tested coolant temp sensor, tested within spec.
going to check base timing.
very sure it may be off as it is gutless taking off.

Gatesy, FWIW I just had a look the pic of your spark plugs, and they do look quite a bit blacker than the ones from my own 3SGE motor when I changed them. (see pic)
They are NGK platinums, and the cars performance was great as well as fuel consumption.
Fairly high K motor too.

 
 
 

what is the correct heat range for my gen 2 motor
perhaps the may be the issue?
I think I have bkr6e iex

That is the correct heat range plug.  Bloody hell Ian . Those plugs are sooooo perfect!!!  How many kms on that engine now?     Gatesys. Your plugs really don't look too bad to me.   Cheers.

Doug, the motor had about 230k kms on it when those plugs were taken out, and they'd been in for about 40k kms.
But it's now up to about 265k kms and still running the same - great.
When I bought the car I must have been lucky and got a good one.  

I think I've been luck with my motor too as my plugs look exactly the same!

Problem has been solved, ended up being a combo of timing not properly adjusted, and a partially blocked fuel filter.

Fuel filter was replaced when i brought it as the one in it looked VERY old still toyota genuine probably replaced once..
replaced with Ryco- than full fuel cleaner run through, 10xxxkms later used a toyota injector cleaner.

so id say it put alot of crap from the tank in to the filter? as i just replaced it friday with a genuine one then had timing checked and found exhaust half a tooth out and it reading 8 degrees
timing fixed and adjusted to 12 degrees.
runs like a dream now.