Thanks for chiming in, Dave.

Yes, the rear end and driveshaft must be swapped.

However, my concern is getting a transmission that bolts to a bellhousing that bolts to a 216 while having a functional system.

It seems to me that if a truck trans will bolt to my stock 52 car bellhousing and a t-5 will bolt to a truck bellhousing, then a t-5 should bolt to my car bellhousing. However, I keep hearing about an adapter plate for the t-5 and a car bellhousing.

I guess what I should be asking is "Are a 52 car and 52 truck bellhousing the same?" And "When a t-5 is bolted in a 216 powered car, is a s-10 tailshaft required to keep the shifter out of the bench seat?"