tokyopav

Or it appears that way.

I tried to check my engine number today and had a big surprise. Couldn't see or feel any number.
It's a left hand drive 2003 996 C2. 3.6L
I rubbed what I thought was the engine number area and there is no number. Took a photo as I thought I was going mad.
This is left hand side of the engine looking from the back.
Confused, maybe I need to try harder with the rag.
Any ideas/thoughts?
Thanks

DBJoe996

For the 3.6 L
https://rennlist.com/forums/997-foru...ber-stamp.html

Maybe rub harder or use some cleaner.

infrasilver

Very common when looking for the engine number its just faint and hard to see unless really clean.

tokyopav

Ok. Brass wire brush on the list. Wonder why surprise I may find.

996_North

Wire brush will do the trick. Look for an AT in the serial as it designates a Porsche reman engine.

tokyopav

I wire brushed and used emery paper. I don't think anymore rubbing will reveal any numbers.
Any ideas?

DBJoe996

A VIN decoder will tell you what engine number came with the car originally. Hard to tell from the picture but it looks like there is the start of a number on there. I wouldn't do anymore as it looks almost worn away. Perhaps taking a piece of paper and lead pencil and making a rubbing of that area may reveal a number.

ditto

You have entered the world of forensics. Acid etch it. Use discretion with the acid. Or you could go for a drive instead.

alpine003

It does seem rather odd but the cynic in me wonders if someone purposely tried to sand it down for one reason or another...

DBJoe996

LOL! Kind of like removing the serial number from a gun.....I was just trying to help out the OP, but agree with Ditto...go for a drive instead. What we get ourselves into....sigh

Kalashnikov

Tokyopav, didn't you say that you car was a grey market import? Did it starts its life in the Beverly Hills Porsche dealer? Did Kip Raines take it through the front door?

tokyopav

I didn't say grey import. Actually it was a legit import. Sold and serviced by porsche Japan. If you walk around the porsche showroom in Tokyo you will see all are left hand drive in a right hand drive market.

After plenty of google research it seems the numbers are lightly engraved not heavily stamped. Maybe the Nebraska became victims to previous reveal techniques.

I was only interested in finding out if its the original engine or a replacement. Ill try the pencil if nothing shows then ill give up.

Cheers everyone.

Picture to end the thread. Taken at Hakone Skyline last weekend.

tokyopav

p.s. no porsche Japan won't tell me anything about the car. They are pretending they don't keep the data. Privacy protection is a big thing here in japan so they don't risk anything.

pecto3

I was on the same boat as you are Tokyo when I bought my 2000 c2. Was not sure if I had the replacement engine, paperwork from the dealership wasn't clear about the engine replacement. So I did look for the tell tale sign of a remanufactured engine. My engine oil cap seems like it was made in 2005 and the power steering cap says its a 997 part. Of course I later found out that my engine was indeed replaced as indicated by the prefix "AT" on the engine serial number. Hope this helps.

Imo000

There is a top of a P on the left side but the rest of the numbers looks like it was sand blasted at some point. Someone was in there and did this on purpose. If you keep digging, might not like the answer at the end. I would stop and pretend I never looked in the first place.