My gf bought a 96 accord, and while her brother was looking it over, he noticed the number "350" handwritten in white to the left of the exhaust manifold. He says this is from a junkyard, and her engine must have been swapped.

However, I own a 98 accord ex coupe and while washing my engine bay today, discovered I have the number "205" written in EXACTLY the same spot, in the same handwritten style and color. Ive had this car for years and REALLY dont think that both of our cars have junkyard engines in them, and that both junkyards wrote 3 digit numbers in the EXACT same spot...but I am not a car person...so what are these numbers? Is he right?

If it matters both cars run perfect and have no issues.

Thanks for any help!


EDIT: just had an (obvious) idea. I can see if the vin on the engines match the other vins.....any help to where the vin would be located on either a 98 accord ex coupe 4cyl vtec or a 96 accord lx sedan?

 

On the '96 2.2
Look at the exhaust manifold. Now look to the left of it there should be a cast number 'F22B2' above or below that is a machined pad with stamped numbers. IIRC the stamped numbers are the same digits as the VIN. Transmissions actually have a VIN tag on them.