Intake Manifold Spacer - Ford Explorer Ranger Enthusiasts "Serious Explorations"®

*Spdrcer34* · 07-29-2007, 01:08 AM

...okay....

We've all heard for years that the Throttle Body Spacers don't work. They don't add enough volume to the intake manifold to make a difference. We know this.

We've ALSO heard over for years that the Intake Manifold Spacer on the 5.0L V8 DOES work....

I am making a 1/2" spacer to go inbetween the Upper and Lower intake Manifolds.

What, if any gains do guys think I'll see?

Thanks,
Ryan

*Spdrcer34* · 07-29-2007, 10:11 PM

NOTHING?

Are you guys understanding what I'm doing here?

Ryan

**Turdle** · 07-29-2007, 10:15 PM

What are you making this out of?

pictures please?

**Turdle** · 07-29-2007, 10:52 PM

Hopefully you are making it with an insulating type material, like phenolic resin laminate-

shamaal · 07-29-2007, 10:54 PM

You have the 4.0 OHV engine. Were you planning on putting the spacer on top of the fuel rail or under it? The existing gaskets are siliconized cardboard, I don't believe there is much heat transfer between them so your goal is the extra volume?

A reasonable discussion for the 4.0 SOHC can be found at:
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/...old+spacer+ohv

The consensus was not much value predicted.

*Spdrcer34* · 07-30-2007, 02:25 AM

The spacer has to go ON TOP of the rail assy, below the upper intake. It can't go BELOW the `rail....think about it!

The SOHC is a VERY efficient design.....but I'm talking about a OHV.

I am making it out of a sheet of 1/2" Phenolic.

Maybe I can make a Nitrous Plate similar to this one...but for the 4.0L OHV!

(kidding)

quicklook2 · 07-30-2007, 11:18 AM

i am just not sure you will see any benefit from doing this.

*Spdrcer34* · 11-04-2007, 12:45 AM

As some of you may have read in my other threads I made one out of a spare fuel rail....I don't know if anyone has done this before.

Has anyone tried this before on the 4.0L?...I know it works on the 5.0L.

I haven't installed it yet....but what do you think of it:

What type of gains do you suppose I will get with this? I will make on out of Phenolic next, now that I have a good pattern to cut it from.

Ryan

**JDraper** · 11-04-2007, 09:18 AM

Whoops, didn't see this the first time around. I put one in on my Mach 1, and we dyno'd before and after. You most likely won't see any gains in either the max hp or max torque #'s, but what they really do is fatten the torque curve. The make the intake runners slightly longer, which helps the low end torque. When we installed the intake manifold spacer in my Mach, I crossed the 300 ft-lb level 600 rpms earlier than I did without the spacer, and it didn't affect the top end, so it effectively expanded my power band.

Many of the Mach 1 owners run them. I got mine from Paul's High Performance . His are made of aluminum, but there are other vendors now making them out of phenolic to help with keeping upper intake temperature down.

On the PHP website, they claim 4-8 hp increase, but the Mach 1 owners that have installed them have, in general, found that the peak increases are nil, it's the low end torque that it helps, especially if you have installed a cat-back that is less restrictive.

*Spdrcer34* · 11-04-2007, 09:09 PM

Cool...thanks!

Ryan

*Spdrcer34* · 05-22-2008, 11:29 PM

UPDATE:

Ryan

*seth247* · 05-23-2008, 09:59 PM

if you feel gains I would be interested in buying one.

*Spdrcer34* · 05-24-2008, 01:52 AM

After a commute to work, and back I can honestly say there is a bit more power sooner. I haven't taken the motor past 3500 yet, but I was able to break the tires loose in my N-1, 1-2 & 2-3, and at my previous 'normal' shift point of 2300-2500....on the way home I found that if I shift @ 1900-2100 I accelerate normally, with no bog...

I have 285/50-18's in the rear...so I have a bit more rubber back there than most any other 1st gen...

I am not selling these yet....I may do it later......

Ryan

Beetle Bailey · 05-24-2008, 03:40 AM

JDraper hit the nail right on the head. By raising the plenum you lengthen the runners. Therefore you are going to make better torque. But at the same time you should see a mild gain in economy. If you can keep your foot off the pedal. LOL Bailey.

