so im putting a new release bearing and clutch on my baby. but im having problems deciding on a good clutch set and bearing for a decent price. anyone have any preferences? also how hard is it to put a 6spd tranny in the v6 setup in a 96?

 

Sorry for bringing this back from the grave, but I felt like someone should answer at least part of your query.

As far as putting a T-56 in there: It is not easily doable, but it is not impossible. Someone has done it before.

Here are some of your issues:

The input shaft is the wrong length, so you will need a spacer / block plate to compensate or maybe even grind off some of it. It has the right amount of splines though, which is nice.

You will need a new custom bell housing / scatter shield because the stock bellhousing will not bolt up to the V6 since the pattern is miles different than the V8 pattern.

You will need a new clutch, and master / slave cylinder.

The granny gears are too tall for the V6. The T-56 has a very low (numerically) gear ratio of roughly 2.66, 1.78, 1.30, 1.00, .74, .50 for the later year T-56's and the T5 should be at 3.75, 2.19, 1.41, 1.00, 0.72. In order to compensate for this, you will need to swap out the gears in the rear end. If you don't the car will take off as if it is in second / third gear every time until you finally pass second gear.

Probably need to reprogram your speedometer, and if you don't measure it right, possibly even a custom driveshaft.

I've been exactly where you were, and I gave up on it. I was too young, with no money. Now im older, and still have no money. Every time I am on the highway I wish I had another gear to hit because of how fast I go, but in the long run, I get ridiculously good gas mileage out of the V6, and she's been reliable, except for the occasional time that she acts like a ...

Good luck!