Thought I'd post up on here in case anyone was interested. I'm running a group buy on these over on DSMtalk but anyone here is welcome to get in.

SSautochrome has 30 of these on hand available for us in a GB. We've got over 10 buyers currently so the price has dropped to the lowest amounts.

We're looking at $300 shipped for the Mitsu flanged version
or $320 shipped for the Garrett flanged version with Tial WG flange.

Pics, dynos, and reviews can be seen here:
www.koumotorsports.com

We did see a 20-25hp gain on the top end.

Not sure how much everyone here has followed things so I don't want to deluge everyone with old information. But I'd be happy to answer any questions or assign GB numbers to anyone that wants in on the GB.

whens the date for money due?? and whats the diameter on the opening of the flange to the turbo.??

is this the one with the fixed flange or is this the same one that puked a gasket on the dyno day???

Money can be sent anytime from now till the end of Feb and we can ship as soon as funds are received since there are now enough buyers.

I can assign anyone interested a GB code along with the paypal address.

I want one. I'll be gettin in touch with you hopefully have the money before the end of the month.

Just a question but isnt this the manifold that caught on fire?

Yes, its the same version. Consensus is pretty much that it wasn't the header that caused the fireball on the dyno.

It was more due to the exhaust leak we were encountering as well a few factors (including rich tune) coming together to create this.

The most basic expanantion is this: If you've seen people shoot fireballs out their tailpipes between shifts, this is basicly the same thing but the exhaust leak we had (bolt issues and ex-man stud issues) caused it to happen pre-turbo.

I'm sure Nate, Marcus, or Kris could give you a more cohesive explanation there though so hopefully they'll chime in.

If my post is utterly incomprehensible please take pity (it's 5am and I haven't slept yet)

I would like to get in on the group buy but I am not sure if I can get the money in by the deadline. what is the HP difference between the header and the ported EVO III manifold, if it isn't much difference in power the price difference is huge.

Spy's car was knocking on the run where the exhaust gasket blew. When the car knocks, timing is retarded. This will cause later ignition and a large, hot flame front out of the exhaust ports. This is why high EGT's can indicate knock. This flame front was getting choked by the small 14b turbine housing. You can see this by watching the manifold start to glow brightly right where it meets the turbo. So basically the hottest place on the knocking/retarded timing engine was right where the exhaust manifold to turbo gasket was, causing it to blow out.

Yeah, I saw that, but I don't know man. I just watched the fireball movie again in slowmo. I'm 75% sure that fireball came from where the manifold meets the turbo according to the video footage. The fact that the manifold heats up much more quickly where it meets the turbo would seem to support that, but I can't be 100% sure. What did the gasket look like when you took it apart? Was it still there? I never got a chance to look at it.

Working on the wife to give the big A OK on the header

That's an interesting theory and well within the realm of possibility. Do you think there was that much unburnt fuel? Because when the throttle is closed and there is still a load on the engine, the injectors shut down completely. I've seen this on datalogs.

Since the gasket between the manifold and turbo was all good, I am inclined to agree with you, though.

It also may have also been a combination of the two. After reviewing the video a few more times, I notice there is smoke most definitely coming from where the manifold meets the turbo. I suppose this could be some unburnt fuel escaping then it hit the manifold and ignited. I just can't see it all coming from the head because it burns along this smoke cloud starting at the manifold-turbo junction rather than at the head at first.

I've spoken with SSautochrome about our concerns regarding the square bore on the Mitsu flanged manifold. The manifolds are currently all configured this way and ready to ship (or in some cases have been shipped). As they are produced and welded up in Scotland, they don't have the means to correct the flange issue stateside.

However, they want their product offering to us to be recieved well. They've decided to cut the price on the Mitsu manifolds on the GB to $260 shipped. This way we can use the price break to make alterations locally or ourselves.

Purchase price on this batch will be adjusted and those that have already paid for a Mitsu manifold will have the $40 refunded back via paypal. (note, this is for the Mitsu flanged manifold only due to the flange issues there).