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Head gaskets blow after 20-30 years, plain and simple. They take a lot of abuse. Turbos more so as they are "forced" induction, cramming lots more fuel and air into the combustion chamber. Add to the mix crazy folks cranking the boost pressure from Volvo's sedate 8 p.s.i. to 12, 14, 18 or more p.s.i. and head gaskets blow.
While it is true the B21, 23 and 230 have aluminum heads mated to cast iron blocks, that alone does not lead to head gasket failure. High school chemistry taught me that different metals expand and contract at different rates. That is the logic behind mating cast iron heads w/ cast iron blocks. Under normal operating conditions and tempertures there is no issue with aluminum heads and iron blocks. But...overheat one and you have a much higher chance of warping the head before the pistons get gallded and sieze. Let's face it...these motors are, for the most part, 20 years old or more. Gaskets get old and brittle...
I love my turbos, they're lots of fun. But I sold one before I blew the hg and built the other one from the ground up. I run serious boost pressures so I spent a little more and got a cometic head gasket.
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When Volvos are outlawed, only outlaws will have Volvos!!
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