Where to find engine serial number

Ray_s · 06-10-2010, 10:02 AM

Next issue on my 3.8 swap:

Got a 3.8 engine but cannot find any serial number on it I could identify to match.

I found the engine type number on the side of the crank housing, above the oil pan, which reads the correct type M97/01, thus 3.8 S engine 355 hp.

I did not find any serial there however - looks like it might have been removed?
Or am I looking at the wrong spot since some wrote it's supposed to be underneath the engine???

Anyone has a picture maybe to help?

Wayne 962 · Wayne 962's Garage

Hi there. I have a picture somewhere, but I'm on vacation in Hawaii right now, so I don't have access to my photo library. However, the serial number should be very close to the engine type number, if I recall correctly. If your 3.8 engine is a replacement engine, it may not have a traditional serial number. I can't recall what the SN is on my Porsche crate 3.4 engine that I put in the Boxster.

-Wayne

Ray_s · 06-13-2010, 11:12 PM

Found the spot, it's indeed on the right side (Boxster lineup), just above the oil pan. Compared 997 and 987 engines.

It looks like someone carefully removed the serial # next to the engine type # on the 3.8. Not good.

Wayne 962 · Wayne 962's Garage

Nope, not good at all. Can you pls post the photo here so we can see? Where did you get this engine from? It might be a replacement case, you never know...

-Wayne

Ray_s · 06-19-2010, 01:39 PM

Was an official and legal purchase from a used parts dealer, official invoice including.

Here's the picture, nice to see using a flash..

BoxsterGT · 06-20-2010, 05:52 AM

Did your invoice indicate the engine serial Nr?

Clearly what you show in the photo has been defaced.

Len

Ray_s · 06-20-2010, 10:55 AM

Invoice did not show the serial #, just got a copy of a first parge of a service book with the VIN - but it could be from any car if you can't compare the engine serial #.

Well, at least the engine type is certain, and my conversion project progresses, I'm in the middle of swapping parts from the 987 to the 997 engine (water flanges, oil pump, oil pressure switch, ground cable, power steering lines - all done already).

Today I stripped the 997 engine harness to retrieve the 2 original connectors for the VaricoCam plus and the oil pressure cable).

Wayne 962 · Wayne 962's Garage

You can still see slight remnants of the engine number there. Clearly it has been ground off. I can only think of one reason why someone might ground off the engine number of an engine case - it's been stolen. Can you PM me the name of the place that sold you the engine, so I can put this in my files?

Thx,

Wayne