This has been discussed I know and a little more searching may confirm the following.

Aside from internal differences that I beleive are of no great concern and infact can be a bennifit. (bigger final drive.) I seem to recall the Crankcase is different. Just as 95-97's are rod shift vs 98-00 being a cable shift. Hope this helps.


Green 96 mystique gs 4cyl mtx 16.9 in the 1/4 mile @102500 miles 95SE in Midnight Red MTX MSDS headers and y-pipe SVT exhaust SVT UIM Optimized se TB. Full pre 98 SVT body kit 15.741 @ 87.73mph :)