I was at a Christening and missed this!
Audi 1996 A8 4.2 v8 Engine on eBay (end time 22-Jan-11 17:03:15 GMT)

That's a ridiculously cheap bargain! I want one for my next project

335/345Bhp depending on the spec.
Nice
Probably a tad heavy though.

We are now all thinking, "How can i fit that in there?"

All alloy engine, fairly lightweight (ok not BEC lightweight, but for a monster like that).

(Currently im looking for bargains, in a perverse design strategy I'm going to go with the "whichever bargain engine I get first dictates what I build" method )

How about this then .... AUDI A8 3.7 quattro v8 engine AEW BREAKING D2 sport on eBay (end time 16-Feb-11 16:16:44 GMT)

Not such a bargain but ..... 1999 AUDI A6 4.2 V8 ENGINE 4200 5V ARS on eBay (end time 29-Jan-11 14:24:47 GMT)

[Edited on 25-1-11 by RazMan]

Yup, that's about the going price - did get quoted 800 with a 5spd diesel box bolted to one, which seemed nice. Not sure how tail-happy this would make a middy....

How about the American spec Duratec V6 then? I think someone was showing them at Autosport this year - 3.7 litre and still one of the lightest V6's around ............ I would go for that if I could find one at a reasonable price.

Any transaxles to suit a middy?

It seems the VW1.8T is raved about on the audi forums, 350bhp on stock internals and a nice simple transaxle all pre-made and available for naff all on fleabay (50-75 quid for the box). Seems a bit daft to have a longitudinal mounted i4 though.

[Edited on 25/1/11 by coyoteboy]