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DavidBuchner
Samba Member
Joined: April 29, 2021
Posts: 7
Location: Central Minnesota
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 Posted: Wed Mar 06, 2024 9:41 am Post subject: Trying to identify engine, 1969 Beetle |
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Hi all. My engine number reads B143753, but it looks to have been stamped over another number. I'd very much appreciate any guidance you might offer on figuring out just what I've got.
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Puppy67
Samba Member
Joined: October 04, 2022
Posts: 288
Location: Bristol, UK
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| Posted: Wed Mar 06, 2024 10:04 am Post subject: Re: Trying to identify engine, 1969 Beetle |
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| From the engine number(s), it is plausible to suggest this was originally an H (1500) that was a factory rebuild to a B (1600 single port). Whether that's still what it is is any bodies guess. Stripping and measuring is the only way to know for sure. |
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glutamodo 
The Android
Joined: July 13, 2004
Posts: 26533
Location: Douglas, WY
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KTPhil
Samba Member
Joined: April 06, 2006
Posts: 35919
Location: Conejo Valley, CA
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| Posted: Wed Mar 06, 2024 10:18 am Post subject: Re: Trying to identify engine, 1969 Beetle |
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Another clue is to look underneath and see if it is a single- or dual-relief case.
H was single, B was dual (mostly; there are exceptions).
From the factory, it looks like all B cases were B0, B5, or B6, not B1, so that's a strange number.
Most factory rebuilds have the recycle logo stamped onto them, but I don't see that here. |
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DavidBuchner
Samba Member
Joined: April 29, 2021
Posts: 7
Location: Central Minnesota
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| Posted: Thu Mar 07, 2024 8:53 am Post subject: Re: Trying to identify engine, 1969 Beetle |
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| Puppy67 wrote: |
| From the engine number(s), it is plausible to suggest this was originally an H (1500) that was a factory rebuild to a B (1600 single port). Whether that's still what it is is any bodies guess. Stripping and measuring is the only way to know for sure. |
Yeah... well... I don't WANT to take it apart and measure it! 
I would much rather just drive it. But I AM interested in its history. Information from the family was sketchy. Apparently it was sold new in Washington state, spent some time in Iowa, and ended up in Western Minnesota farm country. Supposedly the old guy who had it most of that time drove it every day till he died. Somewhere along the line it got painted black.
I am honored to have the opportunity to take care of it. |
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DavidBuchner
Samba Member
Joined: April 29, 2021
Posts: 7
Location: Central Minnesota
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| Posted: Thu Mar 07, 2024 8:59 am Post subject: Re: Trying to identify engine, 1969 Beetle |
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| KTPhil wrote: |
Another clue is to look underneath and see if it is a single- or dual-relief case.
H was single, B was dual (mostly; there are exceptions). |
"Relief" as in oil pressure? I'll go out there and crawl under sometime today. It's still cold, but it's at least sunny.
| KTPhil wrote: |
From the factory, it looks like all B cases were B0, B5, or B6, not B1, so that's a strange number.
Most factory rebuilds have the recycle logo stamped onto them, but I don't see that here. |
See that's what I thought. I looked hard at the serial number lists — both on here and a couple other places — and it seemed like a misfit. Also the way the digits are kinda haphazardly stamped over the old ones doesn't look super-official to me. As in, done by VW. <shrugs> |
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raydog
Samba Member
Joined: February 09, 2006
Posts: 1206
Location: Cape Cod
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| Posted: Thu Mar 07, 2024 9:12 am Post subject: Re: Trying to identify engine, 1969 Beetle |
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Looking at the stamped over numbers, it looks like the B is stamped over an H, then 04. Making it an early 1967MY case.
_________________
Come on, It's not rocket science. KISS |
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Cusser
Samba Member
Joined: October 02, 2006
Posts: 33107
Location: Hot Arizona
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| Posted: Thu Mar 07, 2024 9:21 am Post subject: Re: Trying to identify engine, 1969 Beetle |
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| DavidBuchner wrote: |
| Puppy67 wrote: |
| Stripping and measuring is the only way to know for sure. |
Yeah... well... I don't WANT to take it apart and measure it!
I would much rather just drive it. |
Great idea - just drive it and enjoy it.
If/when the time comes to rebuild, then you'll find out. Never trouble trouble until trouble troubles you !!!
_________________
1970 VW (owned since 1972) and 1971 VW Convertible (owned since 1976), second owner of each. The '71 now has the 1835 engine, swapped from the '70. Second owner of each. 1988 Mazda B2200 truck, 1998 Frontier, 2014 Yukon, 2004 Frontier King Cab. All manual transmission except for the Yukon. http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335294 http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335297 |
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