phenolic spacers

been seeing a bit about these someone enlighten me on what these are please and what they do. im assuming they have to do with the throttle body?

[svxfiles]

They are heat barriers, about 1/4" thick that go in between the throttle body, and the intake manifold, or between the upper intake manifold, and the lower intake manifold "stacks". Also available for between the lower intake manifold "stacks", and the heads.
Outlaw Engineering makes them.
Do a search underphenolic spacers, and check my locker.
P.s. Thank you for our lockers, Chris!
http://www.subaru-svx.net/forum/show...enolic+spacers

[AFBeefcake]

They go in-between the intake manifold and the cylinder heads. 1/4" and Insulate the intake manifold from the heat of the block.

[Chiketkd]

I have them installed on my car - thanks Svxfiles!

The Kit


Installed




-Chike

yo c how thick is that one. it looks more than 1/4. is it. did u notice improvement in hrs pwr or anything. that definatly look like a good idea and would probly have a lot longer life that the normal gaskets huh?

[Chiketkd]

Originally Posted by KCROGUEDOG

yo c how thick is that one. it looks more than 1/4. is it. did u notice improvement in hrs pwr or anything. that definatly look like a good idea and would probly have a lot longer life that the normal gaskets huh?

I guess by 'c' you're referring to me? Never had anyone ever use the phrase "yo c..." when asking me a question before.

The spacers I have on my car are a 1/4" thick. I did several Winter mods (STI panel filter, magnaflow muffler and phenolic spacers) and my trap speed in the 1/4 mile rose from 89.54mph to 91.00 mph after these upgrades were done (91.00 mph trap was done on a slipping trans so could have been even higher).

The slightly longer intake tract is supposed to improve low-end torque while keeping the manifold cool. I haven't taken it to a dyno, but the car does feel stronger at low rpms...

Biggest benefit though is a cooler manifold which will keep your 1/4 mile times consistent. I was able to run two back-to-back times of 15.291 @ 91mph after installing the spacers.

For a $100 you can't go wrong with this upgrade!

-Chike

[svxfiles]

Originally Posted by KCROGUEDOG

yo c how thick is that one. it looks more than 1/4. is it. did u notice improvement in hrs pwr or anything. that definatly look like a good idea and would probly have a lot longer life that the normal gaskets huh?

I just now measured my two base phenolic spacers, and they are indeed 1/4" each, but that is not counting the thickness of the two factory gaskets.
In theory, lowering the temp of the intake manifold, from 170-180f to 105f, should noticably lower the intake air charge, and by NOT radiating heat away from the head, and by keeping the heat inside the head, it should result in more engine power.





Untill someone with the mod, runs the quater, or has a dyno run, or smokes all four, it is a relatively inexpencive upgrade, but like most, with no concrete numbers, yet.

thanks c and sf. for info and measurements. i hate to type so i get lazy. fustration sets in and anger takes control. then my head explodes

[Rotorflyr]

Originally Posted by Chiketkd

The slightly longer intake tract is supposed to improve low-end torque while keeping the manifold cool. I haven't taken it to a dyno, but the car does feel stronger at low rpms...

For a $100 you can't go wrong with this upgrade!
-Chike

Ahhh the ever popular butt-dyno!

How long did the install take? And is everything necessary with the kit or do you have to pick up extra stuff??

[Chiketkd]

Originally Posted by Rotorflyr

Ahhh the ever popular butt-dyno!

How long did the install take? And is everything necessary with the kit or do you have to pick up extra stuff??

Well my butt-dyno must not be way off as my trap speed improved by 1.5mph...

Install takes about 3 hours on a '92-'95 SVX, and about 4 hours on a '96-'97. The a/c pipe has a slight difference in design on my '96 compared to Tom's '92. As a result we had to file away at a 'lip' on the front of the intake manifold on the driver's side - on my OBDii car only...



-Chike

[PhatWeasel]

Originally Posted by Chiketkd

Well my butt-dyno must not be way off as my trap speed improved by 1.5mph...

Install takes about 3 hours on a '92-'95 SVX, and about 4 hours on a '96-'97. The a/c pipe has a slight difference in design on my '96 compared to Tom's '92. As a result we had to file away at a 'lip' on the front of the intake manifold on the driver's side - on my OBDii car only...



-Chike

My '95 had the same clearance problem with the A/C plumbing.

Update: 3 Hours on a '92 - '94, about 4 on a '95 - '97.

Last thought: The phenolic spacers mod only made a slight but noticable difference until I installed the Throttle Body bypass (included in kit). Now the engine has consistant power and doesn't seem to suffer from the heat soak problem. Time will tell though as the temperature here in Tucson is still on the rise. We will hit 90 today and my car doesn't really start to suffer until the ambient is around the 100 mark. Hopefully the spacers and bypass will help out this summer.

[Chiketkd]

Originally Posted by PhatWeasel

My '95 had the same clearance problem with the A/C plumbing.

Update: 3 Hours on a '92 - '94, about 4 on a '95 - '97.

Last thought: The phenolic spacers mod only made a slight but noticable difference until I installed the Throttle Body bypass (included in kit). Now the engine has consistant power and doesn't seem to suffer from the heat soak problem. Time will tell though as the temperature here in Tucson is still on the rise. We will hit 90 today and my car doesn't really start to suffer until the ambient is around the 100 mark. Hopefully the spacers and bypass will help out this summer.

Interesting. I wonder in which model year was the a/c plumbing changed on the SVX?

-Chike

[SVXRide]

Originally Posted by svxfiles

The proof is when someone with the mod and a freakin' supercharger smokes all four... oh, yeah...that would be me....

Tom,
Fixed your post.
-Bill

[svxfiles]

Originally Posted by SVXRide

Tom,
Fixed your post.
-Bill

[914helo]

I just ordered these from Outlaw engineering and in their e-mail they mentioned that the spacer can act like a gasket. Those that installed these, I'm assuming that you used two gaskets right? Did anybody install these with no spacers? Throttle body the same way? Thanks