*Spdrcer34* · 05-25-2008, 10:15 PM

Yeah right....I can't keep my foot out of it....

I am going to try to go 1 tank with shifting @ a lower RPM, and see what mileage I could get...

Previously I was shifting @ 2500 for best economy....but I think I can lower that a little..before when I tried my 3-4 shift, it would bog @ less than 2200....I think I can try to shift @ 2100-2300..we'll see...

Ryan

91exploreron37 · 05-26-2008, 01:22 PM

What did everything cost completed? Would you be interested in making a few more? I'd be interested in buying one for sure.

*Blacksheep Josh* · 05-26-2008, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 91exploreron37

What did everything cost completed? Would you be interested in making a few more? I'd be interested in buying one for sure.

seconded.

*Spdrcer34* · 06-20-2008, 01:13 AM

I have something in the works for getting these made...

Nobody say anything that is involved in this process....I am trying to keep costs down.

Ryan

**410Fortune** · 06-20-2008, 11:31 AM

I had one on my old 2.9L and it works! The metal upper intake would barely get warm, it used to get so hot you could cook breakfast!

On the OHV 4.0L only those with metal upper intakes are going to see any gains...

I believe a colder intake charge (and the price of metal) is why all manufacturers eventually went to plastic upper plenums.

I have a 1" FMS spacer on my 5.0L and I love it.

Good work on your 4.0L, pretty simple upgrade and should work well in dropping the intake air tempature slightly.

Remember you are only as good as your smallest bottleneck

*Spdrcer34* · 06-20-2008, 01:06 PM

410....If you'll notice, the first one I made and installed on my personal vehicle is made from Aluminum.....I noticed a HUGE improvement....

I'd like to see if I can get more improvement with a Phenolic one...We'll see

Ryan

07-29-2007, 01:08 AM	#1
Spdrcer34 Trixi & Speed Bremerton, WA Hers:`93 XLT His `92 XL Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 2,699 Vehicle Specs	Intake Manifold Spacer ...okay.... We've all heard for years that the Throttle Body Spacers don't work. They don't add enough volume to the intake manifold to make a difference. We know this. We've ALSO heard over for years that the Intake Manifold Spacer on the 5.0L V8 DOES work.... I am making a 1/2" spacer to go inbetween the Upper and Lower intake Manifolds. What, if any gains do guys think I'll see? Thanks, Ryan __________________ 1992 White Ford Explorer XL 1993 Green Ford Explorer XLT 1992 Red Mazda Navajo XL

07-29-2007, 10:11 PM	#2
Spdrcer34 Trixi & Speed Bremerton, WA Hers:`93 XLT His `92 XL Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 2,699 Vehicle Specs	NOTHING? Are you guys understanding what I'm doing here? Ryan __________________ 1992 White Ford Explorer XL 1993 Green Ford Explorer XLT 1992 Red Mazda Navajo XL

07-29-2007, 10:15 PM	#3
Turdle Topless in winter Humboldt, KS 1998 Mountaineer MX4 O/R Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 17,424 Vehicle Specs	What are you making this out of? pictures please? __________________ "I set my standards low, so I am not easily disappointed" 98 MX4 OFF ROADFOR SALE 93 with sky light Explorerforum license frames here

07-29-2007, 10:52 PM	#4
Turdle Topless in winter Humboldt, KS 1998 Mountaineer MX4 O/R Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 17,424 Vehicle Specs	Hopefully you are making it with an insulating type material, like phenolic resin laminate- __________________ "I set my standards low, so I am not easily disappointed" 98 MX4 OFF ROADFOR SALE 93 with sky light Explorerforum license frames here

07-30-2007, 02:25 AM	#6
Spdrcer34 Trixi & Speed Bremerton, WA Hers:`93 XLT His `92 XL Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 2,699 Vehicle Specs	The spacer has to go ON TOP of the rail assy, below the upper intake. It can't go BELOW the `rail....think about it! The SOHC is a VERY efficient design.....but I'm talking about a OHV. I am making it out of a sheet of 1/2" Phenolic. Maybe I can make a Nitrous Plate similar to this one...but for the 4.0L OHV! (kidding) __________________ 1992 White Ford Explorer XL 1993 Green Ford Explorer XLT 1992 Red Mazda Navajo XL

