It seems everyone's coming out with something now, doesn't it.

Well, Wednesday I'm getting access to a CNC mill and some software, and I'll be milling out some Intake Spacers from a heat-isolating plastic. The idea is to keep ambient heat away from the UIM, hopefully producing a cooler intake charge. (Hopefully even cooler w/ the addition of a CAI, and even cooler when the intake is iced at the track [with no source of heat, the intake can only get cooler, and not heat up as badly when running down the track]).

Here's my problem. How would I test these to show a difference? I'd like to keep away from dyno testing if at all possible; as I'd have to run w/ the spacer off to get a baseline, wait for the intake to cool, and put everything back together. Another thing I'd like to avoid, is the tapping of the LIM. Being as my cars engine is blown, I'm going to have to do testing on a friends car.

So far, some of the ideas have been ¼-mile passes; my thought was to find an infrared thermometer, and measure the temprature differences between UIM and LIM. Does anyone have another idea as to how to test it out? Thanks for your help.

 

It will make a difference. How much will be determined by dyno runs and 1/4 mile times. VW used bake-alite plastic spacers since '68 on their FI cars (between the runners and the heads). Its proven technology. I would suggest an IR thermometer for anything. They come in handy for measuring EGT's, your intake temps, etc, etc. You can even use them to measure if your radiator is clogging up (cold spots for no flow, etc). Thats my next big purchase

 

Are you talking about phenolic spacers ? A friend of mine was trying to get these produced for out FCs, he even had company backing. HE needed 20 people to obligate to the purchase, and couldnt get them so it basically fell through. Here is a link to that old thread.

https://www.rx7club.com/forum/showth...d+your+support

These have been being used by the probe/MX-6 people for a while, and have been dyno tested and show a nice increase ( I belive it was ~7rwhp or so....not bad from a gasket ) How much is the estimated cost going to be for yours? I for one, would definately buy one is it was less than ~$100.

 

Yes, it sounds like good logic behind it.
Good luck/skill!

 

Rxmfn7; yeah, notice I posted in the same post as your friend.

The company backing isn't really needed, provided you have access to a CNC mill, and can handle the costs of the tooling and materials. Both of which I can do... barely.

I know this is tried and true stuff, but people are still skeptical of it. That's why I'd like to do testing; show people what they'd get for the money. So, before they're sold, I want to show SOME difference. Be it 1/4-mile times, Intake Temps, HP, whatever. But... I'm poor to boot .

Another thing before they get sold... I gotta find a way to use them w/o using a stock gasket on either side . Damned hard-assed phenolic.

 

Why not just some some Holymar or gask-a-cinch? We use it in place of obsolete gaskets and mating surfaces on "other" engines. You could even trace the pattern on some Felpro gasket material, or whatever you can buy at Napa and sell those with the spacers.

 

I think the reason it works has a lot to do with the material. My question is wouldn't this lengthen the port job and affect timing?

- Steiner

 

After looking @ other spacers, most people do just use some kind of sealant.

As-per lengthening the intake... yeah... it will... by less than a 1/4-inch.

Hopefully I'll head to the mill tomorrow, and pump out 4 or 5.