will it work well?

I think it will do fine, less problems than if you tried to go the other way. Nothing a little tweaking wouldn't fix.

I just went thru this.....here is my experience.

Polar Kraft 1652, 16" short transom, flat bottom jon.
2006 MB 27 Kawi longtail, tall transom model. (85" outdrive)
Bolt motor to boat. Motor is turning 3600 WOT....
I make adjustments to the throttle linkage and I zip tie 4 turns on the linkage spring. Remove pre filter from air cleaner.
I am now turning 4150 at WOT and I have not bumped the governor yet.

Go to lake, in open deep water. Handle is at my knees. I feel like a damn gorilla trying to steer the boat. My lower back is toast!!
Boat jumps on plane fairley quickly. I run 15 mph with me at 240 and buddy at 200. Prop is running deep..cav plate is bent down at the tip and the motor wants to jump out of the water while on plane. Motor has original prop, worn, very little cup left. I'm turning 4150 rpm WOT and 3150 rpm under load.

I call MB. order a short transom handle...I can now run motor at my hip, very comfortable.. I've bent the cav plate straight, motor still runs deep, but does not jump out of the water. (by deep I mean the last foot of the tail is in the water) I've installed a new prop from BBlades. It's a 9x7 with a hex adapter for a threaded shaft. Easy to install. (more on the prop in a minute)
I'm now running 14mph with the same load described above. 4150 WOT and 3200 under load.

Hunting...back slough's of Miss River 2" of water and my boat is ROCKING. I am now motoring to spots I've had to push pole 300 yds to get to.

I'm still not happy. I want more speed. I order a set of med pods from Beavertail and a 4" riser for the transom. Weld the pods, bolt the riser. My boat now JUMPS to plane and I'm running 14.2 with a full hunting load. Me, my buddy, a 90 lb Lab, an 80 lb Chessie, 4 dz dekes, and all the other crap for a day on the river..
I am still turning 4150 rpm at WOT, but have now dropped to 3170 rpm under load.

My motor, I think, still runs to deep. I've been told the prop should be even with the bottom of the boat. I'm not there yet. I am considering a slight bend down on the cav plate and a different prop. I bought the BBlades prop based on my research of props and load capacity. I am considering a MB Big Blade or a prop by Hopkins... I am looking for added top speed, while maintaining my ability to push the load in the skinnies. I am also looking at adding a K&N air filter and a Hopkins performance exhaust.

You can see the progression I've gone thru.. I am very pleased with where my boat can now get to. If it floats, I'm moving forward. My buddy has a 16' Lowe Roughneck, with a MB 35 Hyper Sport Lite... I can get to places he can't. It takes me longer from the ramp, but in the skinnies, I win hands down..

Good luck with your decision on the motor..If I did it again, I would buy a short transom motor. I bought the motor I got because it was practically new, only had 33 hrs on it, and was a good deal. I'm happy with where I can go, just not how long it takes me to get there !!