5.3L w/ manual transmission

[LEEVON]

I love driving manual transmissions but I know jack about them. My '50 has a 3 speed on the column but I would only run that with the original 216 as a show piece. That's not in the plan.

What is in the plan is a 5.3L that is collecting dust in my garage. I want to mate it with a 4 or 5 speed transmission. I think it would be fun and unique plus I want something that can drive anywhere. After a little research, it seems that pretty much any transmission can be made to work with the right bellhousing, clutch/flywheel and throwout bearing assembly.

I don't want to spend a fortune on this, it's not a street rod so the T56, TKO and other higher end transmissions are out. I have thought about these:

99+ NV3500 (came with 4.8L's)
98- NV3500 abundant
70's or 80's 4 speed OD truck trans
Jeep AX1500
close ratio Muncie 4 speed?

I will find a rear end ratio that is best suited to the trans, not opposed at all to running a 4 speed with 1:1 final drive if it's cheap and available. Anybody done something like this or thought about it?