Not to be too critical, but isn't Todd the only one (so far) to damage his engine due to overboost induced detonation?  Maybe it's just me, but I'd call that a turbo problem :-) 

        Gee Rusty, it sounds like a case of turbo envy :-). But seriously, as Ed has said it was mostly a case of inexperienced pilot error. Another factor that I'm beginning to believe significantly contributed to the problem was improper tuning. With the EM2's ability to tune the MAP table, I had made some large changes (including a slightly advanced timing to improve idle) For some reason Tracy's default programming didn't work very well before I rebuilt my engine and required large tuning changes, however after I reinstalled the engine, recognizing that my tuning was inadequate, I reset it to factory default and surprisingly this time it ran very well with no change at all. I have leaned slightly at idle, but otherwise have made no changes as of yet. I've been making note of a few spots that will require a little tuning, but in the hi MAP table all is pretty darn good. The low MAP table is where I need to do a little more tuning to get it a little smoother on descent.

        But back to the original question regarding turbo reliability. I don't have a BOV or POV or any other bleeds in the system after the compressor as I don't feel that it is efficient to make the engine do work to compress the air only to bleed it off again. This also puts unnecessary stress on the turbo components. Bypassing the exhaust turbine through a wastegate is the best way to control boost IMHO. My porting of the wastegate and recently drilling through the center scroll seems to have made a big difference as I've not seen my boost levels ever exceed 7 psi in my now 18.2 flight hours (except when I opened up the wastegate actuator bleed valve on the sensing line to give me 10psi at altitude). Now if I could get a spare series 4 turbine housing, I'd bring it in here to the mill and attempt mounting it on a lathe to increase the A/r, but I suspect that this procedure would be far more critical than the wastegate mods I've performed.

S. Todd Bartrim (hates paying for work that I think I can do myself)
Turbo 13B
RX-9endurance
C-FSTB
http://www3.telus.net/haywire/RV-9/C-FSTB.htm

        "Imagination is more important than knowledge"
                                        -Albert Einstein