I wouldn't recommend "downgrading" to an earlier year engine for any number of reasons. You may come to grief with computer controls and if you live in an area that requires smog testing, that's another problem.
It's always best to take an engine from the exact same year if you can find one. That way you use the computer and harness from the donor car, and you won't have to worry about various hoses, piping, or electrical connectors matching up, to say nothing of how accessories bolt to the engine.
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It's always best to take an engine from the exact same year if you can find one. That way you use the computer and harness from the donor car, and you won't have to worry about various hoses, piping, or electrical connectors matching up, to say nothing of how accessories bolt to the engine.