Gentlepersons... have 1992SL1 engine died... gong to replace it ,,, but all involved want to know engine type dual cam? vs ? ... can you tell me how to determine whats in the car now.. vin# nails it down to 1992...but thats all I can discover

That is pretty easy. If your Saturn is an SL1 it is single cam if it is an SL2 it is dual cam. That is the only difference between an SL1 and an SL2 - Saturn didn't even bother to put a tag or emblem anywhere on the body to differentiate between the the two models. The 8th digit in the VIN will confirm this for you. If the 8th digit is "7" it is a Dual Overhead Cam (DOHC) engine. If the 8th digit is a "9" then it is a Single Overhead Cam (SOHC) engine. When you have seen both engines, it is pretty obvious by simply looking at them. The DOHC cam cover is much wider and has 2 "humps" with spark plugs and wires going down the center between the humps. The SOHC cam cover is narrow and the plugs and wires go down one side.

Also in the 1992 model year, the DOHC engine was equipped with Multiport Fuel Injection. (MFI) The fuel injectors (4 of them) were located in the top of the intake manifold. The SOHC engine had Throttle Body Injection (TBI) The two injectors were located in the throttle body.

I don't have any pictures of the cam covers, but I have pictures of the cam cover gaskets (AKA Valve Cover Gaskets) you can very easilly see the difference.

When you go to get the engine they will ask for the #8 digit of the vin #. this is the # for the engine.