Ive built a few XE novas, and more recently a XE fiat seicento which did make a few people look twice on the motorway. I love clio's, but a decent redtop nova would easily play around with a 182. If you are interested, then you would be best to look for a coscast engine, as these are the best of the xe range, as its a cosworth head, and doesnt have the porus problems found on some of the engines. The parts are cheap, but make sure if your buying a car already built that it is welded correctly. They need to be stitch welded (or seam welded), and preferably with a plating kit fitted, which is basically some plates cut to size and fit where there could be strain, to make the front end more solid. Dont touch a rotton or rusty shell, as if you do have an accident in one, its a heavy engine to have sat on your lap. Finally, make sure the brakes are the 257mm upgrade and you have decent driveshafts. There are some built for the xe conversion, using bigger hubs etc, and then there are welded cut and shuts, which id avoid as if one snaps you will be stranded, if not worse. Think the gsi shafts are a straight swap from memory on a nova.. Its worth taking a look anyhow when buying a car (if you do)...
Ive always gone down the route of getting the shell, and engine seperate, and building my own, as that way you know whats been done, and that no corners have been cut. Ive seen a few out there with fuel pumps on top of the battery, ecu's in bin bags (waterproofed lol) in the engine bay... Just shocking dangerous stuff!
My old nova conversion..
And my more upto date 2.0 16v XE Seicento Conversion