Is the engine in a 99 Civic EX a sohc vtec or just a standard sohc and if it is how can you verify that?

The standard engine in a 1999 Civic EX is a VTEC engine. It should say VTEC on the valve cover. there is an engine code printed on the block itself if it is a sohc vtec it will read "D16Y8" on the block, plus vtec engines have something called a vtec silenoied located near the distributor. Actually the D16Y8 valve cover does not say VTEC on it.