Probably a dumb question but i can get one for free so i thought i'd ask.....can you use a 5spd from a v-6 with the 2.3? If you can would it be worth it to do so?
If its cheap it may be worth trying. Find someone(such as me) who has 2.3s laying out so you can try to bolt them up while its out of the car. The pilot bearing is probably a little bigger same as the V8 usually. May need to be machined.