Serial # Identification please.

[peter carroll]

The Devin I bought is home and I would like to find out what exactly the engine is. It looks like an old bug motor, but I am hoping it is a Porsche industrial motor, which I hear some of them have. Some interesting things i have noticed about the engine are: The carb is on the opposite side of the fanhouse than the generator and distributor. I think this may have been to enable the bodywork to sit lower. It has an external oil filter in a big yellow canister that is mounted to the back of the doghouse. Lastly, the carb is a 2 barrel that looks original to the engine. The engine, however is not a dualport. Perhaps Bill Devin supplied the carb. I found the engine # under the generator support area. It is 0837902 Thanks
P.s. Car also has giant brake drums that look aluminum on outside. There are studs sticking out of them with lug nuts. Not lugbolts. 356 ? The car is cool as Sh>*t ! Pete

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

I don't think the 356 engines were singleports, except for some of the very very very early ones that were pretty much Type I bug motors with a different cam. They did, however, have very offset exhaust rocker arms. Look for those to be tilted way over, or on early examples for the exhaust rocker shaft to be vertical (I think!).

The aluminum drums were used by a number of "performance" car manufacturers; aluminum will shed heat better than cast-iron. There will be an iron liner inside the drum. It could be a 356 part, or it could be something else.

I recommend finding a 356 expert (or at least someone with experience) and having them look the car over. They should be able to tell you which, if any, parts are 356.

--DD