So there is the obvious EJ25 on the bottoms and tops.

is there a map to where all the markings are/should be, and what they tell me?

 

also is there a "decoder" for the engine serial number.

ie Year, and car it was originally in..

Engine block numbers mean nothing.  We think they "may" be casting numbers only.

 

The VIN, if it's on the block, can give you information.  There's are multiple posts on this site on how to decipher it.

 

Emlly

If it has the 17 digit Vin on the block the 10th digit is the model year of the vehicle it originally came in.

 

Or run the VIN on google and it will usually decode vins automatically.

 

Without a vin, there are identifiers that can get you an approximate year range (usually within 2 years).