I wanted to start with new head gaskets etc so I dug into the engine as well. The first thing I did was start pulling the fuel injectors out assuming they would be gummed up with dried fuel and i was going to send them out to be cleaned and flow tested. I pulled one out and it was the cleanest fuel injector I've ever seen. I pulled a second one out and was super clean too. I then used a couple wire leads hooked up to a flashlight I had handy with about 7 volts of juice to test all the injectors in the fuel rails and they all sounded great. It appears the Japanese guys hook the motors up to a fuel injector cleaning system to remove all traces of fuel from the fuel system before shipping. This is probably required by regulations so you could expect the same if you got a jdm engine
http://www.ecutune.com/posts/jdm/DSC_9113.JPG
With a valve cover off the next thing I noticed was how clean everything under the valve cover was. Either they have better quality oil or better quality oil filters over there or both.
http://www.ecutune.com/posts/jdm/DSC_9122.JPG
While replacing the head gaskets you can see the mythical good SVX motor mounts in this picture. Yes, this engine actually has good OE motor mounts. I've never seen one before.
http://www.ecutune.com/posts/jdm/DSC_9123.JPG
The jdm engines do not use EGR. The intake manifold still has the passageways in the casting but they use a solid plug that goes all the way threw where we just have caps underneath. This blocks off the passageways in the JDM manifold. The JDM fuel lines are different--absent of the hard lines for the vacuum lines for egr.
http://www.ecutune.com/posts/jdm/DSC_9208.JPG
http://www.ecutune.com/posts/jdm/DSC_9211.JPG
And here's the whole thing put back together with loving care and new gaskets and seals and timing components and covers and the valve covers and driver's exhaust manifold off of my last engine.
http://www.ecutune.com/posts/jdm/DSC_9219.JPG
I'm going to be busy for the next week and a half but will install it all at first chance.