Hi All

Here is my first question to the forum, after receiving a very warm reception from you all. My good body's type number 133942/9 makes sense and according to the amazon register spec table, puts at the 1968 model year, if I remember correctly. My rust bucket (the driver), is peculiar though as its type number is 123942 (checked this twice), and according to the same spec table, i should be owning a stationwagon and not a sedan, unless I misread something.

The second point of confusion pertains to the engine number, expecting a six digit number I have 1000214 which is seven digits. It is a volvo engine though, with twin su, dual downpipe setup, and the engine number was where my haynes manual said it would be. There were also three other plates, with numbers along the fender in the engine bay, the meaning of which I dont know. They are K221, 58537 and 230150. I dont know if this had anything to do with the fact that the vehicle was imported in complete knockdown form and assembled locally.

Your assistance is shedding some light on what I have will be much appreciated.

Let the saga begin

Regards

Jayce

Hello All:

I know this topic has been dead for a few days but I noticed something in the shop manual and am seeking clarification. How does one determine if one's B18D motor is Type 1, 2 or 3?

Cheers,

Jeff Pucillo

B18D Type I had 80hp @ 5000 rpm (DIN); C.R. 8.5

B18D Type II had 86hp @ 5000 rpm (DIN); C.R. 8.7

B18D Type III had 90hp @ 5500 rpm (DIN); C.R. also 8.7

I would assume that the only way to determine the differance would be to measure the cylinder head deck height and/or the thickness of the cylinder head gasket used.

Hello Fred:

Thanks for the quick response. Surely one of the byzantine numbers on the lump would tell the story, no? Perhaps the letter designation for date of manufacture would give a hint.

Anyone?

Cheers,

Jeff Pucillo

Hi Jeff. If you can come up with the two numbers after the 4968 on the side of your block I can help you identify the engine type. The numbers are stamped in the block. Come on I know you can do this.

Cheers, Jim Robinson

Hello Jim:

Alright, enough of your bellyaching. Here are the numbers:

Immediately after the 4968 there is a raised surface with the number '40'. There is a channel in the raised surface to the right of that and the next raised surface has the numbers '16643'.

I know that I have a B18D, the question is, Type I, II or III?

Cheers,

Jeff Pucillo

Hi Jeff: According to my chart you have a B18D with 100 bhp[SAE] and it came out of a 120 with a manual trans. I guess that makes it a type III. This just confirms what you thought you had.

As an aside, I glanced at your bio and I see you are really into theater. My wife is an amateur thespian also. She has probably been in about 100 or so plays. Ironically that is how I met her. I got talked into doing a play by a friend of mine and decided to give it a try. It was a musical called "Me And My Girl." I had a bit part and we were husband and wife in the play. Four years later we got married.

Cheers, Jim Robinson

Hello Jim:

Thanks for the insight. 100HP? I had better adjust those carbs, I think I am leaving a few ponies on the table.

Other than rock 'n roll there is no surer way for a man to meet the ladies than the theater. I actually just started doing theater again last year. I have spent most of the last three years working on film and television projects. It feels good to trot the boards again.

Cheers,

Jeff Pucillo

Hello Jim:

For God's sake alright. I get in late the next couple of nights but Thursday night is the night. I will post on Friday.

You are very kind to offer.

George, I hope that did not qualify as taking the Lord's name in vain.

Cheers,

Jeff Pucillo

A very good decoder of VIN numbers can be found in the German book "Volvo P120-Modelle" by Dieter Guenther & Walter Wolf. The 1st 6 numbers are broken down as follows;
1st number ; 1 = Sedan;
2 = Stationwagon

2nd number ; 2 = 4dr sedan or wagon
3 = 2dr sedan

3rd number ; 1 = B16A / B18A / B20A
2 = B16B / B18D
3 = B18B / B20B

4th number ; 2 = Standard Model; 3 = Export Model; 4 = U.S.Model;
5 = Norwegian Model; 6 = Danish Model;
9 = Export Model assembled in Belgium or South Africa

