yes, the motor will fit....but there are diffrences......so unless the motor is COMPLETE, (all accesories) then you will need to strip the motor down. in 2k, they lost butterflies, which means you will have to install them on the 2k motor, or you will have a cel light. The water pump mofed from the front to the rear of the engine (or from your view left to right looking at the engine) so all the hoses will be diffrent if you use the 2k pump or you will have a pully sticking out if you use the 96 pump. They changed from a coil pack to ignition coil on plug (6 seperate ignition colils, each on its own plug.
So yes they are the same block but accesories changed.
The list goes on. If you have any questions or want further detail, then call me
Brad
PS. i would not use the sho motor....to much fabbing, use a duratec!