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Fri Jan 03, 2020 5:50 pm

I have never owned a type3 but have always wanted one. Been into VWs more than 30 years and a little intimidated.
First off the engine reads U0030801 VIN tag and chassis read 365054438
Thanks for any feedback.

Fri Jan 03, 2020 5:51 pm

It's a '65 Squareback.

Definitely not the original engine case.

What else you wanna know? :D

Fri Jan 03, 2020 5:52 pm

By looking at VIN chart it seems engine is 1963. Am I wrong? Do all '65s have front side markers ( small type blinker)?

Fri Jan 03, 2020 5:54 pm

ghiafreek wrote: By looking at VIN chart it seems engine is 1963. Am I wrong?

Yes, you can't leave off the U when looking at engine number. Early engines did not have a letter prefix.

Looking at the chart it seems U cases didn't show up until around '67.

As for the side marker, are you talking about a light on the front fender? If so, that is not a side marker but a parking light. They were on Euro-spec cars but not US-spec cars. Since VW did not officially start selling the Type 3 in the US until 1966 model year then that would make sense.

The parking light should come on when 1) ignition is OFF and 2) the turn signal lever is moved to that side.

Fri Jan 03, 2020 7:23 pm

Fri Jan 03, 2020 7:59 pm

U0 1968-1973 1600cc - fuel injected for USA
U0 1970 1600cc - dual-relief case

Fri Jan 03, 2020 8:17 pm

ghiafreek wrote:

Yep those are the Euro-market parking lights.

When you park on the street and turn the car off, you move the turn signal stalk to turn on either the left or right side, whichever is the street side. That lights up the bulb on that side only.

Sat Jan 04, 2020 7:21 am

Oh my nice ride, an Euro squareback. Don't be afraid of the type 3 they ride better then the type 1.
Whats the plan for the car? Sorta like you the type 3 is the same as type ones but different. I was lucky and scored several type three manuals that cover the side marker lights. Welcome to type 3!

Sat Jan 04, 2020 10:59 am

sjbartnik wrote: ghiafreek wrote:

Yep those are the Euro-market parking lights.

When you park on the street and turn the car off, you move the turn signal stalk to turn on either the left or right side, whichever is the street side. That lights up the bulb on that side only.

Nice looking, mostly complete unmolested car you have there.

Some of us turn those "parking lights" into side marker or turn signals. It's not hard to do, just a little rewiring (move the power wire on the fuse box to one that is hot with the key on) and adding a flasher unit in between. :wink:
Have fun with it. The differences you'll run into are mainly the engine cooling lay out (uses basically the same long block as a bug or Ghia), and the front axle.
Just remember the golden rule, don't throw away anything you replace, until it's installed and working correctly. And even then, you still might want to hang on to it.

Sun Jan 05, 2020 8:19 am

Thanks. I just got it home yesterday and I'm looking closely at everything. First type 3, you know. I have noticed some on some '65 threads that they don't have the side markers. I understand from earlier reply that all '65s were imports. So, they all didn't have the side markers? Mine does. Is it a different model?

Sun Jan 05, 2020 9:34 am

Some '64 & '65 models have no side markers as they were built for the Canadian market. The '64 & '65 models with side markers were built for the European market. Usually the hatch script is 1500 for the Canadian market & Variant for the European market.

Sun Jan 05, 2020 9:39 am

rustyfastback wrote: Usually the hatch script is 1500 for the Canadian market & Variant for the European market.

Good point. Here's the hatch script on my '65 (with side markers)

Sun Jan 05, 2020 11:24 am

Then I guessing variant S given the holes on hatch.

Sun Jan 05, 2020 11:45 am

The S was the twin-carb version.

Sun Jan 05, 2020 12:17 pm

Still not sure because it a later motor.

Sun Jan 05, 2020 12:50 pm

Those small holes are for the correct emblems. Top Volkswagen script uses 4 holes (2 upper & 2 lower). Middle Variant script uses 4 holes (2 upper & 2 lower). Bottom 2 (upper towards right side lower towards left side) are for the S badge. That larger hole in the middle was added by a previous owner maybe for a different badge. Later engine cases are commonly used for all models as they are more common.

Sun Jan 05, 2020 1:02 pm

Engine id

Sun Jan 05, 2020 3:33 pm

I would not worry about having the original engine. You can make it look just the same as a '65 engine.

Sun Jan 05, 2020 4:12 pm

Yeah having the original engine is pretty uncommon these days.

Mon Jan 06, 2020 12:14 pm

sjbartnik wrote: Yeah having the original engine is pretty uncommon these days.

Agreed. It's not a really big deal. It only becomes a really big deal when you buy a car with the original engine. However with time and age, the OE engine may have been over heated several times and the case warped. Then it's time for a replacement. I have zero regrets replacing the engine in my 65 Notch with a new all aluminum case engine (did that 13+ years ago). I've also driven the car many places without worry as a result.