For first gen cars:

I don't know if you've heard about phenolic spacers, basically it's a plastic gasket that insulates the engine heat from the intake manifold.

It's not some ricer crap, it's dyno proven, and they've already been developed for many makes/models so far, and are in development for Miatas right now. Outlaw Engineering (the makers of these gaskets) wants to know if there's interest in these gaskets.

I think there is, especially for SCCA IT racers who can't port-match their intake manifold to their engine (they allow it on piston engines, but not on rotaries for obvious reasons). However, we CAN use any gasket we choose (I've asked an SCCA tech guy, believe me, I wouldn't be going through this if I hadn't).

Here's info on the gaskets themself:

http://www.outlawengineering.com/techframe.html

Here's a link to the peition I've created, please sign if you're an FB owner and are interested, or would like to see this developed. If you want, you can note that you would buy one. The price should be under $100 for a whole complete kit (with studs, gaskets, etc).

http://www.petitiononline.com/phenolic/petition.html

 

THAT IS AWESOME!

Please tell me where to get one for the six port 13B.

There is a plastic spacer between the upper intake manifold and throttle body on my engine . . for the same reason?

 

yeah I think it's for the same reason.

If you want one for another rotary engine you'll have to make another petition, for each part they'll have to make, they have to have interest shown.

 

*bump* please sign it if you are interested in having this sucker developed for street/race. It would probably block off the coolant flow through the intake manifold as well.

 

keep passing the word around, if you've got a buddy, we can use more signatures

 

Signed!

 

While we're on the subject of keeping the intake manifold cool, I just tried plumbing a heater duct from my right side bumper inlet to blow cool air onto my lower intake manifold, and it seemed to work. I couldn't touch the manifold without burning myself before putting the duct on, but now after a drive, the manifold is cool to the touch right where the hose is aimed. The car does not seem to get tired when heatsoaked as badly as before, either.

I think the guys with the insulated spacer are onto something. With my engine, longer sixth port actuator arms would be necessary. That is the only thing keeping me from making my own spacer, because I have a lot more than 1/2" of clearance in the engine bay for moving the manifold out.

 

They look a little thick... I suppose you could get in there with a grinder and port match them to the engine and to the manifold (doing all grinding in the gasket itself) and produce a port match effect...?

 

that's the idea