I am looking at a 2.0 on eBay, it is supposedly out of a '75. The # stamped on the block is GC003297, all the other 2.0 engines I've seen start with GA. Any help to decipher this is appreciated.

Thanks,
John

I'm told...

GC engines are out of 75-76 914 2.0L with 7.6 to 1 CR, heads have the air injection ports which can be filled with 10mm valve adjuster screws. 95 hp engine if set up right.

GA == 73-74 US-spec 2.0
GB == 73-74 RoW-spec 2.0
GC == 75-76 US-spec 2.0

The GC made 88 HP (DIN) as opposed to 95 HP (DIN) from the GA motors. The primary difference was the exhaust, which was pretty awful on the late cars.

The GB made 100 HP (DIN), primarily due to higher compression.

--DD

Dave's got it there for you.

Although I'm trying to find the documentation for where the California 75-76 GC only made about 80-84 HP that I remember from when I test drove them new back in the day.

Also, you can put Euro P&Cs on any GA & do the requisite EFI adjustments for 100 HP for an easy power bump, as was commonly done back in the day.

I'm not sure if the GC can be built &/or tweaked to make 95 HP, but if it's a 76 it may not pass CA smog required on them still every other year.

Bottom line, the GC code is correct for the one you're looking at, but don't bank on anything conditionwise without driving it in a car, or running it on a stand & doung all of the compression & leak-down etc. tests - otherwise it's just a core which may or may not be usable pending tear down.


Tom
///////.

Where is that number located?

In front of the oil filler tower, on the 2.0 914 engines. See the arrow near the center of the pic below:




Some VW applications also have engine serial numbers there. The other 914 engines, and many VW ones, have codes elsewhere. Primarily on top of the right half of the case (upper-left of the photo).


I bet the "80 HP" that others have noted for the GC motors is measured SAE Net. DIN uses a different set of test conditions, and typically reads higher than SAE Net. SAE Gross is an older measurement that reads even higher for the same engine than DIN does.

--DD

Thanks Dave. I have to admit, I was too lazy to search.

Thank you all for the input, I really appreciate it! I think I'll hold out for a GA engine since it is correct for the year of my car.

Cheers,
John

Well if you want one correct for the yr of your car, you not only need the correct GA code but the SN needs to be within the right rangefor your model year.