Spitfire common EFI swaps for 1500 Spits?

[bones]

I picked up my first british project, a 75 spitfire. I have never worked on a car like this, but I am pretty experienced with metal fabbing and powertrains in general.

Here are the plans - I want to run somewhere around 150hp with a light engine. I have assume that the 13B swap would be common, but I can only find 2 completed swaps, and the shifters tend to be pushed back deep into the pass cabin. I also assume a miata swap would be common, but I haven't found one swap of that powertrain. I want to run a manual.

I am also considering a I4 turbo motor from a thunderbird turbo coupe.

Here are some weight comparisons

RX7 13B
135 hp @ 6000
133 ftlb @ 2750
weight ????

Thunderbird Turbo Coupe
I4 turbo (1987-1988) iron block, AL head
190 hp @ 4600
240 ftlb @ 3600
weight 399lb (no starter or alt)

Thunderbird super coupe
3.8L V6 supercharged iron block AL head
210 hp @ 4800
315 ftlb @ 3400
weight 415 (no starter or alt)

2004+ Ranger 2.3L
all aluminum
151hp @ 5750
154 ftlb @ 4250
weight 211 lb (no front acc or starter)

Does anyone know if any of these absolutly won't fit? I don't want to hack the firewall, but can modify the tunnel and frame. I see a lot of V8 swaps on triumphs from searching, but not in spitfires...
https://www.britishv8.org/swaps/examples.htm

here is the project

https://photobucket.com/albums/h226/billbridgetriumph/day%201%20March%2021st%2006/

 

[Guest]

Try here.
This has more Spit stuff than anywhere I found

https://teglerizer.com/triumphstuff/index.html

 

[Bugeye58]

Bones, welcome aboard. Are you a Powertrain guy, by any chance? I've got some friends there.
Jeff

 

[bones]

yup, auto trans

 

[hans747]

Hmmmm... After looking at those numbers and that site, i would go with the rotary engine. Here are the reasons:
1. According to that one guy's installation, the engine sits behind the front wheels, making it a mid-engined car. REAL good for handling. https://www.britishv8.org/swaps/spitrtry.htm

2. It's a lightweight engine. Compared to the 1500 CC engine that was in there before, almost all your other engines will drop more weight on the front wheels. This means you will have to beef up the front suspension and the car will still probably handle worse than with its original engine.

3. Rotary engines can rev high. Personally, i think that would enhance the experience of driving a small nimble car like this.

If you're deadset on putting some metal from detroit in there, I saw one with a pontiac 3.1 liter v6. It fit pretty neatly, but I think it required a different hood.

 

[billspit]

I hear the ford 2300 engine is pretty heavy and big. It has been done though.