Do throttle body or carb spacers actually help?

[PhotonFanatic]

Anyone here ever use one of these? Link below. It's just a simple throttle body spacer, but of course you can get them for carb trucks. Raises it up about an inch, maybe an inch and 1/8.

If you have used one, did you notice any difference? I'm hoping someone here knows for sure if they actually... do anything. Like at all lol

CFM Technologies GM Tbi 'Super Sucker' for Single Air Cleaner Stud Air Cleaners

CFM Technologies GM Tbi 'Super Sucker' Throttle Body Spacer for Single Air Cleaner Stud Air Cleaners

marine-performance-parts.com

 

[Radiohead]

Sounds like an episode of Engine Masters in the making. I think they covered this, but I can't tell you which episode it was. IIRC, there was a mild improvement. Along the lines of long intake runners.

 

[83Stepper]

I've used the aluminum and phenolic carb spacers before and yes they do actually do something lol. Was having an issue with one of my old Blazers and heat soaking into the carb. The phenolic spacer actually helped keep the 1406 away from the intake allowing it to take longer for any real heat coming off of it to cause any fuel issues.

The aluminum ones also help with some of the dissipation of heat, had a 71 Blazer with a 400 in it and she was a bear to restart after running for extended periods of time. Again just due to heat soak, the spacer allowed it to cool down a bit quicker and keep it further away from the intake manifolds ambient heat.

Have heard that the spacers allow the airflow coming into the intake to get there in a smoother flow allowing for better combustion yada yada yada, but not sure I'm buying into that just yet because they all have been on the heavy side and can't really seem to tell any real differences.

 

[dd1990]

Ive used spacer didn't notice anything. Spacers can be useful to reduce heat soak but you need a phenol or wood type spacer. The best TBI mod where I actually felt a difference was the salad bowl under air cleaner.

 

[xm20k]

Not something you would feel in the seat. If you drag race and do a lot of dyno runs than maybe you'd sort out where and when or if you might need one but mostly not something the average guy with a street going engine is going to notice as far as performance. The phenolic or plastic ones will help with heat in the float bowls.

 

[Sad Sack]

I was once told that if it didn't come with one from the manufacturer then the engineers didn't think it was necessary. Kinda like those Tornado devices for carbs years ago, waste of money.

 

[xm20k]

There is a lot of snake oil in the car industry.

However, there are things that do make power but most of them require you to be making tons of power already, flowing a ton of air and fuel ie max effort 6000-7000+RPM full race stuff before they do the thing. Carb spacers are basically one of them, if you want/need to increase plenum size or runner length than a different/better intake would probably be the move. Spacers are a tuning all day at the dyno kind of deal when you've exhausted everything else and just need 5 numbers up top.

 

[squaredeal91]

Only the ones with a swirl or thread type design seem to help. I know air aid makes a good one. Ive bought one or 2 before

 

[Matt69olds]

Carb spacers can help. I doubt you would feel anything with a throttle body spacer, especially with a TBI engine. Those are very airflow restricted, there just isn’t much room for improvement.

 

[waterpirate]

Ive used spacer didn't notice anything. Spacers can be useful to reduce heat soak but you need a phenol or wood type spacer. The best TBI mod where I actually felt a difference was the salad bowl under air cleaner.

Never heard of this? Can you explain?
Eric

 

[xm20k]

Never heard of this? Can you explain?
Eric

You basically make in effect a velocity stack with an air cleaner and lid on top.
Like this with a large stainless bowl and a stock style air cleaner on a single carb/throttle body.

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You end up with the single version of this.

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Will it work? Ya it's a velocity stack that's been a thing for years. Is it worth the effort? I guess If you can steal a salad bowl without your wife finding out and it's the same size as your air cleaner and lid you're out what a piece of 1/4 20 threaded rod but why when a velocity stack is 30-60 bucks.

Both versions probably might not fit under hood depending on vehicle so there is that.

 

[Ricko1966]

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[xm20k]

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Someone is now making money off of some rednecks' mod got to love it.

 

[Rustisbest]

Anyone here ever use one of these?

CFM Technologies GM Tbi 'Super Sucker' for Single Air Cleaner Stud Air Cleaners

CFM Technologies GM Tbi 'Super Sucker' Throttle Body Spacer for Single Air Cleaner Stud Air Cleaners

marine-performance-parts.com

I dont have one but I'd just buy 30 gallons of gas instead if I had a stock TBI engine.

 

[PhotonFanatic]

Whoops accidentally posted.