Engine Date

[Diamondtrike]

Hello, I am new to this forum and to VW powered vehicles.

I have recently received a VW powered trike from my late father in law and don't have much info on it at all. I know it is titled as a 1980 but I don't know what year the engine and transaxle came from. I was wondering if I could get some help with identifying the engine as I need to replace the rear main seal that is pouring massive amounts of oil out lol. I have already looked at the generator stand for an engine number, no luck there its as smooth as could be, is ther any other way to identify the year model?

[DeathBySnuSnu]

If it dont have a serial on the pad under the gen stand mount then most likely it is a replacement case installed by a non-dealer.

Did you look on the top of the case flange near the fuel pump? Type 3 cases are stamped there.

Almost all of the hot rod stuff is based on the 71 and up dual port 1600.

But just about any combination of mix match parts can be put together in the back yard.

If everything else fails then might get some general idea/direction from the casting numbers on the side of the sump.

[Diamondtrike]

If it dont have a serial on the pad under the gen stand mount then most likely it is a replacement case installed by a non-dealer.

Did you look on the top of the case flange near the fuel pump? Type 3 cases are stamped there.

Almost all of the hot rod stuff is based on the 71 and up dual port 1600.

But just about any combination of mix match parts can be put together in the back yard.

If everything else fails then might get some general idea/direction from the casting numbers on the side of the sump.

I looked all over the engine and tranaxle and found a few numbers but nothing i could match to anything through a google search. I did find a number for the manifold the number is 113.129.701 M 24 but that number doesnt help much since that part can fit multiple years.

[rhino 2]

Welcome to Trike-Talk' Trey....Happy to have you on board...

[Diamondtrike]

Welcome to Trike-Talk' Trey....Happy to have you on board...

Thank you, I hope with all the wisdom here I can find the info I need!

[DeathBySnuSnu]

If there is no serial number then there will be near zero chance of determining year model.



But you dont really need to know exact year model. As old as they are there is very little chance that it is original or has not been apart and built out of whatever is laying about.

On usa models the basic size of the seal did not change from mid 66 until the last one.

There are many other models that were not usa destined. Quite a few mexi beetles have been driven up here.

Your best bet is to start posting detailed pictures or find a local vw history guru to look directly at it.

You still wont know any exact year but a series determination can be made. That would put you close enough.

[Diamondtrike]

If there is no serial number then there will be near zero chance of determining year model.



But you dont really need to know exact year model. As old as they are there is very little chance that it is original or has not been apart and built out of whatever is laying about.

On usa models the basic size of the seal did not change from mid 66 until the last one.

There are many other models that were not usa destined. Quite a few mexi beetles have been driven up here.

Your best bet is to start posting detailed pictures or find a local vw history guru to look directly at it.

You still wont know any exact year but a series determination can be made. That would put you close enough.

So as long as I can figure out it is post 1966 I should be able to find a seal for it? I didn't see a number by the fuel pump but I could be wrong. I was able to find a number on the transaxle that fell into a chart for chasis numbers, would a chasis number be stamped on the transaxle?

[DeathBySnuSnu]

No.

But you may be able to find year of trans by the STAMPED number.

The cast in numbers are mold part numbers.

Pictures?

Is it an irs or a swing trans?

Is it 6v or 12volt?

Is the engine dual port or single?

Is the engine case large pump studs or small?

Is case dual or single oil relief?

What displacement were you told it is?

[DeathBySnuSnu]

Just as a note.....

The seal in and of itself is rarely the cause of an oil leak on the flywheel end.

It is possible that a seal sat up a bunch of years and dried out then cracked/ failed.

But normally it is something else failed and took the seal with it.

Check the endplay of the engine.

Pull in and out on the pulley.

[Diamondtrike]

No.

But you may be able to find year of trans by the STAMPED number.

The cast in numbers are mold part numbers.

Pictures?

Is it an irs or a swing trans?

Is it 6v or 12volt?

Is the engine dual port or single?

Is the engine case large pump studs or small?

Is case dual or single oil relief?

What displacement were you told it is?

Idont have many pics but will try and post them as soon as i can.

I dont know the diffenece between an IRS or swing trans.

It is a 12v system

I was told it is a dual port 1600

i dont know what pump studs you are talking about

I dont know about the oil relief either

[Diamondtrike]

Just as a note.....

The seal in and of itself is rarely the cause of an oil leak on the flywheel end.

It is possible that a seal sat up a bunch of years and dried out then cracked/ failed.

But normally it is something else failed and took the seal with it.

Check the endplay of the engine.

Pull in and out on the pulley.

I pulled in and out and it only moved about 1/16 of an inch. I have read that some end play was normal but too much would destroy the bearings. I has been sitting since around 2003 so i am hoping that the seal just dried out and split.

It is pouring oil out at a very alarming rate but only while it is running.

[DeathBySnuSnu]

If it is really a 1600 dual port then most stuff 1971 and up will fit.

There were small design improvements after 71, but most of it is the same.

The offset "dog house" oil cooler and the dual oil reliefs being the biggest and best.

Unless it has had the wrong flywheel put on it the 71 up seal should be it.

I hope it is a later 1600, the best of stuff.

Anything can be put together. Mine is a massive mix and match of parts. Many parts aint even vw at all.

[DeathBySnuSnu]

That sounds like an alarming amount of end play.

New would be .003 to .006 of an inch.

At around .010 you can barely feel a click to it.

There is a chance it has main bearing problems.

Once it is apart.

Make sure the flywheel is not/had not been run loose.

Try wiggling the bearing while the seal and flywheel are off. Rotate the crank back and forth. Pull in and out on it (it will move a lot without flywheel on). All this while looking directly at the end of the main bearing.

If you see the bearing move at all it is time for a complete tear down.

Also check the cam bore plug. They leak and/or installed wrong much more times than a seal going bad.

[Diamondtrike]

That sounds like an alarming amount of end play.

New would be .003 to .006 of an inch.

At around .010 you can barely feel a click to it.

There is a chance it has main bearing problems.

Once it is apart.

Make sure the flywheel is not/had not been run loose.

Try wiggling the bearing while the seal and flywheel are off. Rotate the crank back and forth. Pull in and out on it (it will move a lot without flywheel on). All this while looking directly at the end of the main bearing.

If you see the bearing move at all it is time for a complete tear down.

Also check the cam bore plug. They leak and/or installed wrong much more times than a seal going bad.

Where is the cam bore plug located? What would be required to replace it if is leaking?

I cannot post any pictures for some reason the site crashes when I try. I

Wth it being register as a 1980 I am hoping the engine is mid 1970's.

[DeathBySnuSnu]

Ho to the Tech Tech Tech thread stickied on top of the group.

Page 5

and page9

Some help knowing the parts.

[DeathBySnuSnu]

And a loose leaking cam plug is a complete tear down. It is under the flywheel down from the crank in the seam line.

[Diamondtrike]

And a loose leaking cam plug is a complete tear down. It is under the flywheel down from the crank in the seam line.

Will I be able to tell if it is the cam plug without tearing it down?

I just remembered I have a number that I found on the side of the block close to the push rod tubes, would that number give any information as to what the engine is?

it is 43 vw logo 211.101.101 D

[DeathBySnuSnu]

Just eyeball it.

See if it looks like the oil tracks come from there or the seal farther upward.

[DeathBySnuSnu]

And the number is the factory part number of the mold used to make that half of the engine case.

[Diamondtrike]

Just eyeball it.

See if it looks like the oil tracks come from there or the seal farther upward.

Ok thanks fingers crossed it will be the seal.