Identification of Engine ID letter codes

[Don]

Engine ID Codes
VW stamped all type 1's and pre '72 type 2's on the right case half just below the generator pedestal.



The first and sometimes the second digit/letter denotes the basic engine group.
So the best you can do is narrow down the engine to a group.
Here are the groups

Type 1
Code Year Engine Remarks
4 - 60 - 1200 - 40 HP
5 - 61 - 1200 - 40 HP
6 - 62 - 1200 - 40 HP
7 - 63 - 1200 - 40 HP
8 - 64 - 1200 - 40 HP
9 - 65 - 1200 - 40 HP
FO - 66 - 1300 - 8mm oil pump studs
HO/TO- 67 - 1500 - 8mm oil pump studs
H5 - 68-69 - 1500 - 8mm oil pump studs
B6 - 70 - 1600 - Dual Relief - single port
AE - 71-72 - 1600 - Dual Relief - Dual Port
AH - 73-74 - 1600 - 8mm Head studs w/case savers
AJ - 75 - 1600 - Fuel injected, no fuel pump mount.

Type 2
Code Year Engine Remarks
Numerals 61-63 - 1200 - See type 1 40 HP
O - 64 - 1500 - No Cam bearings
H - 65 - 1500
HO - 66-67 - 1500 - No Cross member holes
B5 - 68-69 - 1600 - 8mm oil pump studs, single port
B5 - 70 - 1600 - Dual Relief
AE - 71 - 1600 - W/cross member holes

Late Bus
Code Year Engine Remarks
CB - 72-73 - 1700 - Dual carb, manual trans
CD - 73 - 1700 - Dual carb, auto trans
AW - 73-74 - 1800 - Dual carb, manual or auto
AW - 75 - 1800 - Fuel injected
ED - 75 - 2000
GD - 76-79 - 2000 - 79 had Vanagon heads
GE - 79 - 2000 - Cal only, Vanagon heads

Type 3
Code Year Engine Remarks
O - 63-65 - 1500 - No Cam Bearings
TO - 66-67 - 1500 - 6mm oil pump studs
UO - 68-69 - 1600 - Fuel injected ‘69 w/xmember holes
UO - 70 - 1600 - xmember holes, dual relief
U5 - 71-73 - 1600 - like UO w/xmember holes 7.3:1 compresion
X - 72 - 1600 - 7.3:1 compresion

After Market Cases
Code Year Engine Remarks
F1 - 13/1600
F2 - 13/1600
DO - 40-HP part when last digit is "X"
D1 - Some times a 40-HP part
AB - 66-79 - 1600 - Built since ‘73 in Mexico, Brazil and Germany
AK - 67-74 - 15/1600
AM - 1600
AS - sometimes listed as a Super Beetle original case ‘73 and on


Type 4
Code Year Engine Remarks
W - 71 - 1700
EA - 72-74 - 1700
EB - 73 - 1700 - Calif only
EC - 74 - 1700

[Joe Chirco]

Nice work Don 

[Kevin]

ok so mine is an "ah" block number. i was told its a 73 t-3 block. sounds about right i see. 


Don

your workin too much on here! why dont ya take this weekend off for some yard work or somethin 

[Don]

Thanks

[Joe Chirco]

How about some ATC riding with the kids, Don take the weekend off with pay. See you Tuesday 

[Lake]

This page was informative to me thought yall might like it 2.. http://www.type2.com/library/identifi/kuhn8.htm

[Don]

Thanks

[Kevin]

How about some ATC riding with the kids, Don take the weekend off with pay. See you Tuesday

[Don]

http://www.chircoestore.com/catalog/article_info.php?articles_id=13

[Don]

Engine ID Codes
VW stamped all type 1's and pre '72 type 2's on the right case half just below the generator pedestal.
The first and sometimes the second digit/letter denotes the basic engine group.
So the best you can do is narrow down the engine to a group.
Here are the groups
Type 1
Code Year Engine Remarks
4 - 60 - 1200 - 40 HP
5 - 61 - 1200 - 40 HP
6 - 62 - 1200 - 40 HP
7 - 63 - 1200 - 40 HP
8 - 64 - 1200 - 40 HP
9 - 65 - 1200 - 40 HP
FO - 66 - 1300 - 8mm oil pump studs
HO/TO- 67 - 1500 - 8mm oil pump studs
H5 - 68-69 - 1500 - 8mm oil pump studs
B6 - 70 - 1600 - Dual Relief - single port
AE - 71-72 - 1600 - Dual Relief - Dual Port
AH - 73-74 - 1600 - 8mm Head studs w/case savers
AJ - 75 - 1600 - Fuel injected, no fuel pump mount.

