CE never had a vin # on the block.....No bare block would ever have a horsepower designation on it,only long blocks would have this designation,and none meant for warranty purposes..thats why bare blocks were sometimes sold as blank pads,otc motors had the HP designation down on the boss at the starter IF they were assembled by GM.warranty had ce buy not usually a build code......Thats why 99% of unstamped virgin blocks had build dates
by the starter...Reading books is dangerous.