3.8L T5 to 5L T5 swap

i am looking to upgrade my 97 v6/5spd pony to a v8 trans. i know all in all they are virtually the same, but there are technical differences.

if people use the 4 cyl T5's in v8 applications for harder (and less safe) launches, i know that it is not impossible to use a v8 tranny in my v6.

what i dont know is what would have to be changed. would the input shaft from the v6 have to be installed in the v8 trans due to the longer bell and shaft in the v6?

i know a few parts are not interchangeable because of le3ngth and what not, but is the diameter of the input shaft the same? (read: can i retain my pilot bearing or will i have to use a v8 pilot bushing?
my transmission had 70k on it when i bought it some 8 years ago, and now its got bad vibrations and difficulty shifting sometimes... all the usual things that are expected to go within the first, say 300k miles. so im really have nothing to bitch about, i just want a stronger trans and figure the v8 T5 is the best option.
the car has many options and upgrades, with more to come, so the stronger trans is the way to go, and not just rely on the old 6er.

thanks for any help....
 
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but isnt the input shaft a different length from the v6 to the v8 t5?

if the 1.) outside diameter of the input shaft will fit into my existing pilot bearing

and 2.) the lenght is the same if i use my parts (bearing retainer, clutch and bell)

then 3.) nothing else critical is different?

i just want to be sure of these few last critical details before i go looking for a v8 t5...

all other things should then be equal unless ive overlooked some other way they could differ, but i feel ive got them all listed above.