5th number ; 1/2 = 3 Speed transmission
3 = 3 Speed with Overdrive (M31)
4 = 4 Speed
5 = 4 Speed with Overdrive (M41)
6 = Automatic (BW35)
8 = 4 Speed (Column Shift)

6th number / or letter ; 1 or V = Left-hand steering
2 or H = Right-hand steering

These 6 numbers are followed by a letter which designates what year the car was produced.
P1200 and P120 have production years Oct.1956 - July 1967; A,B,D,E,F,G,K,L, & M.
P130 Oct.1961 - July 1970; A,B,D,E,F,M,P,S, & T.
P220 Feb.1962 - May 1969; A,B,D,E,F,M,P, & S.

My 122S 4dr. Sedan (Titled as a 1967 model) has the following VIN# 122 441 M
The letter M designated that it was produced between Aug. 1966 and July 1967.

I hope this helps. Fred

Very interesting info!
I have 2 222 wagons, both 22244VF. Can you tell me what the "F" stands for?
(The serial numbers are 36025, which does NOT have the VIN stamped on the
firewall, and 44489, which DOES have the VIN stamped on the firewall. I guess
that is one difference between early and late 1966.)
--
George Downs Bartlesville, Heart of the USA!

George,

The "F" stands for year produced. (Aug. 1965 - July 1966), during which time 15,200 P220 wagons were produced.
Chassis Serial numbers during this period were 29,400 to 44,599.
Your car with serial # 36025 was probably produced in Nov./Dec. 1965 ? Your car with serial # 44489 was probably produced near the end of that production run in June/July 1966 ?
Hope this helps. Fred

For the P220:

A = production begins 2/1962 | ser.nos. 1 - 1399
B = 8/1962 | 1400 - 8274
D = 8/1963 | 8275 - 17949
E = 8/1964 | 17950 - 29399
F = 8/1965 | 29400 - 44599
M = 8/1966 | 44600 - 51799
P = 8/1967 | 51800 - 70299
S = 8/1968 - 5/1969 | 70300 - 73196

Dear Fred

You have been more than helpful, in fact you have been the definitive source on this matter. It has really been appreciated. I have only one further question for you, in that the good body with type number 133942 which makes it 2 door, b20b, south africa, 4 speed box, RHD vehicle does not have a model suffix such as M. What is does have is /9 and therefore falls outside of the classification you have mentioned. Do you have any idea what this could mean?

Thanks once again for your help, at least I know to a degree what I am working with.

Regards

Jayce

Dear Jayce,

Maybe the "9" should actually be an "S" meaning that it was one of 27,500 units produced between Aug. 1968 and July 1969 with chassis serial #312500 to 339999.
Brgds, Fred

Makes sense because my car has the following plates:

12244VF (Type Code)
12 = Chassis (4 door, 120 series)
2 = Engine (B16B, B18D (dual carburetor, low compression)
4 = Destination Market (US export model)
4 = Transmission (M40 4 speed)
V = Steering Position (Left-hand drive)
F = Production Group ID (1963 120 series cars were marked F)

122448 (Vehicle Identification Number) JUST A FEW NUMBERS OFF FRED's BUT MINE IS A 1963

147-224 (upholstery code) gray vinyl with back seat arm rest

Hi Jayce,

See the following:

http://www.vlvworld.com/indexframe.html?VIN/VIN61-66.htm

According to this you have a 2 door B18B CKD with M40 RHD (the good body).

The other should be a 4 door, so that's odd. Do the upholstery and paint codes match the car? Maybe the plate was switched - not too big a deal especially as its the donor car.

The last letter on both type numbers is P for 1968 right?

Aidan
--
1967 131, 1969 131, 1973 Triumph GT6

Well Aidan

Your guess is a good as mine. The good body, could have been a B18b or a B20, but is most definitely a 1968 model. The donor is the big mystery, on both my vehicles there are no upholstery or paint codes. Maybe it was becuase they were assembled locally, and Volvo just provided them with the type and serial numbers.

