Well, DivCo says my case is not repairable due to the location of the crack. So I'm looking at a "new" case for sure. Now the question is whether to stay with 150 HP or upgrade to 160 HP. DivCo has narrow deck low compression and wide deck cases in inventory, and they are the same price. They don't have the high compression narrow deck, and cost to convert would be prohibitive. In the opinion of Lucas, the gentleman I talked with there, neither narrow nor wide is better than the other overall.
160 HP is tempting, but would require different engine STC (Crosswinds?) and different mogas STC (Peterson) I currently have the spotfaced (low compression) narrow deck cylinders with about 480 hours since major overhaul. So conversion would mean get a wide deck case and compatible cylinders. My current cylinders have around 500 hours on them, compressions in the mid to upper 70's at last annual.
Two questions:
What firms would you recommend for exchange cylinders?
What's best - steel, chrome, nickel, or nitride? Why? I typically fly around 100+ hours per year. Humid climate, but hangared.
Thanks!