I have the misery coming up of having to pull not 1 but 2 dashes from Dakotas to replace heater cores. the 92 needs it, the 96 actually needs an evaporator but I am not putting the heater box back in with a 22yo heater core.... not worried about the ac on the 92.

but as I looked up the 96 evaporator, I see 2 types of evaporators. I have also heard of this when talking AC condensers. one is plate and fin, the other is serpentine. which is stock/OE? which is better and why? Not like these 2 trucks are gonna live forever but asking for future reference.

The only thing I have ever heard about a serpentine type condenser, is that when replacing a dead compressor that serpentine types often can't be flushed and usually need to be replaced to ensure that shrapnel from the failed comp doesn't wind up in the new pump... so plate and fin are easier/take to a flush better when the need arises?
I hope it isn't a R12/R134a difference.

I used a Four Seasons' brand. I replaced both.( heater core & evaporator). Worked great.1997 Dakota.

ok, so which is better? serpentine or plate and fin/ and why?

Ben about 15 years since I did it. But after looking at the pictures on eBay($50-$70), looks like a plate and fin model. 4-Seasons brand seems to be good quality.

Some years ago the US Federal gov pressured the industry to adopt “interior rifle grooving” on some types of evaporators. I do not know if this applies to todays automotive evaporators, but I would ask. There may be some good rifled types, but many have had short working lifes before leaking.