5 speed to 6 speed swap?

[paramax55]

I'm still trying to decide what I want to do with my 2001 5-speed that needs a head gasket. Part of my decision making has been parusing marketplace for a replacement car. But that sparked a curious question - what if "while I'm in there" I upgrade to a 6-speed tranny? Is the 6-speed longer? Will my AWD transfer case bolt in place of the 4WD transfer case offered on the later models? If it's longer, is the stickshift in the same place? Driveshaft changes are almost trivial. Currently, it's just a thought experiment.