Just from cost wise Darren id be looking at the Lexus engine aswell as getting a box to mate up will be cheaper!!
Funnily enough the engine that I can lay my hands on right now and very cheap is the Merc engine but no-one seems to have experience on this???
89 SL500 model.....anyone kno much bout them and manuel boxes for them??
Theyr cheap for reason and if you cant find much about them, why even to think to get one of these ?
Theres no logic here ...
Sure some crazy mofoz modded them if you google, but then agaun, if your budget is tight, this block isnt for you ...
I personally think that before you ask any advide here, you should mention your budget first ....