Out-of-the-box thinking, love it.
Read this very carefully.
http://www.grandprixforums.net/5-spe...gtp-33195.html
And this, very carefully.
http://www.grandprixforums.net/6-spe...ect-41854.html
Theres like what, 2 people that have swapped a manual into a 97-03? And nobody that I know of has tried it in an 04+. Unique indeed.
I've done tons of research on this, its not as hard as people think.
And "Mr. 5-speed" Kuntzie has thrown more HP at his 284 than anyone thought possible. a 6-speed(F40) can take roughly 450HP, the 284 can take 600+??
As far as HP/performance of the 3800, boatloads of reliable power on the cheap! They love boost! No need for a VQ35 or whatever unless you want all the headaches for sht and giggles.