Greetings all,
When not out tooling around in my new-to-me Speedster, I've been doing maintenance and researching my car in an attempt to reverse-engineer a build sheet. I found the engine serial number D1272647. Based on the info at the URL below, it was made in the spring or summer of 1974, and started off as 1200 cc, 34 BHP. Have I got this right?
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/ar...bugchassisdating.php
Thanks,
Eric
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Maybe, but remember that the engine cases get recycled and machined for all sorts of stuff, like stroked crankshafts, bigger cylinders, etc., so knowing the original engine specs might be pretty useless if the case later on got reworked into something totally different. Since the engine says "1,776" on it, I would believe that, but the original engine was, what?, a 1,300? So what? Engine cases get machined to do all sorts of stuff. If it is an unmolested case pushing a 1,776 then great! Everything fits without machining!
Other than that, with a CMC, the only way to tell what's in there might be to research past owners. It's kind of like finding out about your long past ancestors and whether they were on the run from the authorities or not. I had some of each.....
40 hp SAE. So it must be a Mexican engine - since there weren't any 1200/1300's in US at that time. Does it have dual oil pressure relief valves in bottom of engine and dual port heads?
I agree with Gordon. Change over the years is almost assured. My engine only has a 6 digit case number preceded with two letters. Your number shows seven digits, so it may be a D1 as per below. chircoestore.com/tech_articles/?p=156
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 later.
WOLFGANG posted:Does it have dual oil pressure relief valves in bottom of engine and dual port heads?
It has dual port heads. The front relief valve cover screw is present. There's an oil temperature sender where the rear relief valve cover should be. I wasn't tearing into anything because I just changed the oil on Sunday. 
