Questions on VW remanufactured engines

[OldBlindDog]

Turning to the historians here to better understand my bus. I made some discoveries while working on it and have myself a little confused.

I have a 1979 Riviera that come from Portland OR to the east coast 10 years ago. In working on the engine I found to stickers from VW implying the engine was rebuilt by VW of Canada. As best I can tell this is where official rebuilds were done.

I have to assume this is a different core than originally come with the vehicle? The M Code says I have a GE engine, but I suspect it is perhaps a GD now (per of my confusion).

Does anyone have better Information on the official VW Remanufacturing process?
Sticker Engine code

_________________
You know, I'm sick of following my dreams, man. I'm just going to ask where they're going and hook up with 'em later.
Mitch Hedberg

Kenn

'71 Campmobile (first car I ever bought) I wonder where that lil lady is today?
'76 Baja beetle. (learned to "fix on the fly")
'79 Rivi Camper "Lazlo" ( the one that brought me back in after 15 years off)

[Wildthings]

There isn't much difference between the blocks so just drive it and don't worry about it. You probably would have a 2.0L but maybe not. As for whether you have hydraulic or solid lifters just look at your pushrods to see if they are steel (indicating hydraulics) or aluminium (indicating solids). Probably better than 75% of aircooled VW, do not have their original engine case at this point, so if you are into the serial numbers must match genre you are dealing with the wrong line of cars.

[OldBlindDog]

You are correct. VW replaced it with the same specs as original. 2.0 FI with hydraulic lifters. As far as I can tell everything about the vehicle is stock original with only the exception of the remanufactured motor. Which of course matches the original production specs. Though I am not really concerned about stock authenticity or matching numbers I am glad to have an unmolested specimen to work with. (No P.O surprises)

Honestly I am just interested in learning more about the process VW used and notice not much was documented about remanufactures in the forum.

Anyone know what the sticker # means? Did they simply ID rebuilt engines in sequential order?

What are the differences between GD and GE? ( however minor)
_________________
You know, I'm sick of following my dreams, man. I'm just going to ask where they're going and hook up with 'em later.
Mitch Hedberg

Kenn

'71 Campmobile (first car I ever bought) I wonder where that lil lady is today?
'76 Baja beetle. (learned to "fix on the fly")
'79 Rivi Camper "Lazlo" ( the one that brought me back in after 15 years off)

[SGKent]

The answer is pretty simple. Bus not running right, it goes to their dealer at the time whose mechanic says it needs a new engine. Maybe a warranty claim, or maybe just it's time. Customer says what is the best way to go? Service underwriter says we can put in an engine just like the original. It is factory rebuilt. The customer says Ok and the mechanic puts the engine in. Replacement engine has a sticker on it that says remanufactured by VW. The core goes back to them for the next rebuild. When VW started their remanufactured parts process they sometimes sent new engines and transmissions to the warehouse so it could have something to sell before the cores came back for rebuild. Some people who bought a remanufactured engine or trans got a new one for the same price, and it had a sticker on it too.

SK
_________________
George Carlin:
"Most people don't know what they're doing, and a lot of them are really good at it."

Skills@EuroCarsPlus:
"never time to do it right but always time to do it twice"

[Wildthings]

[SGKent]

[germansupplyscott]

VW North America had a remanufacturing plant in Scarborough, Ontario which is a suburb of Toronto. Until maybe the mid-90's you could go to the VW dealer and buy a remanufactured engine, so these would get installed either by a dealer, independent shop or individual. They are all serialized. I think these engines were shipped all over North America, I've only ever seen the VWOA stickers that say the engines were manufactured in Canada.

The VWOA remanufactured engines have a spotty reputation. You'd think perhaps that if they were supplied by VW they would be top quality but this is not always the case. They churned them out and I don't think this facility did the greatest work. Not terrible either.
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SL

[ratwell]

[SGKent]

[OldBlindDog]

Well. I am glad I asked about this. I definitely have a bunch of research and investigation to do. I had assumed many of the attributes based on the Mcode and model specs, but perhaps that was far to presumptuous.

I have always simply trusted that things were correct for the model year (even after realizing its a rebuild), but clearly that may not be the case. I’ll have to determine if I have hydraulic lifters and what kind of ports?

I have been lucky enough to enjoy the bus without too much work until a recent fire (I know you guys probably hate to hear that, but there no time like the present to start deep repairs). Replacing a FI harness is quickly turning into a total refresh. 😀. Life in pandemic times has some benefits after all!

Thanks for all the insights. You folks never disappoint!
_________________
You know, I'm sick of following my dreams, man. I'm just going to ask where they're going and hook up with 'em later.
Mitch Hedberg

Kenn

'71 Campmobile (first car I ever bought) I wonder where that lil lady is today?
'76 Baja beetle. (learned to "fix on the fly")
'79 Rivi Camper "Lazlo" ( the one that brought me back in after 15 years off)

[ratwell]

[ratwell]

[OldBlindDog]

That’s exactly where I was headed! Thanks Richard. Your work is a priceless resource!
_________________
You know, I'm sick of following my dreams, man. I'm just going to ask where they're going and hook up with 'em later.
Mitch Hedberg

Kenn

'71 Campmobile (first car I ever bought) I wonder where that lil lady is today?
'76 Baja beetle. (learned to "fix on the fly")
'79 Rivi Camper "Lazlo" ( the one that brought me back in after 15 years off)

[Silverboot]

I also have a 79 CA Riviera with a Canada remanufactured engine. I will take a look tomorrow to see what the engine number is.
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79 FI CA Riviera
74 Smallframe Vespa

[SGKent]

[old DKP driver]

Although this really has nothing to do with Air-cooled rebuilt engines from
Canada I do know that the water cooled Volkswagen engines were very poor
Quality in 1975-1977.
How would you like to put a short block in a VW (water cooled ) and watch the
Coolant run out the “ Freeze Plugs” .
They engines were all painted with black paint so you really didn’t see a problem
Until the Green coolant came out thru the unreplaced freeze plugs.

_________________
V.W.owner since 1967

[jlrftype7]

[OldBlindDog]

Any chance the Sticker or number might indicate when this works was done? I am not sure what to make of the number?
_________________
You know, I'm sick of following my dreams, man. I'm just going to ask where they're going and hook up with 'em later.
Mitch Hedberg

Kenn

'71 Campmobile (first car I ever bought) I wonder where that lil lady is today?
'76 Baja beetle. (learned to "fix on the fly")
'79 Rivi Camper "Lazlo" ( the one that brought me back in after 15 years off)

[germansupplyscott]

For sure the serial number would tell you but only if you had VW's sale info. They are simple consecutive numbers, nothing to decode.

The most recent one of those VWOA engines could have been remanufactured would be mid-90s. The factory closed at that time.
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SL