Does anyone know how to decode the engine number. Mine is 48898. Car is an '84 GSL and engine was supposedly replaced with a new one at 88k by the dealer. I'm just curious here.

Thanks,
Frank

 

48898 does not sound like an engine number. For example, my late 84 original engine reads 12A2396184. Remember by 1984 there were some 250.000 RX07s in the USA alone and the engine was used on earlier models.

If it is a replacement engine then it could have any number as unlike the car vin number it can change up or down depending on where the new engine came from. If its a rebuild it could be made up of parts from a number of engines.

About the only easy way to see if you have a different motor from original is if your local registration requires both vin and engine no, or if these details were written into your owneers manual by the original dealer.

 

The number is stamped into the block in the spot shown in my Haynes manual. (front of block kinda between alternator and distributor) Now that I've looked at it again it has a W prefix which is bigger and lightly stamped. Would W48898 make sense for a NEW engine? Engine is supposed to be NEW, not rebuilt.

Thanks,
Frank

 

I wished I could decipher the #'s they used on those motors too. I THINK http://www.atkinsrotary.com put a pampleyt out on it or something...

If its a Mazda rebuild it would have come from their rebuilding place in Houston, Texas. All the 12A's i put in from them had a big 'R' stamped into the front rotor housing

 

Thanks, I looked on their site but couldn't find a link to any decoding information. Like I said before, this engine is supposed to be BRAND NEW not REBUILT. It would appear that the W is cast into the block and the 48898 was stamped in later. I would think that not having as many numbers as other people's engines would indicate a factory replacement engine, not one originally installed on the production line. That's how GM does it. Anybody know Mazda's method?

 

c'mon, anybody?

 

I could have sworn it was on there site and it wasnt free if I remember, why dont you try emailing them?

 

What number are you looking at? Which housing???

 

The number is stamped on the front side housing between the distributor and the alternator as depicted on page 7 of my haynes manual. Perhaps I will email those people, just thought someone might know how to look for matching numbers on an RX-7.

 

I got 4 motors here, and all 4 vins they came outta of. I cant make heads or tails of the numbers. My guess its like the date codes on soup cans and stuff at the grocery. Its a mathmatical manipulation of the numbers and the vin ? Dunno for sure, but id try atkins, www.revolutionrotary.com , www.racingbeat.com or www.mazdatrix.com

if you find out anything let me know too

 

The vin numbers of the vehicle is straight forward and the vehicle number is in sequence.

The engine number was originally in batch order, thus there is a link if you are running with the original engine. This number is on top of the housing next to the distributor.

It is my understanding that no new 12a engines were built after 1989, but they were factory rebuilds available. There is confusion when another engine is dropped in, rebuilt, reconditioned, or 'new'.

I very much doubt a 1984 would have a brand new engine fitted, it is more likely to be a rebuild.

Some rebuilders paint their product a unique colour, and it is possible they might stamp their own number on for identification in the event of a warranty claim.