Fireplace adapt

[begreen]

Awesome -- I'm looking forward to getting setup. Yes, I'll put in the liner -- most of the stoves I'm interested in have a 6" outlet, so I stick with that? Or do I dare try the 5"? (Medium stove, single story house, well insulated). I t seems also, that all of them have top vents -- typical with epa stoves?

And I'm real happy that IF the stove fits IN the fireplace with a good blower behind it, that's acceptable.

I was concerned the fireplace itself would absorb a lot of heat and cut down on efficiency? But it is a small room and need as much floor space as possible.

One final question --

a good source for the liner?

I saw Build.com -- that looks pretty good, or maybe my local Menards?

The way to cut down heat losses up the chimney with a hearth stove is to install and insulated block off plate. But the 27" lintel height is a limiting factor for a hearth stove in your case.
https://www.hearth.com/econtent/index.php/wiki/Why_damper_seal_is_needed/

Most of the rear-vented stoves are cast-iron. The Buck 261 in steel is an exception. There is also a nice hybrid, the Jotul Rangeley.