Ideal

Anyone have any info a throttle body spacer, theyre only like 80 bucks, and a friend of mine who has been in the racing scene since he was like 15, he is now 60, is telling me to get a spacer, tells me it does give you some more powerl, I did a search and found people only confused on the topic, Im hoping the accord guys know....

-Jon

gringo7718

i dont know if it will "MAKE POWER". i would like to understand the physics behind this though. anyone? i just doubt the cost effectiveness of 80$ for MAYBE 1-2hp.

GimpyAccord

are you talking about Intake manifold spacers?

never heard of a TB spacer except on EGR cars where the EGR is on the TB

this would be one of those things you'd do if you were building a supah engine IMO... the gains are negligable on your mostly stock accord.

carolinaACCORD

they say that they up the velocity of the intake charge, although i dont see how.
it seems to me that if you lengthen the space the air would have to go, without decreasing the diameter, then it would slow the air down/stay the same. ? .

they also have a spiral design the induce swirl, for more precise combustion.

dont know for sure if they do any good.

GimpyAccord

Well they also have these in the Mustang and Chevy world.. aparantly the added runnerlength/spacer design promotes more of a tunnel ram effect.

edit: my shitty grammar

anyway this is one of those mod's id do if nothing was left basically heh


[Modified by GimpyAccord, 2:11 PM 10/30/2002]

Hippie

Having used carb spacers at various times on V-8's they CAN help in those applications, more as a tuning aid. Also on TBI Chevy V-6's and V-8's I have seen tests showing up to 15-20 Ft Lbs of torque and I've been wondering if the same thing applies to Honda's myself. I know lengthening an intake runner without increasing diameter will increase mixture velocity which is an important key to strong torque although in many applications it can cost you a little on the top end. I'm seriously thinking of risking the 80-90 Bucks to try it.


[Modified by Hippie, 5:54 AM 11/6/2002]

GimpyAccord

Hippie: BTW almost every IM spacer ive seen for hondas (if the car was so equiped) blocks off the EGR too... which is nice i guess.

sleeperaccordv6

Better low end torque..that just about all...

Ideal

Hm, for 80 bucks, I think im gonna get that vortex one, if it doesnt work ill sell it on ebay for like 200, hehe

Mr Ben

I know these do work on carburated cars, I had one on both of my older mustangs. But a throttle body doesn't inject gas, so I don't think the same laws of physics apply. I think you would need Fuel injector spacers . If it works, let us know.

Hippie

Throttle Body Injection DOES inject the air fuel mixture into the intake plenum. I believe you are thinking of multi port / direct port injection etc. where individual injector nozzles are used for each intake runner/port.


[Modified by Hippie, 10:47 AM 11/1/2002]

Stew Pidasso

I wouldn't waste your money on one. This mod is more for the domestic guys with V-8s and sixes...

Hippie

Tell ya' what.......... since I'm wantin' more low end for my '91 EX I'll be the Guinea Pig on this one and order a spacer this weekend. I know they make a VERY noticeable difference on V-8's. Might be a week or 2 before I put it on and can only report "seat of the pants" impressions with no numbers, but then at least we'll know. I took a gamble on the PSPEC shifter and it was worth it.........

jweller

you say low end torque like its a bad thing:confused:

Hippy - definately post up you results and impressions. I'd also be curious if this was something that instead of paying $80, it could be fabricated at home for less. I've seen some of the domestic ones made out of wood.

Hippie

I'll take low end and mid range torque over top end any day. And as soggy as Honda 4 cylinders are down low I'll try anything (almost) that will boost the low end. I was into Pontiacs years ago and got used to roasting the tires by just "looking" at the gas pedal. It takes low end torque to do that and on the street it's low end torque that gets you away from the stop light without having to rev up your motor. A perfect example of torque over horsepower was the 1970 Buick 455 Stage 1, it was the fastest production musclecar of the musclecar era yet it barely turned over 5,000 rpm and was rated far lower in HP than many of it's contemporaries. It didn't even have an aluminum high rise intake. Why was it faster than cars with more horsepower ? TORQUE. My best friend had one and I got to drive it a few times. In the vernacular of my day, "What a rush!!!" His was a 4 speed with a 4.56 posi and in a word it was BRUTAL.

