How about an odd ball engine swap without any kits? I mean everything today is cookie cutter, not that's a bad thing but I think one thing is lost is actually how to plan and resolve problems. I think it could be a good lesson in building a car and mechanics in general. It could show originallity especially since the price of popular cars are skyrocketing.  

OK, so here are two engines to swap into something that MIGHT be worth looking at:

#1 - The 4.2L inline six that's in the Trailblazer/Envoy/Ranier. There are tons of those SUVs out there and the engines are starting to show up in junkyards (check out eBay!). This engine is an aluminum block/DOHC I-6 that puts out 291 HP stock. The cool thing is that, while the SUVs are automatic only, the Colorado uses the 5-cylinder version of this engine and is available with a 5-speed manual, so bellhousings, flywheels and clutches are available.

#2 - Another junkyard jewel? is the 4.9L cadillac V8. It's the other aluminum block V8 from GM. It was discontinued to make way for the Northstar. OK, so it only came with cast iron heads (does anybody from Edelbrock read these posts?), but consider these advantages over a Northstar:

1. It's dirt cheap! Price out a Northstar and a 4.9 on eBay. They're practically giving away the 4.9s. And do you think you'll find a Northstar in a U-Pull lot?

2. The Northstar, like the OHC modular Fords, are very tall, very wide engines. There are many engine bays into which the OHC engines will not fit! They take up as much space as a big block and are nearly as heavy. Maybe we need a better name for pushrod engines, like "compact folded valvetrain". Buy the Caddy 4.9 is not all that big, considering it fit sideways in an Eldorado engine bay.

3. There are bellhousings available for a RWD manual trans application. Don't minimize this as a benefit! I learned the hard way (with a Lincoln Continental DOHC 4.6L V8) that tempting FWD engines get you nowhere if you can't find a bellhousing to adapt them to a RWD car! Custom bellhousings can cost more than the engine. But the Caddy 4.9, while only installed by GM in frontdrive applications has a way! It turns out that when Chrysler acquired AMC, who had been using the GM front-drive-derived 2.5L 4-cylinder engine in Jeeps, decided to put the 2.5 in Dakotas. Since the 2.5 has the GM corporate FWD belhousing bolt pattern the bellhousing will allow you to bolt up the Jeep/Dodge AX15 5-speed, the Jeep NV3550 5-speed, the Toyota R150F & R151F, the 87-92 Toyota Supra Turbo R154 and the Isuzu AR5 5-speed because they all share the same case to bellhousing bolt pattern. And that bellhousing bolt pattern is the same as the 4.9L Caddy. So pick up a 96-99 Dodge Dakota 2.5L bellhousing, and you have a choice to manual boxes to bolt up. For more see http://www.cadillacforums.com/forums/cadillac-forum/t-4244.html

Wow! that was a great response. I wasn't planning on as much info as you provided. Thanks!