Carb spacer, please give me the low down
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 1999
Posts: 6,621
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Car: 91 Red Sled
Axle/Gears: 10bolt Richmond 3.73 Torsen
Carb spacer, please give me the low down
I'm planning on a new hood anyways so this is very likely in the future if somebody can tell me what they do exactly. I've heard that they give you better gas milage, I've also heard that they give you more low end.
I'm using TBI and right now I have a 1" adaptor/spacer plate on a square bore edelbrock RPM vortec intake. This is on a 330hp flat tap cam engine. The Holley is ~670cfm and I'm curious about getting another spacer. I need an extra vacuum fitting and a lot of the spacers I'm looking at have a boss. They are also really cheap.
So what are they suposed to do?
------------------
, Jon (350 TBI!)
91 Red My website
I'm using TBI and right now I have a 1" adaptor/spacer plate on a square bore edelbrock RPM vortec intake. This is on a 330hp flat tap cam engine. The Holley is ~670cfm and I'm curious about getting another spacer. I need an extra vacuum fitting and a lot of the spacers I'm looking at have a boss. They are also really cheap.
So what are they suposed to do?
------------------
, Jon (350 TBI!)
91 Red My website
#2
Moderator
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: 51°N 114°W, 3500'
Posts: 17,108
Likes: 0
Received 120 Likes
on
101 Posts
Car: 87 IROC L98
Engine: 588 Alcohol BBC
Transmission: Powerglide
Axle/Gears: Ford 9"/31 spline spool/4.86
Carb spacers are tuning aids. Using either a 4 hole or an open spacer will give different results depending on the engine. Spacer thickness does the same. The only way to really know what works best is to try different ones. There was an article in a car mag last fall on carb spacers. I'll see if I can dig it up later.
#3
TGO Supporter
open spacer give HP 4 hole give more torque. the main thing to me is the keep heat away from the carb or tbi. only thing to watch for is clearance with the hood.
------------------
ICON Motorsports
1st & 3rd
MM Black Diamond 538 F&AM
------------------
ICON Motorsports
1st & 3rd
MM Black Diamond 538 F&AM
#4
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 1999
Posts: 6,621
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Car: 91 Red Sled
Axle/Gears: 10bolt Richmond 3.73 Torsen
Please dig up the article, I'd really like to hear what it has to say. Ede, I have a holley adaptor plate where the 2" 2 barrel TB sits forward on the plate (because butterfly's direct air to the rear of the engine). Would a 4 hole still make more torqueor is that only for a 4 barrel carb (thats what I'm thinking). And if the larger spacer makes more power, why don't I see more people using them. About hood clearance, I plan on getting a new hood anyways.
------------------
, Jon (350 TBI!)
91 Red My website
------------------
, Jon (350 TBI!)
91 Red My website
#5
Supreme Member
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: USA
Posts: 4,969
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: yy wife, crazy.
Engine: 350, Vortecs, 650DP
Transmission: TH-350
Axle/Gears: 8.5", 3.42
I've read that if you use spacers, it's a touchy subject. The right height can help, but the wrong one will hinder. Trial and error is the only way to find out. It all revolves around cam, intake, heads, etc.
But you are right about a 4 hole not working on a TBI. An open spacer MIGHT work. Usually the intake companies set their's up so you don't have to use one, as long as u use the right intake for your setup. Your spacer is neccesary for the adapter part, right? Well there isn't anyway to get rid of it unless you go with a carb or TBI intake. I think the main reason a 4 hole is used is so that guys with a single plane intake can run a little better on the street. Like ede said, they give you more low end torque. If you have a dual plane, an open spacer might help a little in upper RPMs, but hinders what happens down low. Kinda defeats the purpose of a dual plane intake. That's pretty much what they said on HorsePowerTV too.
But you are right about a 4 hole not working on a TBI. An open spacer MIGHT work. Usually the intake companies set their's up so you don't have to use one, as long as u use the right intake for your setup. Your spacer is neccesary for the adapter part, right? Well there isn't anyway to get rid of it unless you go with a carb or TBI intake. I think the main reason a 4 hole is used is so that guys with a single plane intake can run a little better on the street. Like ede said, they give you more low end torque. If you have a dual plane, an open spacer might help a little in upper RPMs, but hinders what happens down low. Kinda defeats the purpose of a dual plane intake. That's pretty much what they said on HorsePowerTV too.
