Well as for a new motor you could get a 40k and drop it in but might as well do the head gasket when it is out and then drop it in. Other than that you could just upgrade like I did and get rid of the head gasket issues all together. But seeing as your having a mechanic do your work then I would say a upgrade would be out of the question seeing as the labor itself would kill you. But as for motors you can get a 40k 7mgte for like 700 bucks so I dont see how that is a ton more money. Plus look around you there might be a person from here that would be willing to help you do your HG and save you some money.

>"Other than that you could just upgrade like I did and get rid of the head gasket issues all together."<

How is it different?

It depends on the engine you upgrade to.

For instance a 2jzge. Is 215/ 220hp And has zero hg issues.

I'm not sure even with ARP studs and an HKS stopper mhg solves the issue.
Only time will tell.

And ya. If you aren't your cars mechanic. It'll cost a buttload to have done.

Even if you get a 700$ 7m series engine of higher caliber. It's still not smart to try and plug and play.
Simply put. It's a gamble.

What I was looking for is how Toyota solved the BHG problem--e.g., more head bolts, "O"-ringed heads/block, just higher bolt torque, etc.

They corrected the issues with the 7m series in the 2j series.

OK, but HOW? Anyone know just what they did?

I Don't have absolutes so I don't want to tell you something that isn't entirely true.

I have'nt researched the 2j series that deeply for anything other than how to put it into my mkIII.