VW Engine Letter Codes and Serial Number Information

• How Do I Tell What Year My Vw Engine Is
• Vw Motor Number Lookup
• The Samba Vw Serial Number

Type 1 Engine Information

Type 1 Vehicle Models: Beetle, Super Beetle, Karmann Ghia, THING

On the Type 4 ('72-83) engine, the code can be found stamped just in front of the breather tower. Do not go by the code on the fan shroud, as it may not be original to that engine. For a full list of engine codes on VW cars, click here. Type 1 Engines (found on Bus thru 1971). The engine number is stamped just under the alternator/oil filler stand (under the 'zunfolge 1432,' which means firing order 1432 in German). At first VW used a styraight number for the engine number. 1953-1974 VW Engine Type and Number.Dual-port version - Table courtesy of Haynes Automotive Repair Manual, VW Beetle & Karmann Ghia, 1954 thru 1979 Models, with additions from Rob Boardman. The single port engines make a little less power and can only.

Type 2 Engine Information

Type 2 Vehicle Models: Early Bus, Early Transporter, Single Cab, Double Cab (Doka))

Type 3 Engine Information

Type 3 Vehicle Models: Squareback, Fastback, Notchback

How Do I Tell What Year My Vw Engine Is

Type 4 Engine Information

Type 4 Vehicle Models: Late Bus, 411, 412

Engines from VW of Brazil

GAS-Gasoline / Alcohol-ALC

Vw Motor Number Lookup

Replacement cases

These were VW engine cases which were sold by VW but were never put into an actual production vehicle. All of these are dual-relief cases with 100mm oil passages. Information from a 5/73 USA service bulletin issued 5/73: Engines with the re-manufactured symbol, a letter, a number and ending with X, indicates a VW Exchange engine. Before Oct., 1968 the X was not stamped onto the block.

From April of 1972 Shortblocks were sold with the VW remanufacture symbol followed by a letter. No numbers were used, you were to stamp in the old engine number.

The Samba Vw Serial Number

Exchange engines

These engines are normally marked with a VW recycle symbol and an X at the end.

Information from a 5/73 USA service bulletin issued 5/73: Engines with the re-manufactured symbol, a letter, a number and ending with X, indicates a VW Exchange engine. Before Oct., 1968 the X was not stamped onto the block.

From April of 1972 Shortblocks were sold with the VW remanufacture symbol followed by a letter. No numbers were used, you were to stamp in the old engine number.

Alphanumeric Volkswagen Engine Codes were stamped on VW Engine cases at time of car manufacture to convey information about the size and specs of the engine. Because VW offered multiple engine sizes and made changes to their engines independently of model changes, they used Engine Codes instead of relying on VIN numbers for this purpose. There is some engine information that can be derived from VW VIN Numbers for pre-1968 vehicles.

From the first 1 or 2 digits of a Volkswagen Engine Code you can derive the approximate year and engine size. The remainder of a VW Engine Code is essentially a serial number.

Chart Information Crowdsourced at TheSamba.com