If you can lay your hands on it a good material for a spacer is phenolic. It is a fiber/resin material used for an electrical insulator and comes in different thicknesses up to several inches thick. It is resistant to most oils and gasoline, is a great heat insulator and can be machined. Not the easiest stuff to find though. I'm curious as to how much the "spirals" machined into the spacers on the market for TBI actually help. it would be pretty hard to duplicate those. I'll order the spacer sometime today.

Ideal

http://www.stylinconcepts.com/parts.cfm?categoryid=27&subcategoryid=298&partfami lyid=883

RaceTilIDie

90-93 should be the same, difference is between DX,LX,EX, EX has dual runner IM, I am pretty sure the TBs are the same though.

Hippie

Thanks. That's what I was thinking, a co-worker has a '93 I'll see if I can run him down and compare the injection setup on his to my '91. His and both of mine are EX's.




[Modified by Hippie, 12:37 PM 11/4/2002]

Hippie

Went to the Mfr's. website and they list one for an F22A1 in a 92-96 Prelude "?" and the F22B1 and 2's so I will order one of those. I downloaded the instructions and compared the photos to my car and I only saw one minor difference where the throttle cable bracket mounts. Nothing I can't re-engineer if need be. Will try to get it ordered in the next day or so.

Hippie

IF anybody cares, my spacer shipped out last night. Hope to have it in time to get it installed this weekend.

Brandon

Dyno it, I'm not fond of the butt test.

Hippie

You're lucky I'm a nice guy or I could really have some fun with that................... When you get to be my age you REALLY won't like the butt test !!! Colon cancer exam anyone ?

Dyno it ? Come on get serious. The purpose of these spacers is to improve low end torque and throttle response. I have yet to see a dyno report that begins below 2500. Why ? Because they just aren't accurate below 25. As far as "seat of the pants" on off idle throttle response I think after 31 years of driving I'll be able to tell a difference, IF there is one. I'm here to learn more about my Honda not to BS anybody, I'm a couple decades past the need to impress anybody, you don't trust the results when I post 'em ? Can't say as I blame you considering some of the BS I see flying around here. I'm not saying it WILL work on a Honda but I'll give it a try and post my "impressions", you take it for what you feel it's worth. I may be a Noob here and to imports but I AM NOT a Noob when it comes to performance and the basics are still the same regardless of how many cylinders it has. You want it dynoed ? Be my guest as long as it's YOUR nickel.


[Modified by Hippie, 9:46 AM 11/5/2002]

v4lu3s

i ahve always heard that carb/throttle body spacers are for engiens with poor manifold design or for manifolds that were not right for the engine/carb on them.

Hippie

.Well sort of, they are actually more of a tuning aid when used properly. They can be used to "adjust" mixture flow into the plenum and to make minor shifts in the RPM range of the manifold. There is no such thing as a perfect manifold for every combo and especially in cases where selection is limited they can be a lifesaver when you're real close but not quite there. Even if you have the "right manifold" you may be able to squeeze that little bit extra out of it using the proper spacer. It usually requires some experimentation with different heights and configurations. Open spacers vs. spacers with individual holes for each throttle bore. The following applies to carbureted setups but you'll get the idea. An open spacer on a dual plane intake can boost the upper end HP and TQ while let's say a 4 hole spacer on a single plane open plenum intake can boost the bottom end. Used incorrectly though they can also really F#@* things up.............

In the Honda application you are using it to lengthen the plenum to increase mixture velocity and "supposedly" the spiral grooves help mixture atomization. I'm real skeptical about that one but who knows ? Increased mixture velocity "can" boost low speed torque and throttle response. I'm just playing "poke and hope" on this one since I can't find any solid evidence. If I feel a real difference maybe I'll take Brandon up on his request and find a chassis dyno and post some numbers but if I don't feel much there won't be much point will there ? And keep in mind this is going on a 192K stocker. If it works I might make some spacers out of phenolic and try some different thickness combos later on.

I seriously doubt you guys that have made major mods would benefit and since most of you probably went for mid an top end it could actually hurt but for what I want it might just be what I'm looking for.

badazzaccrd

Hmm...always wondered about the tb spacers. Let us know if it's worth the $80.00.