TBI Spacer Talk

[89Suburban]

Ok, somebody here yesterday told me I should take advantage of having the TBI off the manifold and stick a TBI spacer in there. I need to hear info and experiences on this. You guys want to chime in? It doesn't affect the computer controls or ECM?

 

[Old77]

No, it doesn't affect the computer controls or ECM. It's supposed to increase your HP and fuel economy but I'm pretty skeptical. I had one once but didn't notice much of a difference. On a completely stock motor I doubt you'd notice too much difference.

 

[89Suburban]

Then it aint worth it to me based on that opinion. They are like 40 bucks. Also, doesn't that affect the linkage and linkgage adjustments and ****? And the metal lines running to the TBI. Air cleaner heighth.

 

[Old77]

Then it aint worth it to me based on that opinion. They are like 40 bucks. Also, doesn't that affect the linkage and linkgage adjustments and ****? And the metal lines running to the TBI. Air cleaner heighth.

It only raise is up an inch to inch and a half. When I put mine on many moons ago now there was no extra modifications that I had to do in order to get it in there. I can't say 100% for sure about your application, though.

 

[Swims350]

air cleaner height yea, some guys get the fuel line extensions others had enough to make it work. I told ya to get one lol. Due to the price of a tbi base gasket. I'd search online about them, just google tbi spacer benefits or something. I kow alot of guy son fsc and such have them and get them. I want one but have no experience with any of them.

Some boost low end torque, some are good for mileage and some are for upper rpm HP, they have spiral mix ones, open, etc. So there are different styles.

I don't think you'd have to worry about air cleaner to hood clearance though.

As for the spacer it's like the carb spacers, helps atomize the fuel air mix before it gets into the intake and such.

 

[Old77]

Do you really think he's going to notice that much of a difference in performance on his stock motor, though? To me it's just another $40 bucks that probably won't see much of a return.

 

[HotRodPC]

This is a very controversial topic. I've seen many that swear by it, and I have seen just as many say its hype and not true. I've seen a guy say they only work good if you make it out of wood. Yep, that's what I said. WOOD. I sure won't be doing that.

 

[Old77]

Can you imagine bolting a wooden anything on to your motor?? It's bad enough to have a vehicle with wood paneling on the side let alone on the motor

 

[Irishman999]

I think its all Voodoo, the after market companies probably laugh every time someone buys one and bolts it on their car.

If that space actually gave the slightest bit of better performance and better fuel mileage why wouldn't the manufacturer design the throttle body 1 inch deeper?

 

[Swims350]

not with fuel going near it, the reason behind it is heat. The wood insulates the heat and stops it from spreading into the tbi unit and makeing the fuel hot before it goes into the intake and gets hotter.

The spacers are supposed to help too, but most are alum and that let's it spread, now the phenolic are supposed to stop heat as well.

As for him noticing anything, I'm with hotrodpc, I see guys swear it added like 10 hp or more and no seat of the pants feel, some say it didn't add anything BUT a seat of the pants feel, some say it does nothing at all.

Now with the makers designing them taller or whatever, from the looks of it the edelbrock tbi intakes are taller then stock big time.

 

[Old77]

Anyone claiming a 10 hp jump from a space is either full of crap or a complete idiot or doesn't know much. I could believe 1 or 2 hp possibly but 10 is a pretty large jump. I would have been on the floor laughing had I heard someone claiming a 10 hp increase from that.

 

[89Suburban]

The TBI base gasket is $1.41 at RockAuto.

 

[89Suburban]

I think I am going to skip out on this mod....

 

[Swims350]

well 10 was a number I threw out. But I've seen all kinds of numbers and they are all only est. never saw anyone actually get dyno numbers.

You get lucky at rockauto, it was alot more local.

Oh wtf???? now autozone is $2.99 for it!!!! I swear it was $10 when I bought mine. it was fel-pro. I thought dang that aint cheap. I bought 2 donut gaskets and the tbi gasket and it was like $30 or more, now the donuts were $10 each, but the base gasket was too. Now it's not of course. I hate when they do that, makes me look like I was telling you BS or not know what I was talking about. I wished I had the slip from buying it, I'd scan and show it here.

eehh no real use unless you had proof of power to get one then.

 

[89Suburban]

well 10 was a number I threw out. But I've seen all kinds of numbers and they are all only est. never saw anyone actually get dyno numbers.

You get lucky at rockauto, it was alot more local.

Oh wtf???? now autozone is $2.99 for it!!!! I swear it was $10 when I bought mine. it was fel-pro. I thought dang that aint cheap. I bought 2 donut gaskets and the tbi gasket and it was like $30 or more, now the donuts were $10 each, but the base gasket was too. Now it's not of course. I hate when they do that, makes me look like I was telling you BS or not know what I was talking about. I wished I had the slip from buying it, I'd scan and show it here.

eehh no real use unless you had proof of power to get one then.

Even if they were 10, and may have been, I would make a home made one out of gasket sheet before I blew 10 bucks on one.