The auto is a better starting point because it has a bigger transmission tunnel just fit the manual pedal box and you are away.

Don't bother with the 2 litre 16 valve Granada engine as they also made a 2.3 litre with exactly the same external dimensions giving more torque, both the 2 litre and 2.3 Granada engines came with lower lift cams than the RS2000 giving less power but the RS cams bolt straight into the granada engine

Mark