PHENOLIC SPACERS......by Outlaw Engineering

James Scott · #1 02-15-2006, 04:15 AM

Do any of you remember a few months ago when I posted a thread about my new (2 months old at that time) phenolic spacers by Outlaw Engineering...??? Well...I decided to have the mechanic put them on when reassembling my engine during head gasket job done in late August 2005. Two months after getting my SVX back..I started to get a sudden erratic idle when pulling into my garage! I looked the engine over...finding that the top gasket on the phenolic spacers had cracked (as if intake manifold bolts were over-tightened) creating unwanted airways in a couple spots ..which was allowing air to enter that was not "counted" by the MAF sensor! Hence, the erratic idle!

I contacted the mechanic, who proceeded to claim no responsibility whatsoever...even though he admitted his helper had assembled that part! At the time, I really felt bad about that...feeling that the most likely explanation was overtightening of the intake manifold bolts. Outlaw somewhat readily offered to send a new set of spacers (with attached top and bottom gaskets as the other spacers had had) although they stated they (Sean) had never heard of such a failure with their product! [I kept the engine running properly by sealing the gasket-crack leaks with black RTV.]

I installed the new spacers about one month later with no apparent problem...except I had to drain the AC refrigerant in order to get the driver's from intake manifold bolt off!

Today, I notice that the passenger side TOP gasket is now cracked AGAIN!..and leaking through a 1/16 inch crack ....WITH THE GASKET SLIDING LATERALLY ON THE PHENOLIC SPACER! I torqued the bolts as per factory manual...I think about 20 ft-lbs. [which Sean verified earlier as the correct spec.]!

HELP!

I will contact Outlaw again, but don't expect a confession...or explanation soon....

THANKS for any HELP you can give!

P.S. Please switch this to the MOD forum, if that's where it belongs...sorry!

SilverSpear · #2 02-15-2006, 04:44 AM

Hmmm, did you check if your manifold has at its bottom some sort of "blade" -ish piece of metal causing the spacer to cut in two? any pics would be most helpful...

Hocrest · #3 02-15-2006, 05:13 AM

Nikfu had posted about a similiar problem about a month or so ago... Search for his post, I forget his outcome.

SilverSpear · #4 02-15-2006, 05:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hocrest

Nikfu had posted about a similiar problem about a month or so ago... Search for his post, I forget his outcome.

He hadn't an issue with the spacers cutting at a certain point as I remember, just that the spacer is slipping from its position....

NikFu S. · #5 02-15-2006, 10:57 AM

Outcome was I needed to tighten the bolts down a bit more.

My spacers are not cracking. I'll have to take a closer look to know for sure but from what I looked at 10 minutes ago they seem to be fine.

Interestingly enough I think I'm due for a headgasket replacement as I've got steam coming from my oil filler.

oab_au · #6 02-15-2006, 03:20 PM

I never did like the idea of these on the SVX, but thats just me. I think the spacers are too thick to have gaskets on them. The Phenolic material is too soft to support the gaskets, so when the manifold is torqued down to specs. the gasket is squeezed out. I think it would be better to fit the spacers without the gaskets, just a smear of a non slippery sealant on each side of the spacer.

Harvey.