[Rory McNeil]

The NHRA rulebook says that any V8 with a stick needs a SFI bellhousing, no mention about 4 or 6 cylinders. I recall that Jim Caughlin somehow adapted a SB Ford bellhousing on his 2.3 Super Stocker, maybe check with him. As for a transmission, I don`t know how strong the factory Pinto 4 speed is, but I doubt you would hurt a BW T5 in a light 4 cylinder car. A production 5.0 Mustang T5 has a 3.35 low gear, not sure what a 2.3 T5 has, but likely in the 4.0 range, which would make for a really wide drop between gears. You would need to disable 5th gear to be legal in a Pinto, but you would never use 5th which is overdriven anyhow. You can buy face plated T5s if you wanted to spend some money, or maybe talk to Jerico or G Force if you want to spend a bunch more.