[s-cars] EM type, chip upgrades and cracked heads

[steve powers]

Dave -

>  Mihnea and others:  When these cracked heads show up, are
>  there any correlations between the EM type, the turbo, the
>  chip set, etc.?  What I was thinking when I asked the EM
>  question a few days ago was, if you go to an upgraded turbo
>  and/or a chip set that makes 300+ hp and you DO NOT upgrade
>  the EM,  the probability of burning valves, e.g. 1, 3,
>  and/or 5, AND/OR cracking the head (e.g. around the exhaust
>  valves or exhaust port
>  areas) increases dramatically.  I would like to do a litter
>  forensic-type "epidemiology" (sp?) on this data, if it is available.
>
>  Dave F.

My 20V head cracked when the timing belt broke, following premature
loosening of a recent R&R'ed alternator bracket (as part of a timing
belt replacement). I did (and do) have Ned's modified EM on it but am
pretty sure it had zero to do with the problem.

that is unless the manifold caused:
    a) the alternator bolt to come loose due to more heat cycles
    b) the mechanic to become so awestruck at seeing that extrude
       honed puppy that he forgot to tighten the bracket

b's probably the answer as it appears they left off a turbo nut also...

correlate away ;)

Steve