Serial Number Decoding

[Alpha86]

Hey guys, I just bought a blown FA20 from a twin and grinding trans with plans of an FI build. All is well, but I'm not 100% sure on what the model years of each part are, and neither does the guy I bought it from since he bought it off his friend. The engine might be a 2013, which is good since my FRS is 2013 and there'd be no issues with harnesses, and the trans might be a 2016.
Is there any way to verify what model years I have? Serial numbers, production stampings, etc? Thanks.

[solidsnake11]

2013 had short valves and the rockers are smooth on top of the pivots. Long valve has a circle on top of the pivot. Post a picture of the rockers.

[Alpha86]

Gonna have to get back to you on that, the engine is sitting on my garage floor upside-down lol

[BigTuna]

https://www.carfax.com/blog/vin-decoding

[Fred E]

Originally Posted by Alpha86

Hey guys, I just bought a blown FA20 from a twin and grinding trans with plans of an FI build. All is well, but I'm not 100% sure on what the model years of each part are, and neither does the guy I bought it from since he bought it off his friend. The engine might be a 2013, which is good since my FRS is 2013 and there'd be no issues with harnesses, and the trans might be a 2016.
Is there any way to verify what model years I have? Serial numbers, production stampings, etc? Thanks.

Years 2013 through 2015 have the same engine/harness connectors, so engines from any of those years would be compatible in your 2013 car. However, 2014 and 2015 engines had internal revisions that make them safer than 2013 engines, including removing the need for the valve spring recall. Keeping that in mind, discovering that the engine is out of anything but a 2013 would be preferable.

I'm not sure if the original car's VIN is actually etched on the engine, but that would clearly identify the year if it is.

Try finding the plaque pictured in this thread: https://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=128854

[Alpha86]

Originally Posted by Fred E

Try finding the plaque pictured in this thread: https://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=128854

It appears that the sticker was peeled off

I don't want to pull the valve covers off yet since it's not on a stand, I'll have to come back to that later. Hoping that the VIN is etched somewhere.

[wparsons]

Originally Posted by Fred E

Years 2013 through 2015 have the same engine/harness connectors, so engines from any of those years would be compatible in your 2013 car. However, 2014 and 2015 engines had internal revisions that make them safer than 2013 engines, including removing the need for the valve spring recall. Keeping that in mind, discovering that the engine is out of anything but a 2013 would be preferable.

I'm not sure if the original car's VIN is actually etched on the engine, but that would clearly identify the year if it is.

Try finding the plaque pictured in this thread: https://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=128854

Slight clarification, the 2014/2015 engine revisions aren't the reason they don't need the valve spring recall. Only some 2013's are affected, and it's because of bad batch of springs, not a faulty design.