If you're planning on boost, and since it's a project car, I'd slap an Ls engine in there. Good compression numbers for boost, strong and reliable, and not too hard on the wallet (as far as swaps go) As for the auto to manual, I've done it on 5th gens, and it was a breeze. Just takes a little time. That, and you need to be willing to spend a little time fabricating, or ghetto rigging, your shift linkage. As for the swap bars, I wouldn't waste your time until you see how it handles with the shocks and springs. The chassis is pretty damn stiff, and the sways may make it a bit squirrely in the turns.