2.5 petrol in early 90 - engine no???

Hi, I wonder if anyone can shed some light on a missing engine no.
2.5 petrol 1988 (or possibly 1984 - see my 'I must be nuts post' in the Introduce Yourself section).
I have looked in the usual places:

but nothing there....the only nos I can see are:

This is the engine bay...

Any advise would be much appreciated.
Cheers Capo.

its in the 2nd pic

Thanks for the quick reply James, but the 2nd pic is where it should be (from Glencoyne Engineering).
There is nothing in the equivalent place on my engine.

capo said:

Thanks for the quick reply James, but the 2nd pic is where it should be (from Glencoyne Engineering).
There is nothing in the equivalent place on my engine.
View attachment 130689

Click to expand...

ok then look on driver side of block under the head there are 2 flat areas above cam gallery 1 front 1 rear number should be on the top face of rear one behind lift pump, sometimes at the front one

Found it, 17H00042. It was as in the 2nd pic as you said, but under a thick layer of oily muck.
So this must be a very early 2.5P and the VIN year code (A) matches the age. The 88 E reg must have been given when it was imported - VIN transmission code (8) suggests that it was originally a LHD. So it has had an interesting life. No records available for 88-06, MoTs thereafter.
Thanks for your help.