engine Info

[Jordan McGoey]

Hey everyone thanks for the warm welcome.

So I have a 1980 FF. Then engine has one exhaust pipe (rather than the two vw beetle’s had) but how do I know what year the engine is? Is there a way to date it so I can order the correct parts?

Thanks in advance, 2 days in and I am already hooked.

[Bob]

The VW engines don’t always have the same number of tailpipes.

Look under the alternator (more likely than it being a generator), next to the oil filler, below the stand where it mounts on top of the engine. Don’t be confused by the stand base itself where you will see 1-4-3-2 which is the spark plug firing order.

Alphanumeric code usually exists there, unless it’s blank like mine is because of being a replacement.

Link to code list is at http://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/info/engine_letters.php

[Jordan McGoey]

Awesome, thanks for the help! so I have a 1980 FF and a 1973 vw engine. This is all new to me so this is probably a stupid question but where do the engines come from? Are they from used donor cars or are they new or rebuilt engines??

[Paul Mossberg]

Jordan,

In a word… Yes.   All the options you list are possible. And the bottom line is you may never know.

German cases that were originally in a vehicle have engine numbers on them. I believe Brazilian and Mexican engines installed in production cars had engine numbers as well.

Engine cases not intended for the production line may not have case numbers.

Here’s another article on VW engine case numbers:

http://www.vw-resource.com/engine_number.html

Paul Mossberg
Former Owner of a 1981 Classic Roadsters Ltd. Duchess (VW)
2005 Intermeccanica Roadster

If you own a TDr and are not in the Registry, please go to https://tdreplica.com/forums/topic/mg-td-replica-registry/ and register (you need to copy and paste the link)

[edward ericson]

Ah, grasshopper! Sit with your legs crossed and listen and learn.

VW air cooled engines are like any ancient car engine you can get in that there are original, used parts to be found (look around on the SAMBA website) and new, aftermarket parts. There are also several skilled VW engine builders around who, for an immodest cash outlay, will build you an immodest engine. 

CB Performance is among the best known and regarded of these.

In the VW world there are also many, many engine builders who, for a somewhat less immodest outlay of cash, will build for you an engine that looks much like the one you could get from Chuck Beck or someone like him. Avoid these builders (GEX is among the most notorious, but there are many more).

It seems that VW engines are built to tolerances and require care that other motors–an old Chevy small block, for example–do not require. As a result, more care and skill is needed to make one that’s strong and reliable.

The problem with this, however, is that many of the main parts suppliers do not supply parts of the same precision or quality as was once produced in Germany. And so the Type 1 VW engine is becoming harder and harder to make well.

All that said, relax: if all you want to do is cruise around in a cool car with 50-65 horsepower, none of the above applies to you. Tune up your old 1600cc dual port, maybe get a Pertronix or similar disty so you don’t have to mess with points, and drive happy. 

edsnova2015-11-22 21:28:28

[billnparts]

Now that’s a wonderful sentiment. “Drive Happy!” Ed, I’m stealing that.

Bill Ascheman
Fiberfab Ford
Modified 5.0, 5sp., 4:11
Autocross & Hillclimb
"Drive Happy"

[Jordan McGoey]

Got it, will do and thank again for the info. Going to try and get some pics up tonight before I start pulling things apart!!

[Author]

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