A833 and the 235?

[alden]

I posted this over at stovebolt but figured I'd shotgun it over here to see if anyone that doesn't frequent that forum had some experience here:

I've been searching and reading for a few days now and can't really find anything definitive other than people saying it's an option (but the posts I've found describing their experience are from the 1960's truck crowd). For reference I'm working with a 59 fleetside longbed currently with a 235 and SM420.

My SM420 either needs to be replaced or rebuilt, and either option is not cheap. On the other hand I just scored an early 80's chevy A833 in good working condition (minus one broken linkage) for a very good price. Unfortunately the blast shield did not come with it.

My questions are as follows if anyone can clear up the doubt left by my searches:

1. Has anyone written up their specific experience adapting this transmission to a late 50's 235? I.e. a step by step walk-through of tasks?

2. is the blast shield (I use that term, some others might call it the bell-housing; I'm a novice so hopefully that gets the point across) required or will it mate up to the one from my sm420?

3. What modifications are needed to make this work? I'm assuming the following: driveshaft shortened, shifter handle modified or recreated to bend it forward under the bench seat, modification to the floorboard to put a new hole for the shifter. Anything on the engine side?

-Alden