I've used a Ford toploader tranny quite successfully in a 496 BBC Camaro. Try to find one from a Big Block Mustang or Torino, they have a larger diameter input shaft, and they have a 2.78 first gear ratio. Lakewood makes an adapter pilot bushing for it to use in a Chevy crankshaft, and drilling a blowproof bellhousing to the Ford tranny pattern is fairly easy. My car weighed close to 3600 lbs. and had 10" slicks on it, and I usually lauched the car between 4500-5000 RPM, and only broke it once in 4 yrs(and that was from tire shake in first gear). The gears in them are so much thicker and stronger than in any Muncie or Borg-Warner. The cases are cast iron and don't flex or distort like the aluminum cases of the Chevy trannies as well. Might be a good alternative for you. Many other stick cars use the Jericho transmission, but they are pricey. You can use a Doug Nash Competition 5 spd in Super Stock and was legal, you just have to use a special shifter made by Long, that skips either 3rd or 4th gear,so you still only have use of (4)forward gears, technically having a 4 speed. At one time it was also allowed in the NHRA Stock class, that too could be an option.
