currently driving an X reg Felicia Classic 1.3 MPI, 65k miles excellent condition other than a few dents/scratches, drives beautifully and goes like stink.

im looking for a replacement engine/gearbox etc, as much power as possible without too many complications.

am looking at spending around £5k on parts and doing most of the work myself

where would be a good place to start?

Ask Jim (felicia16v) - he put a Vauxhall C20XE in his rally car (bits for sale on eBay recently), and another good idea of his was an X18XE1 engine - it'd fit easily enough and could give you big power. Using the vx gearbox gives you access to cheap-ish diffs and stronger shafts.

when i put a 1.4 16v polo engine in mine, it cost me less than £400 all in, including buying the engine

im thinking bigger.. more powerful, as much as can be fitted under the bonnet. and there is a lot of space under there

Well, AwesomeGTi managed to get a VR6 engine and gearbox into a Felly, on which basis a 1.8T should fit relatively easily (and be lighter and potentially more powerful).

im thinking bigger.. more powerful, as much as can be fitted under the bonnet. and there is a lot of space under there

you have to be a bit realistic tbh mate... how much power can that chassis cope with without some serious strengthening?? not a lot i'd say... around about 130bhp is a safe pratical limit i'd say before the brakes and suspension are overworked...

size wise, the sky is the limit, felicia has a huge engine bay to work with

could i get away with a 200bhp vrs engine? would it involve much modifications etc? brakes and suspension are going to be upgraded

Having driven a Fel without a cage, with a bolt-in and with a weld-in cage (last two being exactly the same spec) I'd think you'd need to be strengthening it to get the best out of it as well - the handling difference between the last two in particular was night and day, and all down to body rigidity.