It wasn't a bad idea, but you were continuing to hunt even after finding out that the one that people can find is incredibly out-dated.
You would be better off writing the engine on your own. For starters, if it is a topic that you are unfamiliar with, it will give you an increased familiarity with the inner workings of game development. Beyond that, developing the engine from scratch specifically to fit with the rest of your project will ensure that it is more easily adapted to the evolving needs of your project.