Try giving the guys at S&W Race Cars a call. The make/sell all sorts of motor plates for bunches of applications. They also sell mid-mounts and trans mounts. I'd think they'd be able to answer some of your questions about mounting the motor and how it'll affect the block & tranny.
Visit their page at
www.swracecars.com
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Jeff Chambers
T/S #4
12.05 Seconds/114.51 MPH
http://www.kellnet.com/chambers/default.htm