I think someone was looking at adapting the T-56 trans out of the Camero/Firebird. The shifter is towards the rear. I don't know if it has enough length. It seems a version of this trans is used in the Mustang Cobra. The shifter is in the middle of the trans. It might be interesting to see how that was accomplished. Then it might be adaptable to other transmissions. Another transmission that might be worth checking out was the one in the Jeep Liberty diesel. I had heard the engine in it was an old Mercedes design.
Tom