07-29-2007, 10:54 PM	#5
shamaal Wannabe Elite Explorer Friensdwood, Texas 91 Mazda Navajo Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 1,307 Vehicle Specs	You have the 4.0 OHV engine. Were you planning on putting the spacer on top of the fuel rail or under it? The existing gaskets are siliconized cardboard, I don't believe there is much heat transfer between them so your goal is the extra volume? A reasonable discussion for the 4.0 SOHC can be found at: http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/...old+spacer+ohv The consensus was not much value predicted.

07-30-2007, 11:18 AM	#7
quicklook2 Wannabe Elite Explorer lakewood, ohio 1994 exp 4X4 eddie bauer Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 238 Vehicle Specs	i am just not sure you will see any benefit from doing this.

11-04-2007, 12:45 AM	#8
Spdrcer34 Trixi & Speed Bremerton, WA Hers:`93 XLT His `92 XL Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 2,699 Vehicle Specs	As some of you may have read in my other threads I made one out of a spare fuel rail....I don't know if anyone has done this before. Has anyone tried this before on the 4.0L?...I know it works on the 5.0L. I haven't installed it yet....but what do you think of it: What type of gains do you suppose I will get with this? I will make on out of Phenolic next, now that I have a good pattern to cut it from. Ryan __________________ 1992 White Ford Explorer XL 1993 Green Ford Explorer XLT 1992 Red Mazda Navajo XL

11-04-2007, 09:18 AM	#9
JDraper Stumblin' & Bumblin' McVeytown, PA '05 SCrew Join Date: Jan 2001 Posts: 12,127 Vehicle Specs	Whoops, didn't see this the first time around. I put one in on my Mach 1, and we dyno'd before and after. You most likely won't see any gains in either the max hp or max torque #'s, but what they really do is fatten the torque curve. The make the intake runners slightly longer, which helps the low end torque. When we installed the intake manifold spacer in my Mach, I crossed the 300 ft-lb level 600 rpms earlier than I did without the spacer, and it didn't affect the top end, so it effectively expanded my power band. Many of the Mach 1 owners run them. I got mine from Paul's High Performance . His are made of aluminum, but there are other vendors now making them out of phenolic to help with keeping upper intake temperature down. On the PHP website, they claim 4-8 hp increase, but the Mach 1 owners that have installed them have, in general, found that the peak increases are nil, it's the low end torque that it helps, especially if you have installed a cat-back that is less restrictive. __________________ Moderator..Home Improvement/Explorer 911 You took my breath away....and now I want it back.... '66 Mustang Coupe, '04 Mustang Mach 1, '05 F-150 Lariat SCrew, '08 Focus "Ex"plorer's: '92 Sport, '94 Sport, '01 XLS Our Crappy Website

11-04-2007, 09:09 PM	#10
Spdrcer34 Trixi & Speed Bremerton, WA Hers:`93 XLT His `92 XL Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 2,699 Vehicle Specs	Cool...thanks! Ryan __________________ 1992 White Ford Explorer XL 1993 Green Ford Explorer XLT 1992 Red Mazda Navajo XL

05-22-2008, 11:29 PM	#11
Spdrcer34 Trixi & Speed Bremerton, WA Hers:`93 XLT His `92 XL Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 2,699 Vehicle Specs	UPDATE: Ryan __________________ 1992 White Ford Explorer XL 1993 Green Ford Explorer XLT 1992 Red Mazda Navajo XL

05-23-2008, 09:59 PM	#12
seth247 Elite Explorer Tulsa, Oklahoma '92 XLT 4X4 Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 1,928 Vehicle Specs	if you feel gains I would be interested in buying one. __________________ -Matt Forest Green'92 XLT 4X4 302/4R70W To all those in uniform, past and present. Thank You.

