i bought my car though, and that engine was in it
i've looked at the spot suggested by the manual and took the pic thats in the first post
just right of the actuator, left of the gearbox, it reads vertically "SR20" , then theres a little space below , then even lower theres a rectangular space where i guess the number should be ???
looks like my engine number has gone, cant imagine it was never stamped
thanks for confirming geoff pine