[RocktimusPryme]

While I am not saying you cant beat $5k, I would be willing to bet than any manual swap is likely going to be more expensive in either money time or effort than you calculate it will be at the start. You'll either spend a lot of time trying to be thrifty, or you will start buying some trick parts (Like American Powertrain's new clutch pedal kits) to save some effort and make it expensive. This is not me tellig you not to chase your three pedal dreams. Just go into it with your eyes open is all.

I would agree of the vintage 4 speeds the Top Loader is likely the tougest. But its probably marginal compared to the big output shaft muncies or ST10s. My dad is fond of saying he can make any manual trans last because he doesnt flog them. My Dad is also the most boring person on the planet so hes probably right. So if you arent going to beat on it, you couldnt probably even get away with a T5 and get the advantage of OD.

When I was putting together the manual swap for my 66 Fairlane gasser project, I got universally told to not bother with any of the vintage units. Go straight to a T56 and dont look back. And I do mean everyone in the manual trans world I talked to. Granted, we are talking about double the power, and sticky tires, but there was not a single builder who was willing to put their name behind a Toploader in that car and say they thought it would survive a season.