napa and autozoneyear, model, make, number of cylinders.... and the guy looks it up on a computer.
mine was for the knowledgeable racing community... here a good parts house or engine builder will be quite fluent when you say you want that crower with the 1.85" journals and he will know your lookin' to use a honda rod.
for your mom and pop car... at Manny, Moe, and Jack's (PEPBOYS) just have the vehicle ID card with ya... cause the guy behind the counter was working at Burger King last week.
msl