[bottledbird68]

Ok, so, after some research I've come to some conclusions. To keep the motor close to the stock location I need to extend the torque tube to keep the vette transaxle. I've found a couple ways to do it. Get the housing extended and get a custom carbon fiber shaft.
Or, found a local guy who has extended one before and will do another one again. But, says he needs to do some custom machining.
Now, from what I'm reading online extending the aluminum shaft in the tube is not a good idea since even stock length shafts have been known to bend in 6 speed cars and making it longer is only going to make that worse. Hence why thy say go carbon fiber, it doesn't flex like the aluminum will.
So, either custom carbon fiber, or a custom machined aluminum set up for a third of the cost.
My issue here is that no matter which way I have custom made one off parts. What happens if I'm 500 miles from home on a cruise, I sidestep the clutch at say 4 grand from a 20 mph roll and my custom shit comes apart? I'm screwed and weeks away from a replacement.
My only other option for keeping the vette stuff in the rear is to see if I have enough room to set the engine back far enough to keep the stock torque tube. From what I've read the tube needs to be lengthened around 4". So, need to see if there's room to slide the motor back 4" and still have room for my feet lol.
If not I think I'll just go with a conventional t56 and put a 4th gen style 9" and rear suspension under the car and just use the vette front clip. That way my track width stays the same front to rear and I can ditch the archaic leaf spring set up. Plus, if I make the car all 4th gen from behind the front seats then I can use the 4th gen rear seat, suspension, gas tank, and everything. So that also solves a lot of issues.
So, I'm torn. Ultimate handling and weight bias, or, compromise it, keep a solid rear axle, and keep the car more "good at everything, perfect for nothing".
Basically, I'd love to use all the vette stuff and have no issues fabbing things. I just don't think I want custom made one off parts in critical drivetrain areas. I like to drive my cars hard and want to be able to get replacement parts easily. Hmmm....