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MOTRS

356

1948-1965 / Coupe / Cabriolet / Speedster / Germany

All 356 problems All workshop issues
Common Transmission

Second Gear Synchro Wear

Symptoms

Second gear crunches or grinds on downshifts, particularly when cold. Eventually it grinds on upshifts as well.

Cause

Second gear synchro takes the most abuse in normal driving, every downshift from third loads the synchro. The brass synchro ring wears over decades of use until it can no longer equalise shaft speeds before engagement.

Fix

Gearbox rebuild with new synchro rings.

The transaxle must be removed from the car.

Cost: $3,000-$6,000 at a specialist.

Cost mentioned in fix
Cost: $3,000-$6,000

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Other known issues

Common Transmission

Ring and Pinion Noise

A pronounced whine or howl from the rear of the car that changes with speed and load. The noise may be louder on the overrun (deceleration) or under power.
Minor Body and Structure

Floor Pan Corrosion

The floor pans develop rust, perforation, and structural weakness. In severe cases, you can see the road through the floor. The driver's footwell and the area around the pedal box are particularly vulnerable.
Minor Body and Structure

Heater Channel Rot

The sills (rocker panels) that run along each side of the car are actually heater channels, hollow box sections that carry warm air from the engine compartment to the cabin. They corrode from the inside out, and by the time you see external rust, the structural integrity is already compromised.
Critical Body and Structure

Battery Box Corrosion

The metal surrounding the battery in the front compartment corrodes through from acid exposure. The corrosion spreads to adjacent panels and structural members.
Minor Body and Structure

Longitudinal Member (Helly) Corrosion

The main longitudinal structural members that run beneath the floor develop rust and lose structural integrity. These members carry the suspension loads and are critical to the car's structure.
Common Engine

Oil Leaks

Oil weeping or dripping from the pushrod tube seals, rocker cover gaskets, case halves, main seal, and oil cooler connections. A warm 356 engine will have oil residue on virtually every surface.
View all 15 356 problems