the engine has a unique number stamped on it top of the engine block ( nothing to do with the VIN ) and believe me it can be traced back to the production line so when they say its not traceable its bull, if your car was involved in a serious accident how do you think the police trace the cars home and owner ( VIN/ENGINE number or tag as its called )
edit: engine number is stamped on the block driver side USA rear end under the inlet next to last spark plug near the firewall ( if its been ground off then consider it a stolen engine ) and the police can still get the number out of it via radiation techniques because its stamped in so it alters the structure of the metal and its stamped in many other parts which only the makers know

so if you have it send the number to the manufacturers they will tell you when it was made and which car it went into