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Thu Aug 08, 2024 7:37 am

Hello all,

I have done some searching and cannot find specific information regarding how to determine if I have a "numbers matching" engine in my car. I do not have a birth certificate, though it appears engine numbers aren't included on them anymore anyway. Can someone please tell me how I can determine if my engine is the same one installed by the factory when the car was built?

Many thanks,
Clayt

Thu Aug 08, 2024 8:48 am

Locate the chassis number stamped on the frame under the rear seat. Locate the engine number below the generator stand. Go to this chart:

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

In the chassis # column the first chassis built that month/year is listed. Find the chassis numbers that your chassis number falls between. That will tell you the month/year your car was built. Repeat this with the engine number in the engine # column. That will tell you when the engine was built. If the car and engine were built the same month (or the engine was built a month earlier), there is a very high likelihood that that engine is original to the car. It is always possible that the original engine was replaced with a used one that happened to be built within a month of when the car was built ... but that would be an unlikely coincidence.

BTW ... I believe you can check the transmission the same way by looking up the transmission number in the rear axle column. The transmission number is stamped on the bottom of the transmission on the right side ... oil/grease/road grime may need to be removed to find it.

I have one of those rare survivors where the engine and transmission on my '63 were built the same month as the car.

Thu Aug 08, 2024 10:57 am

If you order a birth certificate you can tell them the engine number in your car and they will tell you if it is correct to the car.
They no longer send the engine number because people with non-original engines were stamping their reman units with the original number and asking more money for them. Quite clever, but very disingenuous.

Thu Aug 08, 2024 11:38 am

obnoxiousblue wrote: If you order a birth certificate you can tell them the engine number in your car and they will tell you if it is correct to the car.
They no longer send the engine number because people with non-original engines were stamping their reman units with the original number and asking more money for them. Quite clever, but very disingenuous.
This is what I did to confirm mine. If the certificate came with the car you might order a new one and include the engine number when you do.

Mon Aug 12, 2024 6:02 pm

Quote: Locate the chassis number stamped on the frame under the rear seat. Locate the engine number below the generator stand. Go to this chart:

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

In the chassis # column the first chassis built that month/year is listed. Find the chassis numbers that your chassis number falls between. That will tell you the month/year your car was built. Repeat this with the engine number in the engine # column. That will tell you when the engine was built. If the car and engine were built the same month (or the engine was built a month earlier), there is a very high likelihood that that engine is original to the car. It is always possible that the original engine was replaced with a used one that happened to be built within a month of when the car was built ... but that would be an unlikely coincidence.
Very good detailed instructions on using the VIN/Chassis chart. One little correction though: numbers listed are for the LAST vehicle produced in that month.

Tue Aug 13, 2024 5:53 am

h~moto wrote: One little correction though: numbers listed are for the LAST vehicle produced in that month.

#-o Details matter ... thanks for the correction! Apologies to those I've misinformed. :oops: