How do I find out if I have a carburated 13b or a carburated 12a? I bought the car two weeks ago and have not even open the hood. I know it will not start since the battery is dead and the PO put the distributor in my hand. It was my intention just to keep the car as a parts car to support the race car. The more I read this list the more interested I am in getting the car running and using it as an autoxer.

Thanks

PS I guess a little info would help 85 GSL. Also is there a site where I can translate the VIN Number? I just found out last night that the car has a complete Racing Beat exhaust system

 

An 85 GSL comes stock with a Carburated 12A engine. If you open the hood, you will see for sure what engine it is right behind the distributor. It is stamped on the rotor housing.

You can check you Vin HERE, at Manntis' site.

 

from the title, i thought that this was going to be the 13B thread for the week ...

anyway ... why would you buy a car and not look under the hood? also, if you have a race car, i'm assuming that you know enough about these cars to take an educated guess ...

anyway ... '85 GSL should be a 12A, as long as the previous owner didn't change it to something else. however, it should be obvious that there's no way for me to stay here where i am and tell you what you have under your hood in Michigan. so just open the hood and look. it will tell you right there on the rotor housings whether it's 12A or 13B.

as for your VIN question ... i believe that Manntis has this sort of info on his website. and here i go, making a plug for Manntis ...

www.wigglepup.com

(Hey Manntis, that's a $0.05 advertising fee )

 

I bought the car for its quarter panels, nose and whatever else I need in the future. My race car is an ITS so I know for a fact that it has a 13b.
I saw the car for sale, the owner was standing right next to it. He told me the car had a bad carburator. I never opened the doors, the hatch or hood. I happened to have $350 on me so I paid him for it, called a friend and we pushed it in the back yard of my rental property. I have not seen, or touch the car since then. My racing season is done so more than likely the car will seat there until the spring unless I decide to try to fix it.

 

All you need to do is look at the motor Where it says Mazda, right above that is 12A or 13B. The '13' is covered in this picture by a hose.

Aaron