no engine seriel number?

on air · 12-23-2010, 07:09 PM

Hi All

My first Porsche is a '78 SC Targa that I've had for more 12 great years of very happy and spirited motoring.

The other day I noticed that the engine seriel number that would/should be on the vertical support casting of the fan housing has been removed somehow - its not there.

Now, being that the car has had a couple of previoius owners, while it looks to be a proper 3.0 SC motor, I always figured this isn't the original engine ... but why would a previous owner remove that? What would that indicate?

Danny_Ocean · 12-23-2010, 07:22 PM

Manufacturer replacement?

techweenie · techweenie's Garage

Best scenario: never-stamped replacement case.

Worst scenario: serial number ground off.

It's easy to tell. Look for the "type" stamp to the right and below the serial number surface.

on air · 12-24-2010, 01:00 PM

hmmm...there is no type stamp either.

tcar · 12-24-2010, 01:00 PM

As both above said, the Porsche Factory replacement motors do not have serial numbers.

techweenie · techweenie's Garage

No type stamp means it's a replacement case. That's a good thing.

on air · 12-24-2010, 01:14 PM

thanks all!

Porsche84 · Porsche84's Garage

This is a christmas present to ME. I bought a 964 engine 6-8 years ago and noticed after I received it that it had no S/N. The story was that it was purchased from Porsche, new, to go in a different car. Their story was that the replacement engines do not have s/n. This is the first time I've seen confirmation. Thanks, Merry Christmas

larrym · larrym's Garage

my 7R replacement case has no numbers -

(so you can make it anything you want it to be if you can find a "star" stamp to surround the numbers)

larrym · larrym's Garage

but I should also say that I once bought a 75 targa and later discovered no LEGIBLE numbers on the obviously 76 model engine and suspiciously 76-like body

P.O.'s explanation was that it was a 1-made-of-2 salvage car from a employee at a noted porsche wrecking yard, which yard then professed no knowledge of the car or the guy who supposedly built it in their shops

Quote:

Originally Posted by larrym

my 7R replacement case has no numbers -

(so you can make it anything you want it to be if you can find a "star" stamp to surround the numbers)