OK I've found what appears to be a 225hp 56 Mercury 312. It has ECZ-C head a ECZ-C block ECZ caps (no dot). Even has some gold paint coming through the grim and rust. I'll need a rebuild but this is no surprise.
Ok how do I find the engine VIN number so that I can check with the authorities to make sure that it hasn't been stolen, it has been used as security over his morgage,etc, etc.
I know that the Canadian/Australian Y blocks had an engine number on the front right of the block on the vertical flat under the head.
Grizzly (Aussie Mainline)