[Dave at Pelican Parts]

The VIN tells you exactly four things:

- That it's a four-cylinder 914 (model "47")
- The model year ("0" through "6")
- The factory where it was made ("29" meaning Karmann)
- The series number within the model year

That's it. The only way the VIN can tell you the original displacement of the engine is if it's a 70-72 when there were only 1.7s, or a 76 when there were only 2 liters.

If the emissions control stickers are sill present in the engine bay, you may be able to tell that way. 1.7 == 102 cubic inches; 1.8 == 110 cubic inches; 2.0 == 120 cubic inches.

The spark plugs on the 1.7 and 1.8 exit the engine tin on a flat horizontal part, while the 2.0 plugs come out on the side vertical part (or on the bend between the two). Also, the intake pipes are held onto the head with four studs on the 1.7 and 1.8 heads, and only three studs on the 2.0 heads.

If the fuel injection is still present, the 1.8 has an air filter box on the left side of the engine bay which has a part with a quarter-circle "bump out" on it and a multi-wire plug going into it. That has a large rubber S-shaped pipe that runs to a horizontal throttle body. The 2.0 air cleaner is partly rectangular but with a triangle sticking out of one side that connects to the vertical throttle body.

--DD