PHENOLIC or ALUMINUM intake spacer?

[96_4.6]

Just wondering which one would perform better. I did a search on here and I guess the plastic one is better because it doesnt heatsoak as much but I wanna get some facts from people higher then me. They both "advertise" the 5-10 horse and more gas mileage but whatever I think its steeda makes the aluminum one but an eariler post said one thing or somethin ahhh help, hehe

[surfbeast]

The plastic spacer performs the same as the aluminum and you can get one on E-Bay for $20.00. Why pay for the Steeda name on something as simple as a plastic spacer? Don't dream of 5-10 HP! Unless you have alot of bolt ons and a S/C and an anluminum intake ect.. But for $20.00 bucks it's fun to work on the car. While you are putting in the spacer port your upper plenum " PLEASE". You won't believe all the crap inside of them and they port out so so easy! Now your talking a few ponies.

Good luck!

[96_4.6]

Hey please explain a bit more, porting isnt hard i understand but i dont have access to powertools really could I use like a hand file, could we list the different ways of porting??????

[Red Mustang Gt 46]

Although aluminum will conduct heat, it will not break down after time, you have no idea what type of plastic X-manufacture is using.

So, save your cash. Buy a Dremel tool.

[96_4.6]

Yea I do know what kind of plastic,heres the one I'm getting, for 20 bucks its worth it to play with my car and every little bit helps and I KNOW not to listen to the ad and how much of this and that it claims but here it is

THIS SPACER IS MADE OF PHENOLIC NOT ALUMINUM. PHENOLIC IS USED BY FORD , DODGE , CHEVY , HONDA ETC!!! ON ALL OF THEIR SPACERS. THERE ARE A LOT OF SPACERS MADE OF ALUMINUM ON E-BAY THIS IS THE FIRST ONE MADE OF PHENOLIC. "L&B RACING" HAS OVER 15 YEARS EXPERIENCE AND IS PROUD TO OFFER THIS SPACER KIT. GET ONE OF THE BEST BOLT ON'S EVER DESIGNED AND THIS IS A UPGRADE THAT CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED IN LESS THEN 30 MINUTES , A PHENOLIC SPACER PREVENTS PARASITIC HEAT FROM SOAKING THE UPPER INTAKE . BY KEEPING YOUR INTAKE COOLER THE AIR TEMPERATURE CAN BE DRAMATICALLY REDUCED FOR INCRESED HORSEPOWER AND BETTER GAS MILAGE (AS MUCH AS 8%) . SPACER IS DESIGNED TO ADD 5-10 MORE HORSE POWER AND UP TO 20 HORSE POWER WITH OTHER MODIFICATIONS, GET BETTER THROTTLE RESPONSE , FASTER ET TIMES

[ac97gt]

did you ever buy this spacer? im thinking of getting one on ebay for $30.. how hard are these to install? what does installation entail? if it does anything at all for $30 its pretty much worth it isnt it? anyone? is this something you would keep even as you add better components such as an intake and heads, s/c, etc?

[blue00gt]

When you have a plastic lower intake manifold it really makes no difference what the spacer is made of.

[ac97gt]

but does make a difference with the stock? let me put it this way, will i notice ANYTHING at all by buying this piece?

[96_4.6]

I just got it in the mail and it says to install it under the throttlebody? Hmmm I was just thinking I take off the upper intake plenum and install it atop the lower take, hmm I have some reading to do I suppose.....

[ac97gt]

please be sure to let me know your results (difficulty and effect).

[blue00gt]

From the amount of power you might gain from this piece you are not going to feel a difference. 10 hp you may feel on a relatively stock-powered car with the butt-o-meter, but you are not going to feel a couple horsepower.

[96_4.6]

That spacer BLOWS, to port and polish and put that spacer in took 6 hours of my time. They give this crappy cork gasket that rips right away and I had some of the gasket on and the ripped part was hanging off and I couldnt get a normal idle so after I tryed to adjust the throttle I finally had no gasket on top of the spacer and it runs now but I will be putting a plastic or rubber gasket on asap so yea.....Oh yea I had no idea how to port and polish so I just took the port bit and just like grinded the inside of the manifold then took the pad thing and polished it (I had the kit) so I hope its ok........

[slow98]

porting the upper plenum is probably just a waste of time to tel you the truth as choked up as the heads are on the 96-98s it really wont help at all....stick some pi cams or do a headswap then worry about porting just my $0.02

[ac97gt]

regarding just the spacer, i take it its not even worth it?

[Red Mustang Gt 46]

It's neat how old tricks resurface in a different way. Back when I had my 79' Z28 (back in 1983) we were all looking for a little extra horse power. Car Craft Magazine was raving about tests regarding 3/4 inch carb spacers made out of space age materials (plastic) used in in conjunction with an aluminum heat sheild. The theory of the spacer and heat sheild was to reduce heat transfer from the manifold to the carb and thus reduce gas temps, it also added a little air volume for a better mix. I tried it on my 406 small block and it did solve my problem with vapor lock and I did feel a tad bit of power. Keep in mind that my 406 was sporting a Holley 750 double pumper and 406 cubic inches. For a carbed motor it would be worth it.

In theory, for the way the 4.6 is set up (fuel injection) and only sporting 281 cubic inches, I would say no. But there is nothing wrong with trying it anyhow...

Old timers, correct me if I'm wrong.

(btw, carb spacers had been around for years prior to my experience)

[96_4.6]

I'm a little scared though, it came with a cheap cork gasket thats supposed to go on top of the new intake spacer for proper sealing but it was so crappy that it ripped while putting it on so now i dont have that gasket that goes on top of the new spacer and i'm scared down the road if the spacer warps alittle i wont get a proper sealing and the cars just gonna crap out. I went to murrys and they said its 60 bucks i was like f u.