Could someone help me understand what year 4.3l vortec motor I could replace this engine with if I can't find a 1995. I want to just pull this motor out and drop a different one in. Also what is the difference with the top or side mounted spark plug wires to cap?

 

If you have the EDI distributor (horizontal mounted plug wires at the cap), you'll have to find another EDI '95 for it to be a direct drop in. The standard ignition system used in the early '95's (vertical mounted plug wires at the cap) did not use a CKP sensor on the front of the engine. The short block from a '96 would work, however you would have to swap over the heads on up from your '95 motor. The cam would be different as well, but probably negligible in terms of noticeable performance difference.

If you don't have the EDI distributor, then you should be able to use any '93-'95 CPI engine.

 

Thank you that is a big help because I looked at a few engines with vertical mounted plug wires and mine has horizontal mounted plug wires.