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I know someone who built these for racing. They used to eat themselves for breakfast periodically as I recall. Eventually, and this must have been one huge pile of money later, they figured out it was happening when they started up the engine when it was cold. Not sure I remember this right, but I believe they fitted a block heater and they had no failures after that. The engine builder was very good so that wasn't the issue.

I don't know what was special about these engines and how they were built that this became a requirement. Obviously your average Cosworth Vega didn't do this...

Mitsubisi 4G63 (2.0) and 4G64 (2.4) are only usable as rwd with wideblock engne blocks, unless you use a custom bellhousing adapter. 2.4's can use 2.0 dohc 16v heads and turbos and most of the 4g63 hotrod parts. 400hp is in easy reach. Wide blocks are in mitsu and dodge d50 pickups. The only m/t straight bolt up is the mitsu km145 5spd and the km148 4spd a/t, and a really old km144 4spd m/t. 144 and 145 are a little weak. Starion 4g54 2.6 used same tranny. 4G54T motors had from about 170-206hp, highedst 88-89. The head gaskets are not a problem unless you overheat the motor. 4G64dohcT is a popular swap for 4G54T. See projectzerog.com for complete details. Starions/Conquests also used the JAP600 a/t, inferior to the km148, which is a variant of the AisinWarner aw372 series used in several vehicles (Toyota, Heep, etc.)