Some more testing tomorrow. Rev counter does drop, but largely as a result of cutting the fuel supply I think !
I'm beginning to wonder if the sensor loom (which I left on the donor engine) is slightly different to the pin outs on the EDC. Haynes shows a difference between 2001 and 2002 and some pins around the MAP sensor and the Crank Sensor seem interchanged ! Might be on to it....... Map sensor fault and revs problem would fit with this. Will be testing old loom vs new loom to see if there is any difference (esp in these areas).
As the donor engine ran fine I left all sensors are they were, fitted my refurb starter, new alternator and EGR bypass / Cyclone filter and left everything else as it was. So all donor car sensors. Have now changed MAP with no effect.
If the problem had been on the old car, as Nodge points out - Mr MOT man would have found it at rev the bo**ocks off time - even if I didn't ! Auto on kick down hits 3,750 rpm fairly easily.