I just recognized that I haven't updated my thread for quite a long time.
Thanks mainly because of house, children, building a three car garage and now garden. :doh:
The less restrictive cat didn't solve the boost problems, interestingly the engine only felt stronger off-boost.
The Gen 4 engine went last year after it started to burn water about two years ago. The sleeve of cylinder two has a crack nearly top to bottom.
I shouldn't have used the sleeved Gen 4 engine when I bought it eight years ago.
After searching for some weeks I decided to buy a 3S-GE Beams red-top from a Celica SS-III from the UK which looked really good compared to the Gen 4 back then.
My engine builder and tuner already finished moving my BC stroker into it, this time with factory cams as he believes the head is able to flow enough for my power goals. The intake valves are 1mm and the exhaust ones 0.5mm larger than the GTE ones.
And finally VVTi
This time I choose a HKS headgasket as it has the hole for the VVTi oil passage, 1.6mm to compensate the GE head and the machining of head and block.
We also used ARP head and main studs.
I've installed the engine last weekend and the car is already at the shop of the guy who built my manifold to adapt it as the Beams head has the 3rd and 4th runners closer together.
Maybe I'll go drive-by-wire immediately or after it runs with the cable.
No pictures so far as I need to invest some time in my picture gallery on my website first.