Getting an engine

I have a 2000 Dodge 2500 van with the 5.9. Im not very familiar with dodge and am not sure what years the engines were the same. Im going to get a junkyard motor and want to make sure its the same so parts can be interchangeable. Thanks for any help.

At first,ask the yard if it has been ran and runs good before it was pulled.That is one problem with an used engine,most yards do not do this and pull it out right away.If it has not been pulled out yet,ask the yard if you can hear it run first and this a must before buying it.Anything out of a fullsize dodge pickup will fit and all you have to change are the motor mounts.Also leave the crank sensor out when putting the junkyard engine in,there is a risk you will break it.If you see a rubber boot where the crank sensor goes into,remove it and throw it away.This rubber boot is in the bellhousing.

a couple of the yards here have engines they can start and also offer warranties. So I can use an engine from any year, even the early 90's? We want to be able to use parts from the original engine on the yard engine.

Get one out of a 2000 and up,they have the fuel injectors which are a pain to get out.Any 360 out of a 1992 to 1999 will fit,you will have to change injectors and sometimes the intake manifold,the right side exhaust manifold.