2001 Grand am 2.4l swap question

I have a '01 2.4l that started to knock need to put a new crank set in. I have found a donor engine out of a 1998 malibu. Its a 2.4l and it looks almost exactly the same but they say i can only go back to 99. any help would be great.

Welcome to AF !

Yes the 99 would be the same. Pre 99 had a few sensors in different locations and I think even different threads on the Chevy Malibu.

You can do a short cut and I have done it.The knock sensors are differant.You can make a bushing made out of a brass fitting,rethreading it to knock sensor's metric thread on the 1998 2.4.The the knock sensor on the 1998 is a screw on and the 2001 is a bolt on.