robster i was making a reference to your post a few minutes earlier. there is no need to repeat what has already been said...hence another way to check. my reasoning was simple: knowing the engine code usually helps to distinguish which engine the car has. even if the head has been changed i always look at the engine code first after looking at the make year and model of the car...by the VIN code...and then go from there. that way you know what was stock in it before and what has since changed (if anything).