Where can I look for a list of what serial #s = what year an engine is? My aftermarket manual doesn't include them, and the page on Marlincrawler doesn't match up with what I'm seeing. Mine is something like 196775...it's kinda hard to read as engine is still in truck.

I've been looking at some used engines lately to rebuild and have encountered a number of folks who apparently just will say anything or are simply clueless.

Popping the exhaust manifold off or removing the valve cover would help but my sellers are not too keen on those ideas. A guy told me today that a (manifold-less) 89 RE engine couldn't replace an 87 R. My research on this site suggests that the real distinction is the 84/85 change in block height, piston design, ex port shape, and timing chain.

Does an RE engine have the RE stamped on the block near the engine ID?
Thanks