Fitting a GM T5 Gearbox to older 289 Ford V8

[JON1D]

If the 3 speed Ford is 26 spline and correct diameter. You can replace the input shaft of the T5 for a SN95 Ford 94-2004 Fox body and the front bearing retainer. This should give you an inch shorter not your 35mm but then a slimmer adapter plate spacer 10mm which will be easier to water jet cut. You might be luck to machine down the retainer by 10 mm and the full length of the input shaft length be close to loose it or machine down.
 

[Kev Davies UKCC Membership]

Is there a possibility of replacing the input shaft for the correct Ford one? I did similar back in the day on a Big Block 445.
I bought a Chevy TKO by mistake and had to swap out the input shaft for a Ford one.

[Cobrascim]

My friend has a 1950 F1 Ford pick up now fitted with an early 289 Ford V8 with 3 speed box from a ford fairlane I understand. The engine block is the earlier 5 bolt pattern.
He has bought a T5 gearbox which I have discovered is a GM 26 spline. I was over looking at it for him and have measured the length of the input shaft on the T5 to approx. 180mm.
His existing ford 3 speed input shaft is approx. 30mm shorter which I have explained to him he could place an adapter plate of 30mm thickness between his existing bellhousing and new T5 and allow the use of this gearbox onto his existing bellhousing.
I am helping him with advice as he was unsure on how to proceed to get this combo to work together.
I had done a similar plate on my Jaguar Getrag 5 speed to my 289 HiPo in my Southern Roadcraft SRV8 that I built back in 2006.
Just thought I would ask on here as a long shot whether anyone has actually put this combo into their cobra and could offer advice on exactly what to use and best place to get parts.
I have asked Southern Roadcraft as they do adapter plates but they might not be thick enough to take up the extra 30mm on input shaft length. This difference certainly helps us.
 
Anyway so far I reckon this would require using a 10.5" 26 spline chevy clutch plate in a ford pressure plate with a suitable release bearing and hopefully a pilot bearing would be available for the chevy input shaft nose into crankshaft end. These things along with 30mm adapter and his original bellhousing and clutch arm should make this work.

Any help/thoughts appreciated.
Regards.
John.