Chasing Your Tail Only to Decide on Sticking with Original Engine (sort of)?

So for nearly 4 years I've been researching engine swaps in the little 1200.

This all started because I let me ego get in the way. 

First I installed the 1500cc motor as they bolt right in. After that I managed some 5th overall finishes in the small bore group at vintage, but then I got bumped into the B-sedan group. While I once managed 9th over all I still had 5th stuck in my brain and started thinking about ways to make that happen.

So 3 1/2 years ago while dicing for 8th place I failed to noticed the temp gauge pegged for 1/2 a lap..........too late motor melted. I installed the 1200 motor and have been running that. It's painfully slow so I started looking in earnest.

First up was SR20DE, this would allow me to stay in the same class (I run vintage GT-Lite) but these motors have become a bit scare and more importantly relatively expensive.

Next up was looking at a Datsun L18 or L20 these are a near bolt in and can be found for reasonable money but I just wasn't finding one that spoke to me.

Then the Formula 500 got in the way; I decided to run it at Vintage instead of the 1200.

This freed up my choices as the 1200 would be a track day only car. My fabricator wants to do a V8 swap but that just makes to much sense and I don't want to buy tires for it. I even have a friend with a V8 Granada that would give us the whole car.

Then last year a friend told me of a 510 with a JDM twin carb motor rotting on his buddies property; oooo that makes total sense, it would be 20 more horsepower and is a moderately easy bolt in.  I had the deal all set up for Sunday but Friday night I realized that I wasn't in the mood to source the small bits I'd need as well as doing the various small fabrication jobs. Thankful one of the local Datsun guys was thrilled to get the car.

Saturday afternoon I started reassembling the 1500. I'd actually taken the block to the machine shop last summer and just wasn't motivated to put it back together.  So it only took me 4 years of chasing my tail to realize that I just need to put the 1500 in it and enjoy it.

I have spent time researching what wheels to get next only to realize that what I really wanted was already in the attic. 

I’ve spent untold hours considering and researching various engine swaps for my Escort.  In the end, keeping the turbo BP in there just makes too much sense. 

The car has been “down” on and off many times over the years, but never because of the engine.  It always fires right up and survives all the punishment I can dole out.  I’m not sure what else I could ask for, especially when all of the fabrication, wiring, tuning, etc. is already done…

Anyway, I totally understand