Cruising RPM and Manual Trans Options

Having seen how these new engines really don't wear parts out I'm not terribly concerned with beating it up running the high rpm, though I don't know if some of the reason they last so long is because they don't turn as high of rpm all the time like the pre-overdrive days.

It's sort of hard to figure out exactly why I'd like to have the 6 speed. I'm sure some of it is a cool factor of having one and doing it myself, but spending a fair chunk of money on something that I don't really need is always in the back of my head. Keeping costs down is the name of the game though. I know it will probably always cost more than expected, but if the estimate is too high to start with I don't know that I can pull the trigger. That's the other reason I like to try to use production parts, you can potentially find them used easier. Don't think there are too many used smallblock to Viper T56 bellhousings going up for sale any time soon though, lol.