can you change transmissions from 98 to 01 malibu?

can you change transmissions from a 1998 chevy malibu vin m to a 2001 chevy malibu vin j, both vehicles are 3.1L, V6, but I hear because the vin # is different, that they aren't interchangable, but I can't trust who's telling it because they are wanting the car

Go to a salvage yard , they have books which say what parts will interchange .