A swap to a standard will cost way more than rebuilding your existing trans. By the time you buy the manual trans, and add in:
Bellhousing &Clutch assy, w/flywheel
Clutch linkage(or hydraulics system)
Pedal assembly
Shifter/linkages(including trans tunnel modifications, depending on type of trans)
Driveshaft mods
Crossmember mods
Computer chip engineered for manual trans.
Speedo gear calibration
Plus the usual aggravating stuff ya just never think of until you're 6 foot deep into the project...
Depending on clutch system, you may need to do some welding of the clutch "Z" bar bracket to the frame, if using a factory style, mechanical clutch linkage. If using a hydraulic system, this would not be needed.

You're not all that far from me...pull that puppy out and ship it to Texas, and I'll fix it up for ya good as new(actually, gooder than new), a lot cheaper than a shop will do it...
(shameless plug...)

Send it to him - you will be glad you did

Hey Joel, Like I said before, I think you need to come to NJ for the ZZ4/700R swap... lol..

Put in a nice six-speed and you will be quick off the line AND get great gas milage when cruising the interstate.

I think you should go for it.... There are alot of folks looking for work. You could spread some of your funds around to help them out.

Besides you ain't lived until you spend some quality time upside down under the dash hangin the pedal assembly...

But then again...... sendin some dough Joels way for a better, stronger, quality guarenteed job makes sense.....

Durn it I sure do hate gettin older an more rational....

  I probably should have shipped my tranny to you but, my neighborhood Larry's Transmission shop was much closer and he is going to do all the work. It will cost me more, but his work is good. I don't really have the time or experience to pull the automatic although, I've done plenty of manual's in the past.

  My question is, the noise I've been hearing, kind of like a throughout bearing noise, Larry said I might have a cracked flywheel. I've never heard of a flywheel cracking, he called it a flex wheel. I don't see any for sale at the corvette parts web sites. Do you have any ideas on the cost of a flywheel, if I should have to buy on?

Flywheels DO crack...all the time. They tend to crack around the bolts that hold it to the crankshaft.
Depends on who yer talkin to as to what it is called...some say flexplatel, or flywheel. The term "flex-plate" is normally used to describe a plate with no starter teeth on it, as a lot of older Chryslers used, as well as some Yeeps. No matter what ya call it, they are available just about anywhere. Figure around $30-$50 for one from a parts place. If yours is cracked, there's no question....you have to replace it. Now is the time.