Engine Codes for Thing

[vitaminc914]

I have 2 Things. One is a 73 and the other is a 74. The number plates and the stamp on the tunnel match for both of them. What I don't know if the engines are from the same years as the cars.
The engine codes are as follows: AH 219421 and AM 026177

I tried to look up on the technical side, but they don't mention the 181.

Any help is appreciated.

Ray

[seilerj]

It's my understanding that the AM engine were original to the US things

[booch]

First page of the book, taken from here:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/manuals/engine_code_letters.php
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Old City Oil Drippers Northeast

[vitaminc914]

Thank you for the engine codes list. This is very helpful. I am going to contact VW museum and see if they can tell me what year is the engine from. I am guessing that they put the same engines in the 73 & 74.

[SilverThing]

The 181 had multiple different engines over the years (H1, AF, AG, AL, AM).
• 1970 civilian and military models had the H1 1500cc single port engine with 30pict2 carburetors: 44hp.
• 1971 civilian models used AG engines, which were low compression ratio 1600cc twin port engines with 31pict3 carburetors: 44hp. 1971 military models used the H1 1500cc engine until February 1971, when they started using AG engines.
• 1972 civilian and military models used AG engines.
• 1973 models had AG, AL, and AM engines simultaneously. The AL and AM engines were normal compression ratio 1600cc twin port engines with 34pict3 carburetors: 48hp. AM was used for the US market (emissions) while the AL was used everywhere else.
• 1974 models had AF, AG, AL, and AM engines. The AF engine was a low compression 1600 twin port with a 34pict3 carburetor: 46hp.
• 1975 and 1976 had AF, AG, and AL.
• 1977 and 1978 had AF and AL.
• 1979-1982 only lists AF.

The factory data I have puts your AM engine between the 7th of January of 1974 (AM 0 016 001) and the 30th of September 1974 (AM 0 029 046).

Your AH engine is from a beetle between 1st August 1973 (AH 0 101 889) and 31 December 1973 (AH 0 294 654).

Hope this helps!
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"I like how everyone likes talking about Zeke's Thing yet he's the only one that's ever seen it." - Katie
"I've seen pictures..." - Jeremy

[vitaminc914]

This is great information. Thank you so much for your help. I am in the process of getting the 73 ready for sale and I want to provide the future owner with as much information as I can.
It appears that someone spent a lot of money on that car but they did take some inexpensive shortcuts. I never understood how someone can spend $17k on a project getting all new parts, yet they skimp on a simple $6 item.

Hoping to have the 73 ready soon...
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Ray

1974 Porsche 914/2.0 (Owned since 1988)
1966 Bug Sedan
1978 Westy
1976 Westy (sold)
1975 Bug Convertible (sold)
1979 Bug Convertible (Epilogue) (sold)
1977 Bug Convertible (sold)
1973 Thing x2 (sold)
1974 Thing (Avocado Green) (sold)
1972 Porsche 914 V8 (sold)
1973 Porsche 914/1.7 (project) (sold)
1988 Porsche 911 Cabriolet (sold)
1985 Porsche 944 (sold)
1980 Porsche 928 (sold)

[frogman_94]

This thread made me check my engine code. To my surprise the engine code is AB886624. I knew it wasn't an original engine but when I looked it up it says it's a 1300. Is there a way to tell if it really is a 1300 or machined to 1600?

[SilverThing]

1300cc engine cases don't require machining to be made into 1600cc engines. The heads are a different story.
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"I like how everyone likes talking about Zeke's Thing yet he's the only one that's ever seen it." - Katie
"I've seen pictures..." - Jeremy