05-24-2008, 01:52 AM	#13
Spdrcer34 Trixi & Speed Bremerton, WA Hers:`93 XLT His `92 XL Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 2,699 Vehicle Specs	After a commute to work, and back I can honestly say there is a bit more power sooner. I haven't taken the motor past 3500 yet, but I was able to break the tires loose in my N-1, 1-2 & 2-3, and at my previous 'normal' shift point of 2300-2500....on the way home I found that if I shift @ 1900-2100 I accelerate normally, with no bog... I have 285/50-18's in the rear...so I have a bit more rubber back there than most any other 1st gen... I am not selling these yet....I may do it later...... Ryan __________________ 1992 White Ford Explorer XL 1993 Green Ford Explorer XLT 1992 Red Mazda Navajo XL

05-24-2008, 03:40 AM	#14
Beetle Bailey Wannabe Elite Explorer Harrah Oklahoma 91'XLT and 93'XLT Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 8 Vehicle Specs	JDraper hit the nail right on the head. By raising the plenum you lengthen the runners. Therefore you are going to make better torque. But at the same time you should see a mild gain in economy. If you can keep your foot off the pedal. LOL Bailey.

05-25-2008, 10:15 PM	#15
Spdrcer34 Trixi & Speed Bremerton, WA Hers:`93 XLT His `92 XL Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 2,699 Vehicle Specs	Yeah right....I can't keep my foot out of it.... I am going to try to go 1 tank with shifting @ a lower RPM, and see what mileage I could get... Previously I was shifting @ 2500 for best economy....but I think I can lower that a little..before when I tried my 3-4 shift, it would bog @ less than 2200....I think I can try to shift @ 2100-2300..we'll see... Ryan __________________ 1992 White Ford Explorer XL 1993 Green Ford Explorer XLT 1992 Red Mazda Navajo XL

05-26-2008, 01:22 PM	#16
91exploreron37 Wannabe Elite Explorer Bartlett Tn 91 Eddie Bauer Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 1,655 Vehicle Specs	What did everything cost completed? Would you be interested in making a few more? I'd be interested in buying one for sure. __________________ 91 Eddie Bunch 'O' Mods- 35's, winch, gears, blah blah www.southernxplorer.com

06-20-2008, 01:13 AM	#18
Spdrcer34 Trixi & Speed Bremerton, WA Hers:`93 XLT His `92 XL Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 2,699 Vehicle Specs	I have something in the works for getting these made... Nobody say anything that is involved in this process....I am trying to keep costs down. Ryan __________________ 1992 White Ford Explorer XL 1993 Green Ford Explorer XLT 1992 Red Mazda Navajo XL

06-20-2008, 11:31 AM	#19
410Fortune ELITE BRONCO2ERER Crawlorado B2 Mod Join Date: Aug 2000 Posts: 21,976 Vehicle Specs	I had one on my old 2.9L and it works! The metal upper intake would barely get warm, it used to get so hot you could cook breakfast! On the OHV 4.0L only those with metal upper intakes are going to see any gains... I believe a colder intake charge (and the price of metal) is why all manufacturers eventually went to plastic upper plenums. I have a 1" FMS spacer on my 5.0L and I love it. Good work on your 4.0L, pretty simple upgrade and should work well in dropping the intake air tempature slightly. Remember you are only as good as your smallest bottleneck __________________ 96 Explorer daily driver build-1996 XLT 5.0L AWD to 4x4 conversion complete on 33's 88 BII 5.0L conversion - BII 5.0l drivetrain thread My Bronco II - 1988 Bronco II 4x4 V8 on 35's - registry and updates Wifes 07 FJ build - 2007 FJ cruiser locked and lifted

06-20-2008, 01:06 PM	#20
Spdrcer34 Trixi & Speed Bremerton, WA Hers:`93 XLT His `92 XL Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 2,699 Vehicle Specs	410....If you'll notice, the first one I made and installed on my personal vehicle is made from Aluminum.....I noticed a HUGE improvement.... I'd like to see if I can get more improvement with a Phenolic one...We'll see Ryan __________________ 1992 White Ford Explorer XL 1993 Green Ford Explorer XLT 1992 Red Mazda Navajo XL