Intake Spacer worth it?? Your thoughts!!!

[Kdubslugga]

Well i finally figured out my Intake Vac leak problem, but i gotta tear in down again for the third time again. I broke one of the longer bolts and cant find a 5/16th 7 inch long bolt anywhere, i also need a new upper to lower intake gasket. So im thinkin about getting a Trick flow 3/8 inch Spacer, it comes with new gaskets and longer bolts, whadda you guys think is the spacer a waste???

 

[Michael Yount]

Lots of debate on value of spacers. Theoretically, they provide some insulation value for the upper. In practice however, it only helps on a drag car where you can ice the intake between rounds to help cool intake charge - and even that 'help' is debated in the threads. On a street car, the intake will become just as warm over a short time. The slightly longer runner theoretically will help bottom end torque at the expense of some HP on top - but both gain/loss would be very minor in my opinion.

As a practical matter, I think they should only be used if you need clearance for taller valve covers or throttle linkage. I wouldn't add it for any performance reason.

Head to Cleveland - you'll find the bolt.

 

[sidewayzisbest]

well im making mine studs since i find myself taking the upper on and off and i seem to break bolts alot =(....

as far as spacer im getting a 1" it will help a lil at the dragstrip cooling down like micheal said but the main reason im getting mine so i can have tall valve covers...

 

[Daggar]

The other counter theory is that even "if" you end up with a cooler plenum as a result of the insulation then that heat that would normally be disipated by the plenum is now 'stuck' in the lower intake. Either way, that heat has got to go somewhere. The last article I saw that uncluded a dyno test for spacers showed like a 1 - 3 HP gain. Even then they couldn't be sure it was the result of having cooler air from the spacer.