1986 Honda Civic Engine number problems

[AJC351]

Hey everyone,
I'm new here, names Alex and am enquiring on my friends behalf. He has recently bought a 1986 Honda Civic wagon. Its got 170,000 K's on it and is in really original condition. He's recently got it all rwc but it turns out the engine number apparently isn't matching up with the one on the vin plate.
The number his mechanic has found is "dan0721", the mechanic said the reason is it might be because the engine had been reconconditioned and they might of stamped a new number on it.
Either that or it's an engine out of a different car
My questions are, if it was the number was ground of in the machining somehow wouldn't they have had to restamp the original number on?
And if it was an engine out of another car wouldn't the number be similar to whats on the vin plate? (ew21421265)
Heres the engine and the car:
http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x318/cheek28/1986%20Honda%20Civis/file-54.jpg
http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x318/cheek28/file-57.jpg


Also does anyone on this forum know where the 85/86 models engine numbers are? The other thing I'm thinking is maybe the mechanic wrote down the wrong number?

Thanks heaps for any help and sorry if this is the wrong forum/section to ask I wasn't sure..
Alex

[leok]

Try checking on the engine block, normally the engine numbers are etched on the block somewhere there in plain view.

Edit: Just checked on redbook.com.au
Engine numbers start with EW2-14##### and the VIN numbers for these civics start with JHMAAN5520S2#####

[grifty]

yeah maybe the mechanic had a look at the wrong number.

i dunno about the ew motor but all other motors like H,B,D series have it stamped on the front of the block below the exhaust manifold where it can be seen easily. sometimes it needs a clean to bring it up due to oil dirt etc.