Throttle Spacer Plate

[mauivette]

Just got a new catalog from one of those places and they are trying to sell a 1 inch spacer that goes behind the throttle body and are hinting at quite large horsepower gains. Any opinions on this. Guess I am always looking for a cheap way to gain HP. It seems hard to believe that sucha small plate will give the gains they claim. Any thoughts welcome.

 

[Eagle85C4]

Moved to Mod forum from tech as this pertains to modification of existing stock system

 

[c4cruiser]

I think these spacers are in the same category as the throttle body airfoils. By the time you spend upwards of a couple hundred for a spacer, airfoil, relocation of the MAT sensor, "power coupler" and the other things that promise bigh HP gains, you may pick up 2-5HP. Save your money for mods that will make a big difference.

A good free-flowing exhaust system is a place to start. If you want big gains in acceleration then differential gears are the real answer. Consider going to a gearset around 3.7 or so will make a tremendous difference in the car.

 

[vader86]

Waste of money.

 

[86PACER]

DONT WASTE YOUR MONEY ON THE SPACER. :nono

 

[l98vette1986]

a spacer may do you some good if you have a carburated motor.. but if it is a tpi car forget it. if you want a throttle body spacer that will make you some real power...get a nitrous plate.

 

[Mart]

Have any of you guys that are slagging them even tried one.

It sounds like billagroom took the chance and won.

Give me a reason why it wound not work.

 

[muddywaters]

Spacer Plate

I think it works because it increases area and staightens out the air stream.

 

[muddywaters]

Spacer Plate

Increased plenum volume, increased area, same thing. Usually the aim is to eliminate anything that would cause "friction loss", and I think the spacer gives the induction a longer, straighter shot. It does the same thing on a reg. carb.

 

[Mart]

I have now heard from those who think it may work, but nothing from those who said it was a waste of money?

Hmmmm whats up with that, could they be rethinking the analogy.

Seems to work on carbs, and guys have been using them for years, this is not something new.

C'mon guys speak up, give us some reasons why they are a waste on money, but if it's a cheap handful of horses then why not.

Mart

 

[vader86]

Why the hell would it increase fuel atomization as advertised, since there is no fuel coming thru the damn thing.

All youre doing is increasing the distance the air must move, basically doing the same thing as increasing your runner length. And we all know that the runner length is why the L98 makes no high-rpm power.

It does work on carbs, because a small increase in distance between the carb and intake is useful in atomization and mixing of fuel and adds to the low end torque.

Anyone who thinks this thing will work on any of our cars is an idiot.

Do you think adding 1" to the distance the air must go will give you 20hp? what about 2"? what about 5" giving you 100Hp, oh wow! Ive got some oceanfront property in arizona for you too.

 

[muddywaters]

Spacer Plate

WOW, Temper, temper. Why do they port and polish plenums and heads ? The intake on my 88 is quite long I think. It's definitley longer than the old carb. set ups. You know the distance the air travels to get to the cylinder from its source. On my 88 the air comes in thru a cut lid, passes thru a KN filter, turns almost 90 degrees, forced to go from rectangle to round in shape, sucked thru two highly restrictive MAF screens, cut in half by the throttle body, then the air gets to the plenum, which no more than a supply box used by each cylinder, enlarge that area, polish it ,port it and air velocity is increased, that the reason the maker claims it atomizes better because your moving more air easier. If anyone has ever relieved and polished a set of heads, you wouldn't think that it would make a big difference, but it does. As far as there being no fuel in the air stream, it doesn't matter where you introduce the fuel, CFM's are CFM's. You won't get huge gains, but you'll feel it. That is if you can. A spacer any thicker would probably interfere with the hood. All that intake just to take cooler air for combustion. Small changes sometimes make it better.

 

[scorp508]

The TPI runner length is long enough thanks. If anything I'd expect a gain of some torque and loss of some HP.

