Article: And So It Began...356C Pt 3.

Steven Groh

Restoring a 356, Part 3: Every Picture Tells a Story “Every Picture Tells a Story (don’t it?)” is the title song in the classic 1971 Rod Stewart album of the same name. I know, you might be asking what does this have to do with restoring a 356? Well, now that we have, in Part 2, completed the first step in the restoration process by establishing proper chassis integrity, it is time to get to work re-assembling virtually everything that was removed – which was virtually everything! Hopefully, you took LOTS of photos before the disassembly process – in addition, of course, to carefully labeling everything removed and placed in ziplock bags or cardboard boxes and storing them by systems (brakes, electrical, interior, engine, suspension, etc.). I can tell you by experience that looking at a handful of nuts, washers and bolts in a plastic bag 1 year after removal can still leave you with a bit of a mystery. But thankfully you’re a genius and have photographs stored on a jump drive and ideally also printed out in a 3-ring binder for reference, right? This may sound like overkill. It is not!

For example, after receiving the bare chassis back, the first significant challenge I faced was installing the new replacement wiring harness. Since the original was inadvertently cut while the tunnel was being removed, and with its age now showing many warning signs of potential failures (which might take an awful long time to trace), it was sensible to replace it with a new YnZ harness. By far, simply approaching and secondly, installing the harness was the most daunting task in the entire restoration process. The new 5-piece harness scared the hell out of me. It looked about 14 feet long and with what looked like hundreds of connections, each marked with a paper tag which thank God referenced an included diagram and a description. It also looked significantly thicker than the diameter of the tube in the tunnel it was supposed to slide through. Even if I get it through the tube, how will I know how and where to connect it? As I pondered this, I hung the harness sections from the ceiling of the garage to straighten them out, and went to the photo file. Voila. I had years earlier taken around 40 photographs of every electrical connection, lighting, fuse block, and under-dash instrumentation points. Even the ones I thought were useless were invaluable. Since the YnZ harness is an exact replica of the original, when the occasional little paper numbered tag comes off, the color of the wire could still be matched to that seen in an old photograph. And, as a last resort, YnZ actually answers the phone! Through the process I spoke with their techs at least a half-dozen times and the owner once. You can imagine how nervous I was the first time I switched on the ignition. Everything worked! Well, except for one taillight. The bulb was dead. I swapped it out while celebrating with a Bourbon Manhattan. Tip: If you have the original harness, you are miles ahead. You can lay the existing next to the new, and check the connections to make sure they are the same (bullet or quick-slide?) since changing the style will not be fun after the harness is in place! Additionally, note the marks on the original left by the metal clips that hold the harness in place (see photo). These should be noted and transferred to the new harness so you will know how far to pull the harness through the tunnel, for example.

The original harness is shown entering from the tunnel (right, see blue zip-tie) and snaking under the removed pedalboard and up and paralleling the steering column. By noting where the metal clips pinch the harness (lower center) the re-

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placement harness can be marked and then fitted without worry as to running out of length to make a connection to instruments under the dash.

The original instruments were sent to North Hollywood Speedometer for restoration and recalibration. Excellent work. It is a great idea to photo the backs of all instruments to document their originality, as well as provide the shop with a photo record of the actual instruments when received by the shop. Good way to make sure you get the same ones back!

Another important reason to photo document the entire restoration process is to provide proof of what has been put into the car during restoration. Not only will the provide a starting point for any future work, but it adds substantially to the ultimate collectability (and value) of the car, for a new owner can see exactly what the car was prior to restoration and see all the fantastic work you’ve done to restore it. This original fuse block was also replaced with a new (part of the YnZ package) and colored connections and fuses noted. Outside of typical corrosion and some loose fuses and wires, there were no modifications found from the original, which was a surprise, though the wires were very stiff and brittle. (“Ran when parked!”)

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It is also worthwhile to document how and who has extended their talents to your restoration process. Here, Charles Allard of 50 Plus is preparing to test fire the matching numbers rebuilt 1600 Normal.

It purrs…..

Finally, photo documentation can show significant examples of originality under the surface which would otherwise require disassembly or removal of completed work. Examples of this are the original numbered body stampings inside the doors (photo) and conditions of floors (photo).

Chassis number 933 stamped in doors which would otherwise require removal of door cards to substantiate. 1956: Bernie and Marni Groh, Watkins Glen; 1955 Porsche 356 1500 Super Speedster

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Floor ready for undercoating. This photo allows the viewer the actual condition of the floor prior.

After undercoating. Since the floor subsequently received glued-on sound deadening, this is the only proof of the condition prior. Additionally, new carpeting was lightly glued on the sound deadening, which would make metal floor investigations troublesome to verify later! In part 4, we’ll look at interior installation as well as what reference material you should have in your library and online.

5-13-2014: 1965 356C Loaded in Trailer for the Journey Home to Maryland