as far as I can tell the 95 had a new engine with the new gen and then the following year they moved to the L35 and then the LU3 Vortec, I am just wondering what engines can go in relatively easy as far as swapping accessories and the intake manifold ect.. somehow the newer Vortec S-10 engines are actually cheaper than the 95..

 

so is it just a 95 engine then? or could the previous generation engines work???

 

You have to look at the timing cover bolt arrangement. The cover changed somewhere in the '94-'95 time span. You will likely need a cover that has the provision for the CKP (crank position) sensor. The '96+ SCFI engines have different bolt patterns for the intake manifold. I have heard that the blocks are very similar, but have not read of anyone that has used the newer block in an older application. You would definitely have to use the heads off your engine.

Here is an article that goes through the changes entitled Rebuilding the 262 by Doug Anderson up to '95, but doesn't have much information past that.