http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitsubishi_Astron_engine
What's interesting is that the TD version of this motor was used for years, and as such, got all sorts of evolutionary updates including, most recently, Direct Injection. Given the active trade of "JDM" importers in the USA and Canada, you could bring in one of these 2.5L DI versions of this motor for as little as $500. The 5-speed from a Mitsu Starion could be used behind it, given that that also used a version of the Astron motor. I mention this application specifically since it's a car, so the odds of it fitting properly in a XR are better than a truck tranny, I would hope that it's reasonably strong (given that it was behind a turbo motor), plus the shifter spacing has a better chance of being correct. And oh yea, you can find them here in junkyards in the USA. No JDM importer required.
Just "bench engineering" at this point, but figured I'd share my findings in case someone wants to take off on the path ahead of me.
