Ok the basics: 97 xk8 coupe, very very early production.
im searching tirelessly for an engine serial number on the engine itself. I don’t know if it’s been replaced due to nikisil lined cylinders but that’s why I’m trying to find serial number…sorta

I wanna take the valve covers off to fix oil in spark plug wells, but need the engine serial number to verify correct gaskets….
also, once valve covers are off I wanna see if timing tensioners/guides are updated, and will need those parts and gaskets as well if needed, and if I gotta go that far I’m pulling the oil pan and checking for plastic junk and the oil pump pickup screen, as well as doing an updated water pump and thermostat housing to aluminum and other stuff while it’ll be in pieces

now to the question; where exactly would I find the serial number for motor specificly ON the motor? I can’t find anything and I’m frustrated and sore back and neck.
any other way to identify it? All accessories and plastics and anything with a part number or date code all points to 96 production but all that could have been put back on a replacement motor if the nikisil recall has been done, however I do not know for sure. Thanks

 

Ok false alarm I just found it, nowhere near what was suggested to me for areas to look in(no offense guys I know certain things on these cars can be elusive)
turns out it’s not quite serial numbers per day but my numbers show me a production date. The numbers I found were 960610 0759 which translate to 1996, June 10th @ 07:59 .
so I found the numbers looking straight down on the engine, between thermostat housing and driver side(USA) valve cover. Under the date code was stamped “22222222” not sure what that means yet.
so now I know I have the original motor, nikisil lined cylinders, P.O. told me he never updated timing but he bought it in 2009, so original owner may have, but seeing how the original owner never did the recall for nikisil, and no updated water pump or thermostat housing tell me it more than likely all original, as was the case of the fuel filter I just replaced.