Visually, how do you tell these two engines apart?

 

My Haynes indicates that SPFIs should have the same air filter box as the MPFIs while the carb air filter is on top of the motor in a pan.

 

My 87 (JF2AN53B0HF451696) has the pan. But for some reason I thought the car was SPFI.

If it has a pan, it is carbed - fuel injection cars have something on the ducting saying that they are FI - carb was still available in 1987 - actually that was the last year it was available in the US

 

I guess the easiest way is the air filter - giant squished dougnut; carb - anything else; FI

If it has a big blue or black kidney bean on the top its carby, if its got a rubber hose to a black box on the fender its Fuelie

my 87 was a carbed motor as well. i got a little confused with mine at first too never had a carb before with 4 or 5 electrical connections going to it, at most i am used to only 1 for an electric choke