I’m rebuilding a 1982 Mk 1 ford fiesta and saw the guy that put a Boeing T50 gas turbine engine into a Miata or something and I want to do something simalar despite the size of the car, what do you guys think?
It depends—do you have experience with metal fabrication?
Maybe you should take a step back and think this through. What if you added two engines to it?
I’d say the Bugatti W16 is definitely near the top of that list.
It really comes down to how much time and money you’re willing to invest.
As long as you have decent fabrication skills, you can really put anything in it. The only things holding you back are your skills and budget.
Bottom line, space is quite limited. The Miata has a longitudinal engine orientation, while the Fiesta Mk 1 uses a transverse layout, which restricts your options significantly. In cars with a longitudinal setup, you can move the radiator and make other adjustments. But with a transverse layout, you have to fit the engine and transmission between the strut towers, and you can’t relocate those towers.
The largest engine Ford offered was a 1.6L I4, so there’s definitely room for some fun. Personally, for a car as small and lightweight as the Fiesta Mk 1, I wouldn’t opt for a massive displacement engine. Zetec swaps are quite common for these models, and certain Zetec variants are excellent for forced induction. You could choose between a high-cam naturally aspirated engine or a turbocharged setup. Personally, I’d go for a high-cam option with an air box designed to maximize that intake sound.