Engine Replacement Query

[GiveMeABreak]

Hi, I recently asked for my car info, which you kindly provided, as I suspected that my mechanic did not replace my engine as he promised due to a broken timing belt . I found out that the engine block was not changed (of course) but he told me that what he means by "changing engine" means that he takes all the inner parts from another engine and replaces my own (except from the engine block), and that the engine head was replaced. On the engine head there is a serial number. My question is: Shouldn't the engine block number be identical to the original-initial head number? If not, is there any way to find my vehicles engine head number? (If I am off topic I apologise, but the question goes to the engine head s/n).
Thanks in advance for you time.

[myglaren]

That sounds suspicious. Much more work to remove all the parts from both blocks then transfer the innards from one to the other and set everything up, presuming the parts match in the first place.
Sounds like patent nonsense when it is far faster and simpler to just swap engines, presuming the one going in is a known good one, otherwise why bother.

[GiveMeABreak]

I'm afraid apart from the engine, no other components I believe have the serial number printed on them - as these are deemed service items so would serve no purpose. You'll have to decide whether he's done what was asked or not and make a decision as how to proceed, but in my book, an engine replacement is just that, a complete replacement.

[xantia_v6]

I don't think that the manufacturer generally stamps the engine serial number on the cylinder head, so there shouldn't be a problem with it not matching.

If the engine is now running correctly and the cost was reasonable then maybe you can trust the mechanic.

[wheeler]

Sounds well shady, as said above swapping the engine internals would be way more work than just swapping the complete engine.
Ask the garage to see the old bare engine block they stripped & also the the old worn (and now removed) components from your engine.

[Stewart(oily)]

If I were tasked with repairing an HDI with a broken cambelt and having a spare engine at hand I would simply swap the cylinder heads over and refit the original injectors, doing so has a very good chance of being successful and is less work and buggeration than any other course of action.

[Michel]

If I were tasked with repairing an HDI with a broken cambelt and having a spare engine at hand I would simply swap the cylinder heads over and refit the original injectors, doing so has a very good chance of being successful and is less work and buggeration than any other course of action.

OP is in Athens, I'm pretty sure this will be a 1.6 petrol. Same applies though, swap the head from a spare engine if one's available.