try going to a specialist, (not Adrian flux, they charge through the nose) but consider A-plan or Sky insurance and state you are a member of an enthusiast club, these often get discount. I used to have my engine swapped Toyota corolla through sky and it was never more than £600-700 for a 2.0L turbo!

It was my thoughts to run a lower boost level (maybe 0.5 BAR) but I know it may be a little tricky to get the fueling right at those levels - when I start to put it all together, maybe I should look at some Glanza injectors instead and just increase the fuel pressure (with a decent pump of course)?

you will need to run a decent fuel pump to begin with the paseo pump will cause major issues with a turbo, see if you can get your hands on a second hand GT4(ST205)/MR2 turbo/Supra turbo (Mkiv) Fuel pump. the pump assy should be a relatively straight swap. only go for the chassis types stated though as the earlier models (ST185, mkiii supra) use a significantly larger pump and operate in a different fashion.

You would be able to get away (safely) with running the 370 injectors on the Glanza Ecu with any of those pumps, I can understand your caution with regard to boost pressure it is a considered approach, often the best way. May I suggest two option routes?

1) procure a 0.5 Bar (probably adjustable) actuator, rebuild engine using OEM 4EFTE/5EFE mixed gasket sets

2) use the turbo's standard actuator (usually 0.7 Bar) but when you rebuild the engine for the turbo setup use a decompression plate / thicker headgasket (this would not have to be an aggressive one, I'd imagine the TRD thicker gasket or Athene MLS jobbie, about 1.2mm would be sufficient, not more than that otherwise you wouldn't feel the benefit.)

Don't forget that the turbo from the kit is not is CT9 and as such behaves differently. I didn't manage to find a compressor map in the time which I had it but they may be beneficial to you if you can get hold of one. If it is tailored for low boost, spooling nicely at low rpms then your planned build should be good. if however the map shows its designed to deliver more boost at higher RPMS then lowering the compression maybe a bigger factor.

Alternatively you could take a traditional starlet approach which would be to build it all and drive it til things go bang?

ah yes, I recall you now! glad to know the hoarded goodies are still within the paseo club fold. the GT Turbo wheel is soooo better than the OEM one, not just for look but feel too!
I hope you make more progress on this project soon. I can't remember did you get a set of bigger injectors with all the other stuff?

i should make it clear, I have removed the entire hand brake lever assembly from the car. the plastic handgrip part will not come off without destroying the grip part. this is also the bit that holds the button in place. so if removed by force the button (thumb bit) will fall out too.

welcome, paseo is a good car to start motoring with. but don't be afraid to get stuck in proper! a squeally belt is easily fixed with a couple of spanners. A quick tension of the alternator should see you right.

Has anyone ever fitted gen7 celica seats in their paseo? I thought I'd read that they fit but I've had to admit defeat today 😞 Gutted really, want some leather in my life again.

does that mean you had a set and trial fitted them? would love to see pictures of subframe comparisons etc.

very tidy, and as rumface said most definitely the best colour