vtec or not

My son has a '97 Civic EX that according to the VIN has a 1.6L L4 PFI VTEC 16V engine, but I'm not sure if it is the original engine. How can I be sure what engine it is? It has an aluminum oil pan and the plug threads are stripped. I'm not sure what pan to buy. I've been told that oversize plugs or repair are not good options.

My son has a '97 Civic EX that according to the VIN has a 1.6L L4 PFI VTEC 16V engine, but I'm not sure if it is the original engine. How can I be sure what engine it is? It has an aluminum oil pan and the plug threads are stripped. I'm not sure what pan to buy. I've been told that oversize plugs or repair are not good options.

Your engine does have VTEC... any D-series engine oil pan should work though... but you don't have to buy a whole oil pan.. just take your current pan to a machine shop and have them re-thread the hole and make you a new plug for it.

Yup. And for future reference, there is a flat plate on the front of the motor where the block meets the transmission. Like this: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v473/CivicSpoon/plate.jpg That engine in the pic is an H22a. And the engine that comes stock in your sons' is a D16Y8.