Some really good opinions for which many thanks to all. They do echo my dilemma, in that an engine swap is really going too far, both financially and in the amount of work as well as destroying any ARP4 heritage left in the car, but like most things one has to consider all options, just to ensure that something hasn't been forgotten.
At this moment, I love the ARP4 and won't consider selling it. I like the rear suspension and LSD, the big brakes, the 3 piece Image wheels, the look of the thing with its' dainty mirrors and even the LED headlamps as well as the matte paint, and the interior is terrific. It is very rare that it all comes together to suit one person, ie me. The only thing letting it down is the power delivery, which frankly was not what a car with this spec. and intended end user should have had. Quite why Morgan got this aspect so wrong I don't know, maybe the guys that spec'ed the engine were all young and drive like they stole it or Cosworth were doing a deal on these engines that was too good to pass up - who knows, but I think customer reaction has demonstrated it was wrong, how many cars get handed back to their dealers after only a few hundred miles after all? So, I want to keep it, and for the most reasonable amount of money I can get away with, improve the power deliver to make it a genuinely fast but usable road orientated car, not a car in which you have to change down 2 gears to get into the power band with.
I was very taken with the Omex 2.5 Duratec, but at upwards of £16,000 plus the desirable extras such as lightweight flywheel, exhaust system etc and fitting, there probably won't be much change from £20,000, and on top of that it will still alter the 'heritage' of the ARP4 as well as insurance and other stuff.
So I am really coming back to improving the torque of the existing engine, hence my comment about fitting 'softer' cams, with appropriate mapping to fill in the mid range torque. This should cost around £1000 and could make a huge difference to the character of the car whilst retaining its' ARP4'ness.
I did briefly consider a supercharged option, but this entails new pistons and quite a lot of other changes, as well as an expenditure of between £5,000 and £10,000, so, still not the most cost effective way to release the mid range power.
As a matter of interest, my previous GDi engined Plus 4 four seater seemed more powerful in the mid range, although obviously it lost the power around 6000rpm, just where the Cosworth engine is getting into it full stride.
Thank you for all your ideas and comments - all eminently sensible.
