Can anyone share an experience with this?

Don't know if this would help but have you looked at a 5 speed toyota supra box?
they have a bell housing to suit the XF. cheaper if you buy the full kit if you DIY.

but if you have a box of a ea/eb sitting around then its worth asking those transmission convertion places for the right bell housing.

or ask the guys here....doh

Nah, I don't have an EA 5spd. I'm tring to mod my XF Fairmont Ghia as fiscally sound as I can.

I've seen EA's with 5spds fairly cheap, I was just wondering if the box was the same (except bell housing). I don't really want to put in a different box in because the periferal mods to install chew up the dollars.