YEP, it's like they drilled the holes without a template?

 

Exactly. I could not believe they put so much effort into these and blew something like that.
The way I fixed one was by threading a stainless bolt into a hole (on the wastegate flange) that was about an 1/8" off.
I couldn't find my red locktite so I dinged the threads on the bolt a little so it would be really locked in and then ground it flush. I bolted the spacer plate from the HKS wastegate in the 3 good holes using short screws and marked a fresh hole with a drift punch.
Once I drilled and tapped it you could see a moon shaped remnant from the filler bolt. I could have slotted the hole a bit but I would have had to have disassembled the entire wastegate to put a longer bolt so it would go through the flange.
Another thing to consider is that there is at least one hole that is too close to the tube to get a nut on.

Since this seems to be a common problem I think I will write this up as a fix and put it in the rotary performance section.

 

you're a big help Scalliwag!

 

you don't know how much of a big help he is. that is my manifold he is talking about. man, this project has been one obstacle after another. i'll be glad when this car is done so i can see where all my money went.

much thanks to the guys at www.gothamracing.com and the DFW area guys for being supportive and entertaining me during my visit