Throttle Body Spacers

[fabolous24]

Does anyone know anything about the throttle body spacers? I have a 1997 3.8L v6 and I was just wondering if it would be a good idea to get one. It sounds like a cheap easy way to gain horsepower.

[89IROC&RS]

anything that sounds cheap and easy, i would be very cautious of, just personal experience talking. but as far as spacers go, if you are looking for top end power, they could add 10hp or so. but dont do much, and might even cut power in the bottom end. thats a pretty generic description, but thats what ive learned so far.

[Chevyracincamaro]

how hard can it be to make one? i figure if you go get a little block of aluminum and start boring it out and drill a few mounting holes it would do pretty much the same thing. that would be a lot cheaper than 80 bucks for a block of metal with a hole in it...

[89IROC&RS]

eh, kinda sorta, but typicly the ones you buy are built with a bit more work involved than that, they are flow tested and designed to accelerate the airflow into the engine, without restricting it, so if you have a CNC lathe, and a 3D design software capable of working out fluid dynamics, then yeah, it would be cheaper to do it that way.

[Hypsi87]

I have one on my buick. It was free so I figured what the hell, ill put it on. My boost dropped about .4 PSI so that ment I was putting more air in my intake but I noticed no diffference in accuall performance

[z28 boy]

I heard that they were better for trucks.

[Webslinger60]

I had a few posts on some S10 sites & most of the responses said
the spacers made no noticealbe difference. Only 2-3 out of about 20 guys said they felt any improvment and at $50-90 bucks, thats a
gamble I wont take.

As for the home made type, I agree that the companies do put some R&D into the design, so if you dont know what you're doing, you could actually make it worse.

BUT, for the guy who did mention getting a block of aluminum, my question is "where would you get it"? I've been looking for just such a thing for a different project. A flat block of at least 5"x5" and 1/4" to 1/2" thick aluminum or hi-temp plastic. I need to make a temporary carb adapter for which there is no part available. No one can tell me where I'd buy such a piece?

[Chevyracincamaro]

i have some hookups at various machine shops and a few other places to material suppliers, i wasnt seriously thinking about making one but i thought that it wouldnt be too difficult, and yes i actually do have access to the software where i could design such a thing, being an engineering student has some advantages...

[89IROC&RS]

lol, dude, do some charity work and make the man a spacer