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General Forums => The Mess Hall => Topic started by: colorado_jeeper on February 16, 2010, 03:02:30 PM

Title: Does a Throttle body spacer really do much?
Post by: colorado_jeeper on February 16, 2010, 03:02:30 PM
The reason i ask is because i just put on a 4.0 TB and took off the spacer i had on. I have a CAI already, so there is more airflow there, and now with the bigger TB is a spacer going to be a noticeable difference in performance?
Title: Re: Does a Throttle body spacer really do much?
Post by: Jeffy on February 16, 2010, 04:07:57 PM
Yes, it lowers the power band which will give you more usable torque.
Title: Re: Does a Throttle body spacer really do much?
Post by: colorado_jeeper on February 16, 2010, 07:01:06 PM
Ok, thanks. Follow-up question, Does the helix design on the inside of the spacer make a difference?
Title: Re: Does a Throttle body spacer really do much?
Post by: Jeffy on February 16, 2010, 07:30:32 PM
Ok, thanks. Follow-up question, Does the helix design on the inside of the spacer make a difference?
Not sure but that's what I have.  I haven't bothered to hone out the intake, TBS or stock TB.  I would imagine that it would help but it's more like fine tuning then anything else.  More then likely, it will allow the engine to breath better when WOT or even 3/4 and you'll be able to break 4000RPM's without trouble although I can do that now with some different tuning.
Title: Re: Does a Throttle body spacer really do much?
Post by: oldjeep on February 17, 2010, 06:30:15 AM
There's a thread on here somewhere about a guy who did actual dyno runs, and I believe that his best results came when he had bored the helix out of the spacer
Title: Re: Does a Throttle body spacer really do much?
Post by: oldjeep on February 17, 2010, 07:02:06 AM
There's a thread on here somewhere about a guy who did actual dyno runs, and I believe that his best results came when he had bored the helix out of the spacer

Here's the thread
http://4bangerjp.com/forums/index.php/topic,424.0.html
Title: Re: Does a Throttle body spacer really do much?
Post by: Bounty Hunter on February 19, 2010, 10:33:30 AM
I think the helix is too tight and the airflow too great for the helix to offer any benefit.  Seems more like a gimmick to me.
Title: Re: Does a Throttle body spacer really do much?
Post by: jfrabat on February 19, 2010, 04:11:58 PM
Ideally, you would want laminar airflow (this means no turbulence at all) to go straight into the cylinder.  This would mean a polished surface with very few and slight bends, but considering the intake manifold, this is impossible.  As for the vortex inducing TBS, I have yet to see one that really works, but at least the he helix ones (I have one on because I could not find one without it) do not block the flow of air as the tornado ones do...
Title: Re: Does a Throttle body spacer really do much?
Post by: dwtaylorpdx on February 19, 2010, 10:55:04 PM
Numerous folks with dyno time to burn have proven there is no real gain or loss to teh ones with or without some grooves...

Racers try everything and nobody swears by the helix style ones...

Most nascar heads do not have polished intakes only exhaust, they even machine micro grooves to stop laminar adhesion to the intake runner.
Sometimes course bead blasting is used as well.

Dave
Title: Re: Does a Throttle body spacer really do much?
Post by: mjmudd on November 17, 2010, 07:18:55 AM
I am actually looking for a little more top end speed to make highway driving a little easier not so much low end torque.  So will adding a 4.0 TB and helix spacer to my 2.5 make much difference in the top end or driveability in 5th gear?

Mike
Title: Re: Does a Throttle body spacer really do much?
Post by: knotts89 on November 17, 2010, 07:38:54 AM
i put the spacer on first and their was a little difference but u can really tell after the 4.0 tb i feel like it helped mine on all around but really gears were the only thing that made it alot better on the hwy
Title: Re: Does a Throttle body spacer really do much?
Post by: Bounty Hunter on November 18, 2010, 12:07:32 AM
I am actually looking for a little more top end speed to make highway driving a little easier not so much low end torque.  So will adding a 4.0 TB and helix spacer to my 2.5 make much difference in the top end or driveability in 5th gear?

Mike
I wouldn't worry about the helix bore, it doesn't do anything.  The air is moving too fast for it to be beneficial.

I'd recommend using a 62mm throttle body and matching spacer, as well as grinding the intake manifold opening to 62mm.
Title: Re: Does a Throttle body spacer really do much?
Post by: mjmudd on November 18, 2010, 06:19:33 AM
Now if I am letting that much more air into the engine, don't I need to open up the exhaust as well?  Although the exhaust looks relatively new, it appears to be same as stock.  Is there a way to open that up cost effectively?  I don't really want/need to change the sound or buy an expensive cat-back system, just want to maximize the mod I am doing...

Thanks,
Title: Re: Does a Throttle body spacer really do much?
Post by: jfrabat on November 18, 2010, 06:26:03 PM
If you take out some of the restrictions via a high flow cat and cat back, you shoul dbe just fine...  You can, though, go for larger injectors later on...
Title: Re: Does a Throttle body spacer really do much?
Post by: dwtaylorpdx on November 20, 2010, 03:24:54 PM
The stock exhaust is not too bad really, I think you'd need a cam to really need the extra exhaust.

Youd notice more taking the back seat out and the spare tire off...

