TheSamba.com :: VW Engine Letter Codes

VW Engine Letter Codes
Also see the VIN Numbers section above for a month-by-month breakdown of pre-1968 vehicles.
In the tables below "Code" refers to the first 1 or 2 digits of the engine number.
Corrections or additions welcome.

Type 1
Code	Year	Engine/Notes
1-	Pre-Jan., 1956	25hp/36hp 1- prefix indicates Type 1 and is not part of the sequential engine number.
2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9	55-65	1200cc, 36hp/40hp
D0	1966/67	1200cc
F0	1966/67	1300cc
H0	1967	1500cc
F1	1967	40hp
E0	1967	M240 low compression 37hp
L0	1967	M240 low compression 40hp
H5	1968/69	1500cc
B6	1970	1600cc - dual relief, single port
AE	1971/72	1600cc - dual relief, dual port
AH	1973/74	1600cc - 8mm head studs with case savers
AJ	1975-1979	1600cc - fuel injected

Type 2
Code	Year	Engine/Notes
20-	Pre-Jan., 1956	25hp/36hp 20- prefix indicates Type 2 and is not part of the sequential engine number.
2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9	55-65	1200cc, 36hp/40hp
O	1963/64	1500cc - no cam bearings
H	1965	1500cc
HO	1966/67	1500cc
L0	1967	M240 low compression
B5	1968/69	1600cc - single relief
B5	1970	1600cc - dual relief
AE	1971	1600cc
CB	1972/73	1700cc - dual carb., manual transmission
CD	1973	1700cc - dual carb., automatic transmission
AW	1973/74	1800cc - dual carb.
AW	1975	1800cc - fuel-injected
AP	1974/75	1800cc - European only
ED	1975	1800cc
GD	1976/77	2000cc
CJ	1976-1979	2000cc - European only
GE	1978/79	2000cc
CU	1980-1983	2000cc - Vanagon style
CV	1980-1983	2000cc - Vanagon style

Type 3
Code	Year	Engine/Notes
O	1961-65	1500cc
K0	1966-1972	1500cc - 54hp
M0	1966-1972	1500cc - M240 low compression 52hp
P0	1966/67	1600cc - M240 low compression 50hp
T0	1966-1973	1600cc
U0	1968-1973	1600cc - fuel injected for USA
U0	1970	1600cc - dual-relief case
U5	1971-1973	1600cc - 7.7:1 compression - US/Canada M239 California fuel-injection
X	1972	1600cc - 7.3:1 compression - California

Type 4
Code	Year	Engine/Notes
V	1969	1700cc - 68hp
Z	1969/70	1700cc - 7.8:1 compression - 68hp, dual carb., automatic transmission
W	1971	1700cc - 8.2:1 compression - 80hp
EA	1972-1974	1700cc
EB	1973	1700cc - California only, fuel injection
EC	1974	1800cc
AN	1974	1800cc - 8.6:1 compression
AT	1974	1800cc - European only, dual carb.

Porsche 914
Code	Year	Engine/Notes
W	1970/71	1700cc - 8.2:1 compression - 80hp
EA	1972-1973	1700cc
EB	1973	1700cc - 7.3: compression, California only, fuel injection
EC	1974	1800cc - California only, 7.6:1 compression
AN		1800cc - 8.6:1 compression
GA	1973/74	2000cc - 7.6:1 comporession
GB	1973-1976	2000cc - 8.0:1 compresssion
GC	1975/76	2000cc - 7.6:1 compresssion
V0		1700cc - European-only 1800cc - European-only 2000cc - European-only

Exchange engines

These engines are normally marked with a VW recycle symbol and an X at the end.
Example:

Information from a 5/73 USA service bulletin issued 5/73:
Engines with the re-manufactured symbol, a letter, a number and ending with X, indicates a VW Exchange engine. Before Oct., 1968 the X was not stamped onto the block.

From April of 1972 Shortblocks were sold with the VW remanufacture symbol followed by a letter. No numbers were used, you were to stamp in the old engine number.