#6
Supreme Member
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Dixon, IL
Posts: 1,818
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: RS
Engine: 305
Transmission: 4L60
Axle/Gears: 3.42
hey jon 350 tbi,
I'm here to save the day (you were kind enough to reply to some of my posts), I have the mag in front of me right now. Car Craft March 2001. pages 42-45.
------------------
late model 91 rs
fully loaded t-tops
red leather
paint- gm red and yellow blend (light red)
custom pink rims
305 tbi k&n,computer chip
MTX sub and amp (very loud)
vic_v8@yahoo.com
I'm here to save the day (you were kind enough to reply to some of my posts), I have the mag in front of me right now. Car Craft March 2001. pages 42-45.
------------------
late model 91 rs
fully loaded t-tops
red leather
paint- gm red and yellow blend (light red)
custom pink rims
305 tbi k&n,computer chip
MTX sub and amp (very loud)
vic_v8@yahoo.com
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 1999
Location: columbia, sc
Posts: 655
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I have the article too. They compared open spacers, ones with one divider in it, and ones with 4 holes, one for each barrel(obviously). Some that looked like they wouldnt help at all, actually helped alot. I think the biggest gain was like either 10 or 15 hp, with a very minimal gain in torque, but some lost like 5lbs while raising the hp level. Like stephen said, its a tuning aid, im sure diff. ones are better for each application
------------------
------------------
- 83 Z28--ttops, 200k miles--very ragged out. sold, thank goodness
- 74 Z28--slightly modded 383, TH400 tranny, not too quick but fun to drive
Trending Topics
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Mpls, MN USA
Posts: 931
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: 88 Camaro
Engine: 427 BBC
Transmission: T400
When I dynoed my motor, I made pulls without a spacer, with a 4 hole and with an open. On my combination, it made no difference. I do run a 4 hole though just to keep the carb cooler.
Miles
------------------
88 427 Camaro
12.18 @ 113mph 1.75 60ft
Currently installing 3.73's into my 9 bolt (YES,it is a 9 bolt & YES they are 3.73's, not 3.70. 4.11's to follow soon )
www.koolmeister.com
Miles
------------------
88 427 Camaro
12.18 @ 113mph 1.75 60ft
Currently installing 3.73's into my 9 bolt (YES,it is a 9 bolt & YES they are 3.73's, not 3.70. 4.11's to follow soon )
www.koolmeister.com
#9
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 1999
Posts: 6,621
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Car: 91 Red Sled
Axle/Gears: 10bolt Richmond 3.73 Torsen
Okay, so I guess it's nothing but a tuning aid and even then very minimal. I would think it would help with torque down low since in theory you're adding length to the runners. I guess it's just best to isolate the heat if anything.
------------------
, Jon (350 TBI!)
91 Red My website
------------------
, Jon (350 TBI!)
91 Red My website
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 1999
Location: This spot right here --->*
Posts: 950
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: 2002 SOM z28
Engine: LS1
Transmission: T-56
And so you learn a valuable lesson Grasshopper! Next you will come to understand the technique of Jacking it up like a Mother...
------------------
1984 z28 w/ a 357 cu in. monster engine which is looking like the posterchild for Edelbrock with the exception of the Holley 750vac... all the suspension stuff... 9-bolt posi disk is in...
-=ICON Motorsports=-
------------------
1984 z28 w/ a 357 cu in. monster engine which is looking like the posterchild for Edelbrock with the exception of the Holley 750vac... all the suspension stuff... 9-bolt posi disk is in...
-=ICON Motorsports=-
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
ambainb
Camaros for Sale
11
04-25-2016 09:21 PM
kah992
Engine/Drivetrain/Suspension Parts for Sale
2
08-19-2015 02:55 PM
GVMV
Engine/Drivetrain/Suspension Wanted
1
08-16-2015 08:01 PM