I first decided to just rebuild the original 7M-GTE, I sent the motor out had it cleaned and checked installed all new toyota gaskets and hardware, it had a Brand new toyota head with new cams, valves, springs, etc. installed it and within about a month the turbo went out, so i replaced it with another stock turbo with chewed up fins. well a gasket leaked and it got oil starved and ate up a few bearings, well it cought it soon enough and the crank was untouched so i just replaced the bearings, drove it for 2 weeks, and it blew a HG, so i replaced the HG, had a differant head installed, and ran it well it ran for  A WEEK!! and while racing a 99 SS my turbo (the chewed fins one) grenaded on me at 5500rpm in 5th gear at ~135+.  Well all the oil leaked out and into my IC choking the motor for air. As i would find out later  5 out of 6 cyl. had a blown head gasket in atleast 2 spots, the #6 had it in 3 spots. So that pretty much was the last straw, i decided to cut my losses and swap in the 1jz-gte, less hassle was made for boost all around better choice.

I will however say that the 7M was a torque beast, i LOVE the powerband on it and will miss it.

As Far as mods went i only had:

1. K&N Cone filter


2. NGK plug wires


3. 1mm of material milled between the head and block


4. Port matched head w/ polished chambers


5. Random Tech SS 3" Downpipe


6. 3" test pipe


7. 3.25" Tanabe Hyper Medalion Exhaust


8. Custom HKS "3000" Pipe (Polished and extended)


9. Custom Mandrel bent 2.5" IC Hardpipes


10. Turbo XS BOV (loud and annoying)


11. Modified Spearco FMIC (larger 2.5" inlet/outlets)


12. mbc @ ~14psi