Can anyone identify this engine?
 

All I've got I the photo.

Attachment 74619

all you can tell from that pic is that the car its fitted to is v1/2 and the heads are compatible with that or v3/4 cars.............

I'm told the car is a 1993 JDM WRX with an Sti engine fitted. When were the first STI's? 1995 v3?

First STI was a modified WRX ,first production STI was end of 1994 (version 2)

First sti appeared in early 94.
The V2 sti was not available until aug 95.

You have to buy it as if it had a standard engine. Unless the owner can prove its had an engine swap then it adds no value.
I would take it with a pinch of salt. Its not the first time I've heard sellers say 'yea its got an sti engine mate' or 'my mate works for prodrive and built it for me'.
99% of the time its BS.

First STI appeared in early 94 and was based on a wrx which was taken off the production line and modified.
I would guess the one in the pic is just a standard engine with a painted manifold and along the line somewhere someone has thought the red manifold indicates an STI motor.

If I could get someone to go and have a look at it, what would they be looking for to better identify it?

You can't tell by looking at it.

To be honest it really isn't a huge selling point anyway.

As long as it runs tidy it makes fook all difference for the year of car :) It's ODB if it's a V2 and that's about as exciting as it gets for the STi lump :) You may well have had a CDB in the WRX being a 93 and if the STi is a V1 that may also have been a CDB. However if the Mani is off the new engine the Redtop only came on the V2's IIRC. :)

My 95 WRX and STi were modified to the same spec and it made no difference at 320 bhp what engine was underneath :)

Looks very 'budget' from the engine bay, there's no excuse for a filter in that condition. :)