well, yeah, but you could do the same with an auto, run the 2wd tranny and a divorced case, however, if there's the chance of not having to deal with another driveshaft, 2 more u-joints, a whole nother mounting x-member and the added length, why not try to find the way?

see, you have to keep the tailhousing, which is the same length as the stock t-case, so, you'r basically already starting with your added length behind the current position of the stock t-case.

i think you'd end up with a pretty short rear d-shaft in the 4-door and almost no rear d-shaft in the 2-door.

so, let's try to find out what other 4x4's in the world ran these manual trannies, or at least one with the same bellhousing bolt pattern and input shaft dimensions.