 

[vader86]

Re: Spacer Plate

WOW, Temper, temper. Why do they port and polish plenums and heads ? The intake on my 88 is quite long I think. It's definitley longer than the old carb. set ups. You know the distance the air travels to get to the cylinder from its source. On my 88 the air comes in thru a cut lid, passes thru a KN filter, turns almost 90 degrees, forced to go from rectangle to round in shape, sucked thru two highly restrictive MAF screens, cut in half by the throttle body, then the air gets to the plenum, which no more than a supply box used by each cylinder, enlarge that area, polish it ,port it and air velocity is increased, that the reason the maker claims it atomizes better because your moving more air easier. If anyone has ever relieved and polished a set of heads, you wouldn't think that it would make a big difference, but it does. As far as there being no fuel in the air stream, it doesn't matter where you introduce the fuel, CFM's are CFM's. You won't get huge gains, but you'll feel it. That is if you can. A spacer any thicker would probably interfere with the hood. All that intake just to take cooler air for combustion. Small changes sometimes make it better.

Youre not increasing the port velocity, youre changing the rpm where that port velocity peaks. When you port the heads, youre allowing more air in, by just increasing the surface area in can enter. Youre lowering the port velocity down low, which results in a minor loss of low-end, and allowing for more air to enter at high rpm, this is where the port velocity increases relative to what it was at the same rpm with unported.

adding this spacer will only lower where the port velocity peaks a little, thus it would only lower your hp and raise low-end torque

 

[mauivette]

Spacer Plate

My, my:

Such a very heated discussion over a $90 mod. I had no idea................... Tell you what I will do, First I have to put in 3:73 rear end gears into my Dana 36 (I am still looking for a "pumpkin", once that is done I will buy a 52mm throttle body, a spacer plate and some of those very sexy large tube runners from TPI's. It may be 6 months or so but I will post what gains, or lack there of I have experienced. I should probably get it dyno'ed about now so I have something to compare. It is hard to find a dyno on a tropical island but I will perservere.

P.S. Jet just sent me a new catalog with the spacer plate in it.

Good to see you guys are thinkin' and have opinions.

 

[scorp508]

In order to compare things you will have to dyno back to back with and without the spacer at similar coolant temps on the same day at the same dyno. its only 4 bolts on the TB. Should be easy.

 

[SPANISHVETTS]

VADER86 is spot on.

The L98 with STOCK TPI runs out of wind around 5000 RPMs due to the runner length. If you add more length between the throttle plates and the heads you will reduce the peak RPM and maybe feel a bit more low end torque.

Billagroom´s positive results are proof of this. The LS1 does not have long-tube runners, it makes more HP than the L98 because it can rev higher. If you lengthen the distance between the TB and the heads you will increase the low-end torque which will feel like a boost in HP while the peak RPMs will decrease. No such thing as free HP!!!

For a naturally aspirated engine these are hard facts which can not be disputed by anyone unless they still believe that the world is flat.:eyerole

We spend hundreds of man-hours adjusting the runner length on the race cars to tune each car to a particular track and the day’s weather. As Grandmother always said, ¨ the proof is in the pudding¨. The team won the F3 Team and Driver’s Championships for the Third year in a row last weekend.

If anyone is interested I will run some Torque/HP curves with various runner lengths during the next practice sessions and post them.

 

[muddywaters]

Spacer Plate

My car is used only on the street and not for closed track racing, WOT rarely occurs, I'd rather the low end for street than worry about high RPM operation that is seldom used. It must be a Racer wana-be thing and the wisdom to know the difference.

 

[l98vette1986]

Have any of you guys that are slagging them even tried one.

It sounds like billagroom took the chance and won.

Give me a reason why it wound not work.

That is simple.. if did not work.. prove it w/ Dyno #'s.
the only place that a difference will be made is in the runner. It did not promote swirl, it did not "smooth out the air" it added weight to the car. Billagroom took a chance and got robbed. it made no difference in perfornace no matter what he says. prove it w/ back to back dyno #'s. you cant do it b/c there will be no differece.

 

[Mart]

Hey Vader, Take a valium, were all friends in here remember...

I agree with vaders analogy, however I for one have never had my vette into the 5000 rpm range, it bogs before that.

The L98 has always been known for TORQUE not HP, having said that why not add a little more torque and kisk SH-- out of those WRX's off the line then walk away. I know they get plenty PO'd when I do just that


nuff said.

Let all have a beer and remember were all on the same side here :bar