356 and VW Starter Photos

Text and photos by Jim Breazeale

Bosch (as well as most commercial rebuilders) rebuilt starters have the same part number as VWs. There is only one starter for your 356C Porsche. Unfortunately, Bosch does not have a separate part number for their rebuilt starters and freely substitutes a VW in it's place. The only difference is the orientation of the starter as it bolts to the transmission. The mounting holes on VW starters are at approximately 90 degrees to the solenoid and the Porsche starter had the holes at about 30 degrees. The VW starter will work but there will be problems installing it. The best solution is to have the Porsche starter in your car rebuilt by an expert who knows what they are doing.

C starters are much smaller in overall dimensions than the earlier starters that came in 356s, 356As and 356Bs. Putting a "late" VW starter in a 356 will not cause much of an "interference" problem. The problem arises when one tries to install an "early" VW starter in a 356. [More photos from Jim Breazeale]

Early Porsche starter

Early VW starter

Late Porsche starter

Late VW starter

[More photos from Jim Breazeale]

[More information from Alan Klingen, Brad Ripley, and Dave Wildrick, with photos by Ken Daugherty]

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