[Big Dave]

Having been there and done that with diesels and automatics, all I can say is that if you GAVE me a diesel with an automatic, I'd trade it in. If you automatic does not say "Allison" on the side, a diesel will trash it. Even on the hyper-reliable W123 and W126 Benzes with their sloppy torque converters, you count on a new automatic every 50,000 miles or so.

I had a pickup with the wimpy 6.2 NA engine and it ate SEVEN automatics over the 300,000 miles I had it.

This project is fairly easy to start. Go on E-bay and find a C5 Corvette with a six-speed and a salvage title. Find a 6.5 engine and have Jasper overhaul it and drop it in. A 6.5 is about the same size as a small-block and the same weight as a 454. It is a drop-in. The hot-rod community is chock-full of vendors that will make adapter plates to match the 6.5 to a T-56.

Get a set of springs for a 'Vette with a 454.