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Engine number deciphering?
Flintstones - October 2nd, 2017 at 12:29 PM

G'day all
I've been searching on the web to figure out what the motor is.
The engine number is in the below format and is an L Bug.
N93----5P

What capacity is it?
It is a twin port, and has a dog house cooler also...

Thanks in advance
Cheers


BlasterTheRedBajaBug - October 2nd, 2017 at 12:32 PM

http://chircoestore.com/tech_articles/?p=156 
here is what I use and it seems pretty reliable.


Flintstones - October 2nd, 2017 at 12:54 PM

Thanks for responding Blaster, but it doesn't show any reference to "N" unfortunately....


ACE76 - October 2nd, 2017 at 07:24 PM

N possibly means "NSW". P probably means "Police". (Guessing since "V...P" is used in Vic.)
If an older unit, it could be a type 3 motor/case (easy to observe!), converted to upright, requiring re-stamping. (The "93" may mean 1993??? if the first 2 digits are year - just a guess.)

If a newish motor, it could be a Mexican one, as imported recently with no number at all. (These were all 1600 twin-port)...
It is well worth asking previous owner re such details, as the Big Trap with the recent Mexican imports is that the heads take THREE-QUARTER inch thread length s'plugs; NOT the usual Half-Inch length threaded plugs. This is a serious potential problem with these new engines, and possibly has damaged many already (due to pre-ignition from exposed threads). If you suspect you have such an engine, you MUST check that the correct long-reach plugs are always replaced with the same. [We put a big warning label in engine compartment of our car sold a while ago with such an engine, andsuggest that others do similar when selling a car with such a motor.] [I don't know if it is possible to tell the length of threaded section in headfor the plug when it's out, but it doesn't look easy.]


Flintstones - October 2nd, 2017 at 09:12 PM

Appreciate your input Ace.
Wasn't aware of the mexican plug issue.......
You've given me more to look into now.

The type 3 scenario suggests that it could be a 1500 twin port?


hotboostgt - April 15th, 2020 at 05:09 PM

Great info


1303Steve - April 21st, 2020 at 08:46 AM

there some things on the crankcase that can give clues.

Type 3 motors have the engine number stamped on top of the case which would be covered by the fan housing which might be why it has a police number

Later Type 3 motors have an oil filler flange, rear engine support lugs drilled and tapped, some Type 1 cases have these mounts but are usually untapped, but a brand new case bought from VW in the day would have no engine number and tapped rear engine supports and an oil filler flange.

later motors have dual oil relief ports and 8 mm oil pumps and really late motors can have 8 mm head studs