modern 5.2 FI roller engine cylinder ridge ?
The 95 and older A518 will be an RH AKA 46RH. 4 speeds, rear drive, hydraulic operation. I think 96 was the change to the RE A518 AKA the 46RE.
The 46RH is the one you want if your going with a carb. The 46RE needs the ECU to operate. Unless someone has come out with a trans controller for it.
On a side note. My grandpa had 350k miles on his 94 dodge ram when he gave it to me. It ran great and had never been torn into. The trans had been rebuilt once. He gave that truck to me and I drove it until it got totaled in a wreck. That engine found it's way into my dart!
He has a 96 that he has also owned since new. It has 460k miles on it and it runs decent. It does use oil and it's low on power. But he is 70, retired and doesn't drive much anymore. That motor has had valve seals replaced to help with oil consumption and the trans was rebuilt once! I bought a 103k mile 5.2 for CHEAP to replace the tired 5.9 but he won't let me swap it out.