SteveWOates
The intention was to do it with a 3s but I am open to other suggestions.
The v6 conversion people are talking about, anyone who has one already able to let me know if it is ridiculously difficult to work on the car without dropping the engine out after the conversion is done? That would have been one of my bigger issues.

I'm in mid stream of putting a 1MZFE into my AW11.
From my current experiences, there is more room to work in the engine bay since everything is either on top of the motor or underneath it, and you soon learn what you work on from the top and what you work on from the bottom.  The main exception is the spark plugs, which are hard to access on the front bank due to the cabin firewall, but you can rotate the motor by undoing the torque mounts. My 4AGE 20V motor that was previously in the engine bay was a bit frustrating at times since it was hard to get my hand in between parts to get half way down to block or head to reach another bolt.
 
The upper intake manifold on a 1MZ is held on with 4 easily accessible bolts, so it's pretty quick to access anything below it. (Try removing the intake on a 4A/3S in less then 5 mins.................)

Useful picture.
Main thing I am thinking of with trouble is the stuff I'd do regularly. I don't like using mechanics unless I need to, and I rather enjoy doing my own work.
If everything is easy enough to access that isn't useless to do withing 25000K's I would be taking quite a bit of interest considering it's a fair bit cheaper.
Also, do you need to do any fabricating for the 1mz conversion?

You can buy the engine mount you need pre made. Then you just need an exhaust system made up

Just took into account the engineering certificate would be needed also. Also I would want to keep the twin exhaust. Want it to be looking stock on the outside. Can you make up an exhaust for that?

What is a cost for a beams red top on average if anyone knows? Reading lots more on mentioned and further looked into other engines also and the red top looks like a power output I could slightly increase and sit on very happily to be honest.

SteveWOates
What is a cost for a beams red top on average if anyone knows?

The costs are fairly regular + import fee's. It's finding an 'honest' engine which is the problem.
 
1MZ - easy to find, easy to maintain. I don't know the figures, but 3L of V6 vs 2L 4cylinder… Good, solid, lazy torque. And a cracking sound from the exhaust. 
 
 

Everything I have looked at points to red top beams at the moment.
As long as the engine isn't 'too' dishonest it won't matter because it will be copping an entire rebuild.
It seems like a good starting point, and fully building it will still cost less than a supercharger. :P

Welcome to the forum mate, everyone here has given good advice, except B24. Just kidding he's stellar.
I got my engine from SSS Automotive up in Sydney for $1750 (2012), an "engine with electronics " which consists of engine with all the ancillaries attached to it for operation i.e sensors , ECU , airbox...
 
The 1MZ will require a bit more work (turbo chassis better donor) but if planning to keep car longer and have time I think I would have done that, in retrospect.
 
If you haven't already, check out the FAQ on swapping BEAMS engine. It's not detailed like a BGB but it will give you a list of things you have to do and watch out for
 
 

I haven't started my Beams swap yet, its sitting in the shed waiting for me to have time lol, so i can't really offer any advice yet. I bought a MR2 half cut with a redtop Beams. It cost me heaps to buy and get into the country though. I think i might have been better off buying a motor, engine loom and ECU from an Aussie supplier in hindsight. You should read Mandalays build on this forum. He's gone to the extreme with his car...he's supercharged his Beams, and his attention to detail is unparalleled.

I've got the attention to detail :P Don't you worry about that haha.
I was thinking a supercharger down the track, a home loan comes before that though, but red beams and some engine work is currently topping home loan because able haha :P
Do I need a different gearbox for the redtop or am I able to just buy engine/electrics, work a little bit and throw a piggyback ECU in for a start?