Engine ID and production #'s

[65ruby]

Just noticed that my 1200 has the letter "D" stamped BELOW the ID number.
What exactly does it mean?
It does NOT have the recycle sign next to it? It does have a VW stamp before the "D" tho? ../
My vin and engine #'s tell me it was produced in May 65.
Thanks in advance for any help!
Scott

[glutamodo]

Yes, I actually answered this question earlier in this thread. I'll quote myself:

[65ruby]

So the letter really means nothing as far as we know, just part of the serial number?
Thanks Andy
Scott

[glutamodo]

D means it's a 1200 and that's about the size of it.

[guitarzan1975]

This is interesting. I just bought a '66 a couple of weeks ago with a D code below the serial number. (9543***) The body and chassis code are both the same. (116509***) which seems to date to December 1965. Could this possibly be an orginal motor for this car? I thought 66's had 1300 F code motors. What does everyone think?

[glutamodo]

Yes, 1300 models in 1966 were all F blocks. They did sell 1200 models, but not in the USA. Your engine is an earlier, April, 1965, 1200. Someone previous owner probably needed an engine and the 1200 was avaiable, so they threw it in there.

Had this been a European 1200 model from 12/65, it would have been from engine number D0 046362 to D0 050314 - with the D coming before the serial number, not under it as shown above.

Look at your intake manifold, I'll be the ends are the straight up 1200 style, not the angled SP style.

[jarmchairpilot]

When D is stamped Under the engine no. it simply means the 1200 engine was rebuilt at one time by an official approved VW engine builder.
Of course that doesn't tell you when that was done or
how many miles ago that was ,
also that doesn't mean somebody else hasnt rebuilt the engine since the time VW rebuilt it.

In a nutshell, it tells you very little for certain.
It's a simple , reliable engine in general but the crankshaft is prone to breakage if revved over 3,500 rpm. That may not show a sign of trouble but when it fails it will fail big time. That was a design fault imo.

This engine should be paired with the correct ratio gearbox that is different from one's for the larger engine sizes.
In general it is advised to have the exhaust valves replaced after 50,000 miles
and a complete engine rebuild after 100,000 miles of regular road use.
That's for a stock setup in mild climate conditions. In hot , dusty or cold conditions the engine will do much less miles before rebuild is required . A compression test every few years is a good idea .