So here's the story: My '91 GTI 16V started running rough, I thought it was plug wires - everything else checked out fine. Then, the car starts running on two cylinders - I have it towed home. I pull it apart and find that my euro intake cam broke in half. Yes, I'm not joking. Two of the cam bearing studhole's threads gave up, and two studs broke off into the head. This was a head I had bought used when in a pinch, and I was aware that some of the threads in the studholes were partially stripped. I had one helicoiled, and the other seemed good enough. Boy was I wrong. This was over a month ago. I was aggravated so I've been driving my friend's miata since. Yesterday, I inspected the head and surprisingly, all the cam bearing surfaces look fine. Keep in mind that this is a stage II ported head. Some of the best hp/$ I've gotten out of this car. I also have a perfectly good stock 1.8 head with low miles sitting in the garage. This car is officially relegated to weekends/roadracing. My new car should be here soon.
What would you guys do? Helicoil the ported head and keep using it, or stick the stock 1.8 unported head on there? Alex.
