1971 911E engine number decoding

[dlshady]

Guys,

Sorry if this subject has been beat to death but I'm in need of a little help. I've googled this until my fingers fell off and found several similar threads but not finding exactly what I need to know.

Short version, I'm helping a local lady sell a 1971 911E project car and have had several inquiries about the engine number (which I neglected to put in the ad). The engine number is 6218040 which I'm finding decodes to a 6 cylinder, 911E, 1971 model, sequential number 8040. Unfortunately I had to get the lady owner to get that number for me but she didn't get the engine type number. I have one fellow telling me that the 8xxx series engines should be an automatic transaxle, but I can't find any info that would suggest this. From what I see, the transmission would be dictated by whether it has a 901/01 or 901/04 engine type.

Does this sound correct?


Thanks in advance,
Deron


PS: If there is a good online resource where I can go look this stuff up, would someone please post up a link? We have a few more cars to move after this one and I'll probably need the info again.

[ossiblue]

That is correct. If the last four digits begins with an "8", the engine was assigned to a Sportomatic vehicle. For your year car, engine #6218001-6218260 were issued to sportomatic vehicles. Engine type would be 911/04.

Here is a link to a good site for further reference. It is in German, but it is easy to understand.
Fahrzeug-Identifizierung

[dlshady]

Well, that really throws a wrench in things but thank you for the info! I have the car advertised as a manual transmission and never thought to look otherwise! Unfortunately the car is physically 30 minutes away from me so I can only look at my photos at the moment, and I do indeed see only one pedal. It's the size of the standard brake pedal though, and I thought the Sportomatic cars used a larger brake pedal. Hmmmm...... And I also see a clutch cable and throwout fork underneath, I believe.

Did the Sportomatic cars carry any external identification in 1971?


Thanks again,
Deron

[Bobboloo]

No. Chassis numbers were the same as for manual.

[dlshady]

Not sure I understand your answer. Are you saying that the 1971 Sportomatic cars carried no external badging, such as the emblem on the deck lid underneath the "911E" badge? That's what I was asking about. Any other external ID for one? Brake pedal width the same as a manual car?

[Cook&Dunning]

So does the Sporto add to or detract from value of this car? E cars were fairly rare to start, I wonder how many selected this option? 25%? There were probably 1000 E coupes and 1000 E targas in 1971. What a great piece of engineering with that transmission plus MFI. Sounds like she has a rare machine! Good luck with your adventure.

[dlshady]

Your guess is as good as mine. I'm wondering the same thing because rarity doesn't always equal desirability. More than anything I'm just worried about misrepresenting the car, seeing as most of the interested parties have been overseas.

This is by no means an attempt to pimp my own auction, but the car is on eBay if any of you guys want to follow it. I've got it listed for a local widow lady and we're all very surprised at the interest it's generated.


Thanks,
Deron

[Cook&Dunning]

Definitely an interesting car - probably even a more rare car overseas as it seems Porsche introduced this for the American market - I expect even in the 70's plenty were just looking for an auto trans. Which could also make it more or less desirable. Still a pretty cool car. Best of luck

[pors1968]

Sportomatic is on rear cover shifter patern diff temp gage diff start lower and engine should 911/04.

[dlshady]

Thanks guys, I appreciate all of the info. Since I'm not in a position to go personally inspect the car this evening I pulled up the original high resolution photos that I took, and it definitely has a manual transmission in it now. I can see the clutch pedal in the down position (tough to see in the eBay photos) as well as the clutch cable and throwout fork underneath. That would imply that either the engine or transmission has been swapped at some point in the past, and the likelihood of someone having found another 1971 "E" motor to swap is slim. Funny thing is, I can't see any signs of emblem holes in the deck lid having been patched, so maybe it was changed as well...???

What temp gauge should the Sportomatic car have? That might be another clue.


Thanks,
Deron

[pors1968]

Oil tank is diff most the time they plug the two hose for the sporto.

[pors1968]

Sporto gage start 50to 150 5 speed 60-140 C

[dlshady]

Well, I'm a bit stumped at this point. I inspected the car today myself and it's positively got a manual transmission in it now, but it's also got a 911/04 engine code. Engine lid has never had a "Sporto" emblem on it, but that could have been changed over the years. Temp gauge doesn't have any numbers on it, so that's no help either. At this point I'm leaning toward a Sportomatic car that has had the transmission changed. Your thoughts?


Deron

[dlshady]

[techweenie]

Originally Posted by dlshady

Well, I'm a bit stumped at this point. I inspected the car today myself and it's positively got a manual transmission in it now, but it's also got a 911/04 engine code. Engine lid has never had a "Sporto" emblem on it, but that could have been changed over the years. Temp gauge doesn't have any numbers on it, so that's no help either. At this point I'm leaning toward a Sportomatic car that has had the transmission changed. Your thoughts?


Deron

The conversion to manual can be done without leaving much of a trace, but the Sportomatic uses a large vacuum tank on the 'firewall' forward of and above the engine. there are usually mounting studs for the vacuum tank left on this area - sometimes even the tank is left there.

[pors1968]

This gage look like a sporto gage braket for vacuum tank is good sing shifter is diff two pièces shifter and you might find near trans and starter two big white plug for the sporto and check your oïl tank two more fitting for sporto.