As an assembly, yeah it's tight. A 440 with a deep pan and scatter shield into a '69 barracuda, I've found I need to raise front of the car a few inches as the pan likes to hang on the k-frame and/or the shield on the firewall hump.
The first 4 spd (and two 727s prior) I put in my '68 runner I used the roll method. You know, the one where you roll the trans onto your chest then try like hell to put it into the clutch with your arms and knees. To be 17 again!