Hi everyone, I just wanted to update my progress with my 56' Vet. As I mention before I had a 350sbc engine and a 400th trans that I wanted to use in my budget rebuild. At the time I had just slipped the engine and trans in and was not sure about the drive shaft, yoke and the joints. Also what shifter I could use. My goal was not to change the look of the way the old shifter with it's chrome ash tray and chrome plate that went around that shifter looked from the factory.

First: I went to Pete's driveshaft shop in Trenton,NJ and had pete get me what I needed. He made a drive shaft to fit with a short 32 splide yoke with 1310 U-joints. It fit perfect, plenty of clearance around the U-joint at back of trans.

second: Shifter...I searched everywhere for a good looking shifter, nothing seemed to look right. They were way to big for the scale of the car and they mounted in a way that I couldn't use the old ashtray and shifter surround from the original setup.
Good news: I got a hold of Herb at SHIFTWORKS, I told Herb my problem and the look I wanted. He sent me all the measurements I needed just to get a sence of size. Still not sure I new we were close.
Well today I slipped that new shifter in..IT FITS PERFECTLY..looks like it came from the GM factory. I mean the old ash tray and chrome surround fits just like before. Tomorrow I will adjust the rod linkage and give it a try. If you call Herb mention the forum and my name for a great discount.. This product is first class top quality..I had him ship me the smoothy eight ball black ****. The kit comes with everything you will need to have a perfect job.
http://www.shiftworks.com/corvette.htm#Corvette
I am hoping the crank her up with a new Q-jet. This weekend the car will go to body and paint. Please contact me with any questions.
I also found a great source for windshields...Many thanks John Gallo