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  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech

"phenolic" spacer

  • Thread starter Thread starter 1991notchbackLX
  • Start date Start date Jun 18, 2008

1991notchbackLX

Active Member
Dec 25, 2007
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48
New York
Jun 18, 2008
#1
  • Jun 18, 2008
  • #1
did a search on this topic because i really didn't want to ask such a dumb question, but i came up with nada... i'm doing my h/c/i swap this weekend, and i realized i never bought the "phenolic" spacer for the intake manifold that was recommended... is the thing BS or what? does it really create a colder intake charge or is the difference negligible? will it affect my hood clearance or valve cover clearance? any help is appreciated, thanks

Chris
 

allballsmustang

Member
Mar 31, 2005
174
0
16
Lehigh Valley, PA
Jun 18, 2008
#2
  • Jun 18, 2008
  • #2
i use the 1" one on my car...not really sure if it does anything for the heat but it sure does make it easy to take the valve covers off... thats really the only reason i got it...
 

RYC CUKR

Founding Member
May 19, 2002
1,437
1
38
Orlando
Jun 18, 2008
#3
  • Jun 18, 2008
  • #3
Personally I don't think it really works for keeping the upper intake cooler unless you block the EGR passages. Otherwise you still have hot exhaust gases flowing through the upper intake on their way to the EGR valve.

I have always used them for VC clearance and such issues. I ran a 1" spacer on my 93 with the stock hood. The only clearance problem that I had was with the mat on the underside of the hood. Removed that and it fit fine. But every car is different. The best thing to do is put some clay or playdough on the highest point on the intake manifold. Close the hood and open it and cut the playdough and measure the thickness. That should give you and approximate dimension for clearances.
 
S

Scorcher2005

Member
Apr 17, 2004
883
0
16
South Carolina
Jun 18, 2008
#4
  • Jun 18, 2008
  • #4
On my 91GT i had a 1" spacer on my Trick Flow Track Heat intake. All it is supposed to do is prevent the upper intake from getting hot from heat transfer from the lower. Mine made a corner of the intake manifold hit the hood liner. It melted to it and left a blank mark. Besides for that, no stock hood clearance problems.
 

Dino Dino Bambino

15 Year Member
Jun 13, 2007
1,670
87
79
Cyprus
Jun 19, 2008
#5
  • Jun 19, 2008
  • #5
Scorcher2005 said:
On my 91GT i had a 1" spacer on my Trick Flow Track Heat intake. All it is supposed to do is prevent the upper intake from getting hot from heat transfer from the lower.
Click to expand...

The upper intake still gets hot because heat transfer still takes place through the manifold bolts. The real functions of the spacer are to provide more clearance for taller valve covers, and to add length to the intake tract which shifts peak HP/TQ slightly lower down the rpm range.
 

BStevens

Founding Member
Aug 28, 2001
127
0
16
Grand Rapids, MI
Jun 19, 2008
#6
  • Jun 19, 2008
  • #6
I went with a 1" on my edelbrock performer intake.. sole reason because i decided to use the carb valve covers (quite a bit taller).

as for performance, you're not gonna see any... temp difference, a little cooler to the touch. but thats about it.
 

Venom351R

Founding Member
Apr 27, 2002
4,548
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98
MAINE
Jun 19, 2008
#7
  • Jun 19, 2008
  • #7
I bought a 1" spacer for the Trick Flow R intake I have going on soon and the Ford Racing valve covers. I have a 3" rise RR hood so I should not have any clearance issues.

What I would like to know though is did it cause any problems w/ clearance w/ the Strut Tower Brace? Figuring it will raise everything up 1" did the cold air inlet (stock or not) hit the STB not allowing it to bolt down? I'll have a C&L True Flow Tube connecting to my Throttle Body.

FYI This is on an SN95
 

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell
Mod Dude
Feb 18, 2001
43,172
17,871
224
Massachusetts
Jun 19, 2008
#8
  • Jun 19, 2008
  • #8
It slows down heat transfer per say. And it also allows you to ice the intake faster.

Heat transfer takes place still though. Heat rises, so all that heat off your headers and collects under the hood heating the upper intake up.

Go for a long ride and pop the hood. Your intake will still be hot.

It helps, but don't expect any real gains.

I have a 1/2" spacer on my car
 
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