TheSamba.com :: View topic - Numerical White Stamp Markings on Fan Shroud

Tue Feb 16, 2021 1:15 pm

Does anyone know what the numbered white stamp marks on the front of the fan shroud mean???? I have a 158 numerical stamp on the front / facing side of the fan shroud and could not find its meaning....

I also searched other Ghia's for sale with their engine bay open and found other fan shrouds marked the same...I did find one marked EA 364 which was a late '74

Could it perhaps be an inspector's stamp???? Not sure....

Tue Feb 16, 2021 3:37 pm

That is an M-code telling specs. of the engine. Excaust control system maybe?

Wed Feb 17, 2021 9:17 am

So I looked up the M-Code on the Samba site for Ghia's and there was no 158 on the chart....for Type I's however, 158 represents cloth upholstery....

Wed Feb 17, 2021 11:06 am

I noticed that too but check out M code 157 for Ghias, I bet it's something very similar to that.

One entry from 157
44 bhp engine - 53 SAE with exhaust control system, with activated carbon container for absorbing fuel vapor
from Chassis No. 148 000 001 up to 149 1200 000

Wed Feb 17, 2021 11:15 am

"I O"marking is the German equivalent of "OK"...
The 158 has me baffled..the engine assembler certainly didn't care what upholstery the car had.. Across all tech archives ( type 1 through 14) is 157.
I even dug out an old Type 181 book I have and it's the same for all..Emission control system(S)...carbon canister etc.

Maybe o'l Hanz had a few too many schnapps the night before?
These numbers can usually be found on the back (front) of the shroud as well..
Can you get a peek behind? maybe with a mirror? What engine number is this one?

Edit..also this stenciled number should have the number 14 ahead of it if it were original to the Ghia

Wed Feb 17, 2021 5:25 pm

I did find the number 158 on the back side as well....my engine number is: AE595340

The other making was a "LO" on the fan not "IO"...part of the lettering was blocked by the transfer tube....

I sure would like to know what these stampings mean...it's starting to drive me crazy not knowing...

Wed Feb 17, 2021 6:33 pm

elmer.feick wrote: I did find the number 158 on the back side as well....my engine number is: AE595340

The other making was a "LO" on the fan not "IO"...part of the lettering was blocked by the transfer tube....

I sure would like to know what these stampings mean...it's starting to drive me crazy not knowing...

Strange for sure..Your engine case number aligns with post August 1972.. meaning a 1973 model..but this is for type1 beetle..according to archived info here, the Ghia engines had the letter 0 after the AE.. and that rolls into the 1973 model..( I have only in my life seen one numbers
matching engine to a Ghia but that was a late '60s model H0 number) so I've never seen a "AE 0 xxxxxx" case...

I did mention earlier that I've seen Ghia shrouds with the 14 157 on it..

Maybe it's possible that a previous owner painted the shroud after an engine swap and picked those numbers and letters to paint back on for posterity..albeit with no real meaning? ( that "LO" instead of "IO" makes no sense either)

Wed Feb 17, 2021 7:21 pm

As pointed out by Everett, these numbers were equipment designations used by the factory to make sure that certain types of engines made their way into the correct vehicles.

Thu Feb 18, 2021 9:23 am

Thanks to all who responded....I think I'll put this to rest....the engine is original, not a swap out....and the vehicle is registered as a 72'....I do want to keep the vehicle as original as possible and that is where this quest for knowledge all started

Thu Feb 18, 2021 3:33 pm

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/info/engine_letters.php

Sat Feb 20, 2021 7:21 pm

When I researched these for my 71 beetle vert, I found that they were marked with the following markings

1. Type - for Typ another than beetle - I.e engines going into KG were marked 14, into beetle verts were marked 15. Probably to distinguish those that were designated to be sent to Karmann.

2. Engine size - mine was marked 1.6. Not sure if all engines were marked or just the S (1600) code engines to differentiate from the similar looking 1300.

3. M-codes related to engine. Mine was marked m-240. I’ve seen others marked with US emission related codes.

4. I.O. Marking. This OK symbol seemed freehand with more variation (may explain why the I looks like an L for OP)

Thu Jul 25, 2024 9:52 am

Old thread - I know - but I'll jump in for the next person.
I also have a 158 stamp on my 1974.

I'm guessing the 158 was the US/California Emissions (or close to it)

My set up was:
- Intake manifold 113 129 701 CE with the EGR valve and DVDA vacuum port
- Single heat risers - although I see some CA with 2 pipes (also on the muffler)
- The 34 PICT-3 Carb had a decel can mounted on it
- The charcoal can shown in yours (I never put mine back on).

Sat Nov 02, 2024 7:03 am

Is there a 14 marking on the front of the shroud (facing the firewall)?

Sat Nov 02, 2024 8:06 am

PolarBearVW wrote: Old thread - I know - but I'll jump in for the next person.
I also have a 158 stamp on my 1974.

I'm guessing the 158 was the US/California Emissions (or close to it)

My set up was:
- Intake manifold 113 129 701 CE with the EGR valve and DVDA vacuum port
- Single heat risers - although I see some CA with 2 pipes (also on the muffler)
- The 34 PICT-3 Carb had a decel can mounted on it
- The charcoal can shown in yours (I never put mine back on).
I just dug through a book with fairly comprehensive M-codes from the mid '70s, and it doesn't list M158 anywhere. It does list M157 all over the place, and that is USA/Kanada spec engine. Interestingly enough, M157 refers to the fact that the engine is USA/Kanada spec, but it doesn't matter what engine it is. Type 1, type IV, watercooled, etc. All the M157 are 1.5l-1.8l USA/Kanada engines.

California spec makes sense for M158

Sun Nov 03, 2024 8:09 pm

elmer.feick wrote: I did find the number 158 on the back side as well....my engine number is: AE595340

The other making was a "LO" on the fan not "IO"...part of the lettering was blocked by the transfer tube....

I sure would like to know what these stampings mean...it's starting to drive me crazy not knowing...

I'm pretty sure the LO is an I.O. with the I and the "." blurring together to look like an L.