Do throttle body spacers work?
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From: Franklin, TN
Do throttle body spacers work? Non-fbody related question here, i have a Vortec 350 in my chevy tahoe and saw reviews on around a 1" TB spacer that were pretty positive towards its performance. Do these things really work or are they like the "smooth bellow" mod? Thanks!
they're more like the smooth bellow mod for ls1 cars but im sure it should help since its helping the airflow straighten up and increase in speed and volume alittle bit. But obviously you wont see 25hp gains just small ones. Hopefully someone thats has used this in a similar application will chime in
I picked one up for $20 and it is thick aluminum with fins on it. Cant really tell if it adds power but im sure it might help with the gas milage or something. Or i could be wrong and it dosent do ****. I was thinking of using mine and convert it to a nitrous plate or something.
If you get it for free...then it isn't that bad. I used to work for a speed shop that sold them like hot-cakes. I would tell people that they would be better off getting something else or buying it online. those Helix towers and Power Aid things are a huge rip.
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From: England
Originally Posted by FSUNole17
Non-fbody related question here, i have a Vortec 350 in my chevy tahoe and saw reviews on around a 1" TB spacer that were pretty positive towards its performance. Do these things really work or are they like the "smooth bellow" mod? Thanks!
Honestly I can't really fathom the physics behind TB spacers? I mean what does it do, it just locates the TB further from the intake manifold and if anything will reduce air flow velocity as it enters the intake. As the air has now had to travel futher from the TB but with only the same amount of energy to propel it.
As for straighting out the air flow, bull. Look at a Formula 1 car, it has a large sccop on the top of the engine cover with a near 90 degree turn on it.
On a carb engine I can see the benfits because fuel is being added at the same time, but that simply isn't the case with EFI.
And besides if it did promote HP I can't see it actually being noticable from the drivers seat.
Plus if having the TB further away from the intake manifold is a good idea for both HP and mpg why do you never see it on ANY production car.
I mean the Fbody is an idea candidate. You could have the TB mounted in the air box with a filter infront of it and a long spacer all the way back to the intake manifold. But you don't, because it's totally pointless.
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I put one on my 95 GMC, I know it is not a vortec, it was a tbi unit. But it did help out alot. I could notice the difference right away. As far as the vortec engines go I would have no idea on how they would work.
. I have a 96 vortec 350 silverado and tried a friends tb spacer for about a week. No difference what so ever. I installed some exhaust manifold spacers last week. Totally felt the difference, picked up at least eleventy horsepowers. Yesterday they melted and sealed up the exhaust ports on my heads, and the top of the heads blew out, shooting both valve covers through my hood. 
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From: England
Originally Posted by crazylane
I put one on my 95 GMC, I know it is not a vortec, it was a tbi unit. But it did help out alot. I could notice the difference right away. As far as the vortec engines go I would have no idea on how they would work.
