5 Speed swap
were there any model cars that had a 5 speed that would be suited better for this swap with less work?
No.
The only "bolt in" 5 speed would be the aftermarket Passon A855 unit, but there were too many quality control issues at the time, a huge backlog on orders, and I'm not even sure that it's being offered anymore.
Many "buyer beware" posts on this site, like this one:
A855 - 5 Speed
Another option would be a T-5 (WC being the strongest of the bunch) out of a Mustang, using the Gill Welding adapter (I know it's listed as a slant 6 adapter, but the bellhousing to transmission bolt patterns are the same).
T-5 Bellhousing Adapter Plate For Slant Six | gillwelding
Just be aware that there are many different versions of the T-5, most of which would only be suited to a lower-output engine. A T-5 still requires tunnel mods, but nothing too extensive. The T-5WC is the strongest of the bunch and can stand up to some fair abuse.
Silver Sport also offers a kit...
Inside Silver Sport Transmissions' All-New T-5 Kit For Mopar A-Bodies - Mopar Connection Magazine | A comprehensive daily resource for Mopar enthusiast news, features and the latest Mopar tech
I know Kiesler (defunct, now SST) used to offer a redrilling service to the T-5 pattern on an 833OD bell, but not much info out there on that out there or what it takes to complete the swap.
BTW, you still haven't mentioned what you intend to put this in?