Engine without serial number
 

Someone is selling a 2.7 engine on eBay right now that he claims has not been stamped with a serial number. I've never heard of that (but there's a lot I haven't heard of) is it common? Are these hard to find?

Came out of a stolen car?

Used on a racing car?

I don't know, I thought they all had to have a serial number...

Either way, I would avoid it like the plague... but that is just me...

UNSTAMED Porsche 911 Complete 2.7 2.7L engine long block motor good rebuilt/used | eBay

Often, replacement cases do not have a stamped number so it is possible this is a legit engine. However, do check to see if there are any grinding marks which may indicate removal of a number. If in doubt, stay away as there are many 2.7 engines on the market.

Replacement engines have no serial number. My 76 has a replacement engine from a total rebuild done twenty years ago at a Santa Clara dealership. You will probably see these more with the 2.7 engine since it had such a short lifetime as originally constructed at the factory. When rebuilt the dealerships by that time knew about the head stud issue and used case savers to preserve the magnesium engine block. It is probably a good motor. A finicky mechanic likely insisted on a new block rather than using a line bored case.

Those are highly desirable for folks doing restorations!!!

You can still buy cases, without the stamping.

And whom possess a set of stamps...

My new project is based on a new 930 engine case that I picked up on eBay a while ago ($1000 if truth be known....including complete stud set and brand new Carrera oil pump).

It has no serial number stamped on it. I was not planning on stamping one either.....

D.

Just curiously why do replacement engines have no number. Did Porsche do it so that you could stamp the original number on your new engine so it matched the car or did they just not keep track of the cases. It seems interesting that they would sell parts with out a number especially something as big as an engine case.

Regards
Dave

I've got a set of stamps. No stars though...

Mamut-where do buy new 2.7 cases like that? Directly from Porsche?

Dave - I'm wondering the same thing.

Dave,
I think the case has no engine number because it is just a part. The completed engine has a number which indicates its type, year of manufacture, placement in a particular model with a particular VIN and so on. For example, I have no idea what piston/cylinder combination I have. All I have is the previous owner telling me, before he died, that the engine had been upgraded in some way. It is a mystery to me. I think the only way I can find out is to take the motor apart which I won't do until it is needed. An engine case is just that. The rest is up to the assembler.

When I worked for Porsche the replacement engine cases for all models had no serial number. When the engine case was replaced the old engine original serial number was supposed to be stamped into the the new case with a factory stamp set..in the field, made for that purpose.

The original serial number stamping from Porsche are pretty deep in the case and if they are ground off..should be very obvious.

A few years ago this page listed all three as available:
Porsche 911 Main Engine Components - Page 4

Like Wayne's disclaimer about how he doubts he'll ever sell one? Something tells me that he sold one or two. :cool:

Is getting a blank case and having it stamped to restore a car to "numbers matching" frowned upon?

more like illegal...;)

Seriously? I knew it sounded too good to be true. I've spent a little time trying to track down an original engine and I was all over this.