Project Ecoboost
Stock engine engine runs good, but needs a freshening (20+ years between freshening is pushing it, and I did not want to push my luck any further.
Instead of putting money into a freshening, I think a 350hp-350ftlb modern powertrain swap would put the car in the extremely fun category while shaving several hundred pounds off the rear to balance the car out. Going above 350-350, in my opinion, would start requiring massive chassis / structure changes to appropriately handle the stresses.
I have worked for an OEM for 20+ years, and have had great experiences with that ecoboost four cylinder. Small, light, powerful, cheap (and fuel efficient, but that's kind of irrelevent here unless I can lay claim to the most fuel efficient lamborghini of all time with potentially 25+ MPG).
I considered pulling a full powertrain from an MKZ FWD for a nice 400-400 powertrain, but then I would be the only person on planet earth engine swapping a nano V6 (although Livernois offers tunes.). It barely fits, but intercooler package would be a nightmare and I became concerned with halfshaft angle and articulation due to the Jalpa subframe constraints and the tall 6F55 automatic transmission that would accompany it.
Since the aftermarket support for the 2.3 is so strong, there are tuners / builders everywhere.
Regarding the LS engine swap, I considered it quite seriously. That Australian build is epic-- looks great, goes great-- Beautiful execution. Hats of to the builder and creator-- fantastic work. I looked into what the Fiero builders (V8 Archie and others do for their V8 transaxles), but it didn't get me going.
Also considered ecoboost 3.5L (think Ford GT / Raptor), but the realization is that transverse mounted transaxles top out with the Getrag six speeds at 370 ft pounds, so unless you go full custom / race / built gearboxes, 350 is the reliable safe limit-- which is exactly what a mild 2.3L ecoboost build gets-- and it can do it for 200,000+ miles.
Any problem can be solved multiple ways-- that's what makes it fun. This should be a balanced and reliable powertrain.
I applaud all of you who have pushed, and continue to push the power limits on the stock engine.
It would be fun to drag/autocross/dyno compare our Jalpas to compare performance once everyone's builds are done.