Type 2
Code Year Engine Remarks
Numerals 61-63 - 1200 - See type 1 40 HP
O - 64 - 1500 - No Cam bearings
H - 65 - 1500
HO - 66-67 - 1500 - No Cross member holes
B5 - 68-69 - 1600 - 8mm oil pump studs, single port
B5 - 70 - 1600 - Dual Relief
AE - 71 - 1600 - W/cross member holes
Late Bus
CB - 72-73 - 1700 - Dual carb, manual trans
CD - 73 - 1700 - Dual carb, auto trans
AW - 73-74 - 1800 - Dual carb, manual or auto
AW - 75 - 1800 - Fuel injected
ED - 75 - 2000
GD - 76-79 - 2000 - 79 had Vanagon heads
GE - 79 - 2000 - Cal only, Vanagon heads

Type 3
Code Year Engine Remarks
O - 63-65 - 1500 - No Cam Bearings
TO - 66-67 - 1500 - 6mm oil pump studs
UO - 68-69 - 1600 - Fuel injected ‘69 w/xmember holes
UO - 70 - 1600 - xmember holes, dual relief
U5 - 71-73 - 1600 - like UO w/xmember holes 7.3:1 compresion
X - 72 - 1600 - 7.3:1 compresion

After Market Cases
Code Year Engine Remarks
F1 - 13/1600
F2 - 13/1600
DO - 40-HP part when last digit is "X"
D1 - Some times a 40-HP part
AB - 66-79 - 1600 - Built since ‘73 in Mexico, Brazil and Germany
AK - 67-74 - 15/1600
AM - 1600
AS - sometimes listed as a Super Beetle original case ‘73 and on

Type 4
Code Year Engine Remarks
W - 71 - 1700
EA - 72-74 - 1700
EB - 73 - 1700 - Calif only
EC - 74 - 1700

[JR1968 Beetle]

I just got a 1968 Beetle. I need some work done on the engine but not sure what the size of it. I need to find out before i order parts. The engine number is B 249-940. Can someone help me.

Thanks

[VIN]

alot of times that wont help you anyway, as its highly likely not the original case,  or engine for that matter
can you post a pic?
what parts are you needing?

[roaspi]

Hello, i have a 1982, 1600cc from german, this is what they told me when i buy it, the motor shows AD but i dont find it on your list, can you help me, what tipe of motor is this?
Thanks a lot
ROD from Chile

[Rick G]

Google search
https://www.google.com/#hl=en&gs_nf=1&tok=_SrMzap2HCtLANN2BkDqHw&cp=15&gs_id=sf&xhr=t&q=vw+1600+ad+code&pf=p&sclient=psy-ab&pbx=1&oq=vw+1600+ad+code&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&gs_sm=&gs_upl=&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.,cf.osb&fp=e497b0ef37f63d8f&biw=1280&bih=787] [url]https://www.google.com/#hl=en&gs_nf=1&tok=_SrMzap2HCtLANN2BkDqHw&cp=15&gs_id=sf&xhr=t&q=vw+1600+ad+code&pf=p&sclient=psy-ab&pbx=1&oq=vw+1600+ad+code&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&gs_sm=&gs_upl=&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.,cf.osb&fp=e497b0ef37f63d8f&biw=1280&bih=787[/url]

Gets hits on 
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/info/engine_letters.php
http://www.pre67vw.com/production/engine_codes.aspx

So, if this is correct, your engine was put together with a replacement case.

Rick

[buggyman]

 

Google search
[url]https://www.google.com/#hl=en&gs_nf=1&tok=_SrMzap2HCtLANN2BkDqHw&cp=15&gs_id=sf&xhr=t&q=vw+1600+ad+code&pf=p&sclient=psy-ab&pbx=1&oq=vw+1600+ad+code&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&gs_sm=&gs_upl=&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.,cf.osb&fp=e497b0ef37f63d8f&biw=1280&bih=787]https://www.google.com/#hl=en&gs_nf=1&tok=_SrMzap2HCtLANN2BkDqHw&cp=15&gs_id=sf&xhr=t&q=vw+1600+ad+code&pf=p&sclient=psy-ab&pbx=1&oq=vw+1600+ad+code&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&gs_sm=&gs_upl=&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.,cf.osb&fp=e497b0ef37f63d8f&biw=1280&bih=787] [url]https://www.google.com/#hl=en&gs_nf=1&tok=_SrMzap2HCtLANN2BkDqHw&cp=15&gs_id=sf&xhr=t&q=vw+1600+ad+code&pf=p&sclient=psy-ab&pbx=1&oq=vw+1600+ad+code&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&gs_sm=&gs_upl=&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.,cf.osb&fp=e497b0ef37f63d8f&biw=1280&bih=787[/url]

Gets hits on 
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/info/engine_letters.php
http://www.pre67vw.com/production/engine_codes.aspx

So, if this is correct, your engine was put together with a replacement case.

Rick

Si!
"AD 1600
AK 1967-1974 1500/1600
AM 1600
AS  Sometimes seen listed as Super Beetle case for 1973-onward

 

Exchange engines
These engines are normally marked with a VW recycle symbol and an X at the end.
Example:

Information from a 5/73 USA service bulletin issued 5/73:
Engines with the re-manufactured symbol, a letter, a number and ending with X, indicates a VW Exchange engine.  Before Oct., 1968 the X was not stamped onto the block.

From April of 1972 Shortblocks were sold with the VW remanufacture symbol followed by a letter. No numbers were used, you were to stamp in the old engine number."
The "yin & yang" symbol
http://www.chircoestore.com/catalog/smf/index.php?topic=3886.0