ok, here's some thoughts on converting a 22re to a 22rte:
1) the long block
you've already figured out that the 22re runs too much compression to for a simple turbo set-up. well, the 22rte doesn't have enough compression for a simple turbo set-up. it's so low that the take-off from a dead stop sucked to the point that toyota put a lower first gear in the turbo trannies to make up for it. Were I to do it again, I'd have put a stock 22re head on my rte. or conversely, put an rte head on a stock 22re shrot block with stock pistions. don't owrry about the pistoms or the rods, they're fine. rte's use the same rods as re's and the pistons are different but both are simple castings. no forgings here. fancy rods are ricer fantasy. up to about 15 psi, the design control for a piston rod is and always will be the the down stoke on the uncompressed cycle. the force from the angualr accelration of the free spinning rod far out classes the power stroke.
2) the turbo
sizing is everything. you want a big T-3 or a moderate t3/t4 hybrid. the hoset is HUGE. you'll get nothing bot hot air out of it from a little 2.4L motor. conversely the stock CT20 is so small that pretty much the same effect takes placce.
3) the injection
use stock 22rte injection. I do, it's fine. SDS is cool, but to upgrade the basic kit to something that can really monitor and control a turbo system ,you're looking at $3k with all the trimmings. Iv'e got a big 60 trim T3 and I'm running 10 psi quite happily with the stock injection humming along.
4) the plumbing
lookaround ,you can cobble an oil feed from the oil pressure gauge fitting on the driver side of hte block, this it common. the oil will dump into a fitting you've put on the oil pan. for water, there's factory feed and return on the back of the timing cover on each side of the block, figure the rest out.
5) turbo timers
you NEED A turbo timer if you run a turbo that just had ports for oil cooling. most aftermarket kits come with this type of turbo becuase they are cheaper to source and easier to install. you DO NOT NEED a turbo timer if you have a water cooled turbo. it's just a ricer fantasy that you would. there isnt' an OEM water cooled turb out there that has a turbo timer. if you're that worried, run synthetic oil, you should be running it anyway.
here's some pics of my turbocharged intercooled 84 runner
careful, these pics are huge
http://www.dana60.com/sundowner/hood1.JPGhttp://www.dana60.com/sundowner/hood2.JPGhttp://www.dana60.com/sundowner/hood3.JPGhttp://www.dana60.com/sundowner/intercool1.JPGhttp://www.dana60.com/sundowner/intercool2.JPGhttp://www.dana60.com/sundowner/intercool3.JPG
