops.  Some of these cars have not had their oil changed in the past year, others have valves that are hopelessly out of adjustment, and few have had their lubrication points greased in the past decade!  No wonder the car is in for repairs!!

            Let’s take a quick look at the highest priority maintenance jobs to be performed on our beloved four-cylinder German masterpieces.  Most of this information is spelled out clearly in the factory owner’s manual.  If you do not have an owner’s manual, you should buy one immediately!  You will note that it is a true owner’s manual and will amaze you with its level of detail.  The tasks below are in a somewhat-prioritized order, but all are considered important, and many apply to other Porsche models as well…especially early 911’s

            1. Oil Change:  Virtually all Porsche technicians agree this is the SINGLE most important maintenance task to be performed on a 356.  This is because the 356 has a bypass filtration system that only cleans about 10% of the oil at a time, so it gets dirty quickly.  Since most 356’s today don’t accumulate more than a few thousand miles per year (if that), you should just focus on changing the oil twice yearly…sooner if you actually DO put some miles on the car…like if you drive all the way to the Porsche Parade in Tampa.  Most sources say to change the filter every OTHER oil change, but a new one costs just $5, so many owners change it every time.  An oil change is very cheap maintenance, and you car will thank you for it.

            2. Tune-up:  Perform a tune-up annually, preferably at the start of the motoring season.  A tune-up should include a valve adjustment, timing check, spark plug and ignition wire inspection and/or replacement, air filter inspection, carburetor adjustment, fan belt tension check, and distributor maintenance (inspect cap, check points, and lube the distributor cam) A good tune-up is vitally important in keeping your 356 in good running order, and can easily be done at home by most enthusiasts once you’ve researched the procedures using competent sources of information.

            3. Inspect and bleed brakes:  Since the 356 only has a single-circuit brake system, it is critical that an owner pay close attention to the condition and functioning of the car’s brakes and brake lines.  Inspect the level of the brake fluid monthly, and have the brake fluid changed yearly by a competent shop if you do not feel comfortable doing it yourself, although the procedure is roughly outlined in the owner’s manual.  Also pay special attention to any unusual brake issues, like pulling to one side, strange noises, or a brake pedal that “leaks down” when depressed.  If any such symptoms do occur, have the car serviced immediately.

            4. Grease Job:  All the books say it…the key to having a reliable 356 suspension is frequent and regular greasing of the suspension points.  Jack the car up so the weight is off the suspension and squirt fresh grease into ALL the lube points.  Even the doors function better with grease…yes, they have grease nipples too!   While we’re lubricating things, clean the ball-joints connecting the foot pedals and carburetor linkages and lube them with a dab of motor oil.  You might be amazed how much smoother things feel when you step on the gas!

            5. Electricals:  One way to keep your 356 electrical accessories functioning properly is to clean EVERYTHING!  Since most 356’s are six-volt, any dirt or corrosion on the contact really inhibits good current flow.  Clean your battery and starter-motor contacts once a year (please disconnect battery first!), and a bi-annual cleaning of headlight contacts, blinker contacts, etc, will keep them all illuminated.  Use a clean cotton cloth and rubbing alcohol to clean the contacts, or if they are very dirty, scrub them first with some 600-grit sandpaper. Clean your fuse box contacts as well and replace the fuses every two years.  Just cleaning your electrical contacts alone can result in better starting, brighter lights, and greater reliability.

Glenn

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