Well when it was overheating I had a look and the Coolant was bubbling out through a gasket on the top side of the motor, I haven't tested the cap yet I don't have all the right gear but ill be getting the mechanic to have a bo peep for me
I always wanted to work the motor so I guess this is a good way to get my ass into gear n boost.. I was also thinking bigger turbo rather then the one that comes stock with the gen3

Surprised you blew a Gen3 headgasket. Must have had a pre-existing cooling issue to do that. They usually spin a bearing before the OEM metal HG dies. From an age perspective.
 
Upgrading turbo will likely mean upgrading ECU = significant price increase

Yeah and the cars only done 160,000 but who knows what previous owners were like to her...I have had the car a year and a half and the only problem I've had was an electric fault which kept causing the car to stop idling then the car would die when ever I accelerated but after that was fixed its been good...
Cars are a love hate relationship, I hate to love em... Before the hg I was already going to upgrade ecu boost control and that until something blew, got what I wished for early now I'll be expecting a 15,000 bill . Fmd lol

MR2QIK - cap wasn't tested AFAIK, he just ditched it when i told him to grab a new one from Toyota.
 
Head_Gasket (LOL..)-- i think "bnib" is an interweb acronym for BRAND NEW IN BOX?  

yep, brand new in box. gen3 has metal hg standard.

15k! I'd expect you to pay half of that, including parts, cooler & maybe ecu upgrade (pfc).

I'm talking a built 2L bottom end & serviced head too.

Okay update on my situation = seen better days... I've got the car in at stones engineering up near bilambil heights and my options are as followed...
1. Rebuild my current motor at a cost of 10-12 grand and that is a complete rebuild ( happy to pay if I had 300 at the wheels ) which I think is a bit steep.
2. Buy a second hand motor and have its up and running for around 5-6 grand...
I can't find a 3sgte 3rd gen anywhere .. It's times like these I wish I was. Mechanic or knew a little bit bout the mr2 . Any help would be much appreciated

What's the difference between 3sgte and the 3sgteu ??

10-12 k sounds excessive to get it 'rebuilt', I'd want it all forged and head-flowed, tuned etc for that.
 
I think the "U" on the end is one with Jap pollution control. :)

You might be thinking of the older 1.8L Turbo 3T-GTEU