However my good body vehicle is off white in colour with red interior and back side panels having armrests and ashtrays. None of them have the suffix P, the good body has /9 and the donor M, which puts at 1966. However what is puzzingly is that the donor has the front seats with head rests which were only available from 1968. Also the steering wheels in both cars are of the late type, being four spoked as opposed to the three spoke on earlier models.

Also the donor body's front bumper once had what looks like factory fitted spots.

Anyway, its going to be fun putting it all together

Regards

jayce

Anyway I will at lease know what the good body is made up of.

Probably should look at the numbers again. The VIN for a wagon will start
with 221 or 222. Starting with 13 indicates a 2-door, the 131 being the single
carb 121, and 132 being the dual carb 122S. My guess is that 133 would refer to
the 123 GT but it might just refer to any 2-door with a B20 engine.

A type number starting with 12 indicates a 4-door car, and again the 123 may indicate one equipped with a B20 (but that is a guess).

The engine number should start with 49 which will be cast into the side of the
block just below the top on the left side between the distributor and where
the #2 spark plug is. The rest of the digits will be stamped into a machined
boss, except for earlier models which may have 4969 cast into the block followed by two stamped numbers in the type and more numbers indicating the serial number of the engine. 496900 is the first B20 number, and numbers
starting with 4968 and earlier will be B18s.
--
George Downs Bartlesville, Heart of the USA!

Hi George

I found the number after taking another look. Yep it starts with 49, then is followed by 3804 which is lower than what you suggested, but I was using a flashlight in the dark last night and it could have been 498804.

Thanks for your help. Freds post has also been really useful, at least he can tell you what the last three digits mean as well.

cheers


Jayce

Probably better look again. The B20 numbers range from 496900 to 498294,
so neither of the numbers you quoted could be a B20 type number.
The B4 engine (predecessor of the B14, B16, B18, etc) started with 4953
so that 493804 would be much earlier than that. Likewise according to what
I could find out 498804 is too high to be any of the B20s.
Best regards,
--
George Downs Bartlesville, Heart of the USA!

George,

The 133xxxx designation refers to a B18B engine, which, as you know, is the high compression version of the B18, and was standard equipment in all B18 equipped 1800's and 123 GT's.

The 123GT had the 133xxxx designation, but not exclusively, as the B18B was also available, as an option, for the 122 models.

So, a 2-door 122 with a B18B would have the same 133xxxx designation as a 123GT.

gary - '67 122S (B18B), '72 ES

I had a 67 122 with B18B but its VIN was 132XXX....
--
George Downs Bartlesville, Heart of the USA!

George,

My impression is that, unless you bought it new, or have an exact history, you just never know.

I had a a rustbucket1967 122, 5 years ago, in California. Right price, and a surprisingly peppy B18. It had a 133xxxx VID plate, and the (rebuilt) engine (now in my rust-free '67 122, here in Texas) still shows all the signs of the hi-compression B18B. Run-on, pinging on modern, low octane gas, etc.

But no one, even George Miniason, a fellow Brickboarder from Australia, who knows his numbers, could find my engine numbers in the catalogues, so I don't know, for sure, if it is a "B" engine, or not. I've never checked displacement, either, so it's a real possibility that it was overbored, when rebuilt.

Did you buy your '67 122 new?
If so, then it woud have been mislabeled, according to the charts.

If not, then something was changed. The engine, or the VID plate.

gary

Gary,

still shows all the signs of the hi-compression B18B. Run-on, pinging on modern, low octane gas, etc.

I suggest that this is not inherent with the B18B, and can be overcome with proper tuning. Mail me your wallet and then send the car up here for a laying on of hands ;)

I've never checked displacement, either, so it's a real possibility that it was overbored, when rebuilt.

If it's a B20 bore with a B18 head, I can't fix it by tuning. Never mind about the wallet and stuff.

May not be all that easy to measure with the head mounted, but the B head is 3.425" thick, while the A/D head is 3.465" thick, measuring from head bolt contact surface to head gasket contact surface.

Not sure about the B20 models