engine ser # and ID'ing years

[Scooter311]

Hey Pelicanheads!
How y'all doin, I have a question, somewhat irrelevent I might assume, however I'm wondering if you can tell the date of manufacture from the case codes on the motor. My 2.0 is GA008769 (or something like that- but whatever, you get the idea ).
Not that it really matters, or does it? I suppose it would be nice to know what year it is, I reckon. The Tom Wilson book, IIRC only identifies the first 2 digits? I remember a web page somewherz that listed chassis numbers, but I can't remember where it was or what I had for lunch yesterday.
Adios
Jeff

[jamcleod]

GA is 73-74, GB is 75-76

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

With a number like 8769, I would guess that the manufacturing date would be late-ish in the 73 model year. Production of the model year ends in July, remember...

Check the build date sticker on your door jamb, it will give you a better idea of when your car was completed.

--DD

[Bleyseng]

GB is the Euro model
GC is 75-76 engine code.

Geoff

[Scooter311]

Thanks Doods,
I'm rebuilding the 2.0, and was just curious. It's replacing the 1.7, and it's nice to know that the motor is from the 'same' year as the chassis.
Rock on
Jeff

[jamcleod]

doh!

a mind is a terrible thing to waste and a waist is a terrible thing to mind...

[Lyle]

Jeff,
The following info comes from page 217, Volume X of the
Up-Fixin der Porsche book The author of the article was Allan Caldwell.
Your engine was used in the Model Year 1974 cars. During that model year, the first 914 2.0 engine used was GA 0006766 and the last one used was 0015021. Yours engine # is roughly one third of the way through that range of numbers. This doesn't directly answer your question of when was it made. It "suggests" an engine build date of the fall of 1973 with an auto final build date later the same year. Given that engines and other major components for this car were produced about 1 to 6 months before the car's final assembly date, you could estimate your engine build date by working backwards from the date on you door post just as Dave has already suggested.

If you don't have the car's build date, the Porsche Club of America may have ways of looking up that info for you.

[Scooter311]

You guys are great! Thanks so much for the info, I printed out the replies so I'd remember to check when I get home.
Very kewl, thanks again,
Jeff