one of the wreckers claim to have a low km 'just out of the container' engine in stock $1500 no electrics. Maybe you should get another project going? I know what the 'first car' syndrome is like - nostalgia and all.
The T18's appear lethal in another respect and that is the long door/poor side intrusion and skimpy pillar placed way back. A roll cage is definitely on the wish list.
Did the beast have a W50 gearbox and same clutch as the 3T-C's?
My 3T-C's diff is on the way out. I drive hard but it doesn't have that much grunt - didn't expect to do the diff!
Most people now are putting in expensive forged pistons and are able to run more agressive turbo's $$$$
I am hoping to get a 3T-GTEU but use my current block so as to avoid having to declare to RTA (fair bit of stuffing around) - don't know if this is legal tho