Is there a way, aside from taking off the oil pan, to know if you have a 2 bolt or 4 bolt block?

Supposedly according to the paper work I got with my car, the engine was replaced at 65k. I do not know for sure as I'm the 4th or 5th owner and I got the car with 117k on the odometer.

I had also read that factory replacement engines normally had 4 bolts.

Is there a number on the block or anything that will identify this?

Thanks

 

The crate engines were 4 bolt. Mine was replaced at 48K under warranty and it was a 4 bolt block.

I don't know if there is any identification marks on the block or not though.

 

It is the same block, just additional machining, no external identifiers.

IMO factory 4-bolt is almost meaningless because by the time you need them you should be looking at aftermarket caps which means a new line bore anyway which is the expensive part. Only reason I can see worrying about it is so you know if you have to order new straight caps for existing 4-bolt or if you have a 2-bolt you ask your machine shop if they prefer splayed or straight.