Engine codes etc

Hi All, I'm new to the club and to forums so please bear with me.

I bought a Bay window camper 1976 and after some work has an MOT and now I am trying to sort other items out and would like some help with a few points?

1) The engine code starts with an AB and from looking at various websites some say its a recon block and others state it as a T1 1300cc engine. Is there a simple way to tell which one I have?

2) The foam seal was missing around the engine tinwear which seamed straight forward but it appears that the rear 'shroud?' is missing too. On further inspection there appears to be one but the wrong size (much lower). Does this mean it is a T1 engine after all? If so, is it OK to run as is?

3) I know the sealing of the engine bay is important, but is it Ok to run without the seal for short trips for the time being or am I risking damage to the engine?

4) Sorry if I'm stating the obvious, but will the engine need to come out to put the missing tinwear in? If doing this is there anything else that I will ought to replace along with the crank case oilseal whilst doing so?

I have owned 3 beetles before but that was some time ago (actually quite a long time ago) so this is like new to me again!

Any help and advise would be appreciated.

Hi, the AB code means that the engine started off as a 1300cc beetle engine used between 1970-73 because these engines were twin port they look very similar to the 1600 engines. It may well have been rebuilt as a 1600 unit later on in its life and unfortunately without stripping the engine its difficult to distinguish the difference.

If by the rear shroud you mean the bit at the back between engine and gear box its probably an engine out job. if its the bit by the fan belt you can replace that insitu.

Ideally all the tin wear needs to be in place to keep the engine bay cool and too stop the engine overheating . i guess this time of year you would be ok for short distances but you need to get it sorted.

From the sound of it it looks as if a beetle engine has been used to replace the orginal one together with the tinware.

Taking the engine out is fairly straightforward so unless you are expecting to do high mileage or have plenty of cash i wouldn't bother replacing things unless you need to.You could check the clutch plate and replace that . things like the clutch and accelerator cable are cheap and easily replaced with the engine out. Replacing the fuel lines would be a good idea as well. Unless the flywheel oil seal is leaking and causing problems i would leave it.

Hi and welcome to the forum Mister C, concur with Owen have you any pictures you can throw up lets see it or if you get a chance come along to the club meet, from March onwards they will be on a Sunday . . . we tend to have them Friday evenings over winter.

Daz

Thanks to you all for the advice and I will try to sort out some pictures and make it to the meet tommorow.

The engine was changed by the previous owner in 2009 and there is a reciept from a garage for installing the customers supplied engine but unfortunatly the owner is not around to ask where the donor engine came from.

The bus had been stood for 2 1/2 years and many things need attention but the 'shroud' issue threw me.

Thanks again for your help and I'm sure I'll discover further things as I go along.

Cheers

Mister C (but not the famous one from the Shamen)