if you portd your turbo what kind of washer did you use?
a normal one with a zinc coating
or did you use a steel one?
would a steel washer be better so zinc doesnt come off and
leave build up or break weld
or am i just over analyzing?

 

I think you're over analyzing it.

http://aaroncake.net/RX-7/s4wastegate.htm

 

I used a valve out of a Civic, only valve I could find that was small enough

 

haha... I dont even know what was on mine... i think it was zinc coated, but it was basically a big thing that i found sitting around in one of my undergrad schools baja team random bolts bin

 

Ideally you want a washer designed for high heat applications. High nitrile steel, or a good grade of stainless. Piston engine valve heads are an easy source.

But I've done a bunch (including my own) with just washers and they are still holding up years later...

 

this reminds me of a similar question I asked before the crash and I never got it answered: are grade 8 bolts suitable replacements for the hot side retaining bolts on my S4 turbo? I mean I really don't have much choice, 3 are bent more than I'm comfortable with and the rest are simply old...