Dave
Title: Re: Does a Throttle body spacer really do much?
Post by: RT on February 17, 2011, 12:09:10 AM
can you make your own spacer? what would a good material be to do so.
Title: Re: Does a Throttle body spacer really do much?
Post by: sharpxmen on February 17, 2011, 01:03:17 AM
can you make your own spacer? what would a good material be to do so.

yes you can, not sure how good will turn up though. You can get very nice finish with a good drill press and a boring head.

stainless :lol:

...aluminum and nothing else (there's really no other option, i mean you could make it out of steel but I don't see the point not to mention being more challenging to machine it)

but now the question is why would you go thru the trouble to save $25 - the raw material for the spacer will cost you something like $12 or so.
Title: Re: Does a Throttle body spacer really do much?
Post by: cz777 on February 17, 2011, 08:44:19 PM
Ideally, you would want laminar airflow (this means no turbulence at all) to go straight into the cylinder.  This would mean a polished surface with very few and slight bends, but considering the intake manifold, this is impossible.  As for the vortex inducing TBS, I have yet to see one that really works, but at least the he helix ones (I have one on because I could not find one without it) do not block the flow of air as the tornado ones do...
well this is very true ! this is why i did the MPI manifold to the TBI system -you look at the TBI manifold V__O__V ...the ""V""s feed two cylinders at one time and the straight lines feed the v runners ..talk about  turbulence ! i did make the adapter shape like a upside down funnel /   \ 1 3/4 ''at top 2 1/4 ....   
Title: Re: Does a Throttle body spacer really do much?
Post by: Jeffy on February 21, 2011, 10:30:14 PM
yes you can, not sure how good will turn up though. You can get very nice finish with a good drill press and a boring head.

stainless :lol:

...aluminum and nothing else (there's really no other option, i mean you could make it out of steel but I don't see the point not to mention being more challenging to machine it)

but now the question is why would you go thru the trouble to save $25 - the raw material for the spacer will cost you something like $12 or so.
In the old day's they used to make them out of wood.  I don't think I'd use wood though.  Maybe something like delrin plastic would work.
Title: Re: Does a Throttle body spacer really do much?
Post by: sharpxmen on February 21, 2011, 10:48:23 PM
In the old day's they used to make them out of wood.  I don't think I'd use wood though.  Maybe something like delrin plastic would work.

not plastic, would warp in time, bakelite or maybe delrin too and teflon if you want to be expensive. I thought part of the whole deal with the spacer was to be made of AL (can't remember but i think i read that somewhere in the past).
Title: Re: Does a Throttle body spacer really do much?
Post by: Jeffy on February 22, 2011, 10:25:19 AM
not plastic, would warp in time, bakelite or maybe delrin too and teflon if you want to be expensive. I thought part of the whole deal with the spacer was to be made of AL (can't remember but i think i read that somewhere in the past).
This isn't your toy grade plastic.  There are many different types of plastics out there.  Delrin is supposed to have a working temp of 160-180* F.  Never checked the temp at the TB but I doubt it's anywhere near that.  If you wanting to go expensive then it would probably be Vespel, Torlon, Fluorosint, Peak, etc...  They can handle continuous temps of 500* F or more.  Ultem is only 350* F.  Celazole is probably the king at 500-750*F.  The advantage of plastics is that they can be milled like AL but without the need for tools that cut metal.  The Aerospace industry has been using these plastics for years.  Supposedly used in the semiconductor industry as well.

I don't see any reason why the spacer has to be AL.  Al's probably cheaper which is why it's common.  An AL spacer will soak in heat from the engine, that's about it.
Title: Re: Does a Throttle body spacer really do much?
Post by: Bounty Hunter on February 22, 2011, 08:55:11 PM
My 62mm spacers are aluminum.  It's inexpensive and easy to machine.  And since Jeffy mentioned the aerospace industry using high-zoot plastic, the machinist that machines my 62mm throttle bodies and spacers does a lot of work for Boeing and it's all done with aluminum.
Title: Re: Does a Throttle body spacer really do much?
Post by: Txmooseman on March 10, 2011, 03:40:36 AM
I recently installed one of Bounty Hunter's 62mm TB & spacers and it's made a significant difference in my 2.5's performance. No more "lurching" on take-off, better acceleration (especially in the 3-4K rpm band), and I can shift into 5th at lower rpms. I can also stay in 5th on small hills where I previously had to downshift. I couldn't be happier.
Title: Re: Does a Throttle body spacer really do much?
Post by: jfrabat on March 10, 2011, 06:41:22 AM
This isn't your toy grade plastic.  There are many different types of plastics out there.  Delrin is supposed to have a working temp of 160-180* F.  Never checked the temp at the TB but I doubt it's anywhere near that.  If you wanting to go expensive then it would probably be Vespel, Torlon, Fluorosint, Peak, etc...  They can handle continuous temps of 500* F or more.  Ultem is only 350* F.  Celazole is probably the king at 500-750*F.  The advantage of plastics is that they can be milled like AL but without the need for tools that cut metal.  The Aerospace industry has been using these plastics for years.  Supposedly used in the semiconductor industry as well.

I don't see any reason why the spacer has to be AL.  Al's probably cheaper which is why it's common.  An AL spacer will soak in heat from the engine, that's about it.

Delrin is hard as nails, and whill take temp abuse, but it is difficult to machine because the plastic keeps wraping around the bit and sometimes it breaks it.  I machined a spring guide for a 1000 fps air rifle, and it was not so easy.  Also, delrin is VERY slick; it actually feels as if it had oil in it, which means you better tighten it good or it will work itself loose.