[onecoomofo]

So what exactly happens when you had a carb spacer to a vehicle? Doesn't it give it less torque but more top end? And doesn't it require bigger jets to accomidate for the bigger distance the air/gas has to travel?

I would really appreciate someones expertise

Thanks
Sean S.

[camaroman7d]

Different combos will want different things. It is not possible to say what a certain spacer will do on every engine. There are basically to styles/types of spacers (open and 4 hole). There are also different types of intake manifolds so depending on the combination of the two the effect can be different.

Typically they don't really "add" power, they adjust the range at which your power band will be. An open spacer adds plenum volume so if you have a manifold that is slightly to small an open spacer will help, otherwise it usually will raise the RPM level at which the engine makes power.

A 4 hole spacer should add torque, or lower the range that the torque is made. With a 4 hole the carb gets a stronger vacuum signal (over an open spacer).

Of course there is a lot mor to it than this, it is basically a tuning tool to get the most out of your combo or adjust the power band. There are all kind of them out there, some claim big gains. They also come in different heights and materials. In some case a phenolic spacer is the best choice, because it keeps the heat from being transfered to the carb (one case is when using a Weiand Stealth intake) I have fixed several cars with this intake that had hot start problems, add the phenolic spacer and the problem is solved.

It is a trial and error type of thing, don't expect huge gains. You might pick up a few HP/ft lbs, but don't expect 50HP.

That is the basics, like I said there is a lot more to it.

Royce

[tresi]

The spacer give the intake more plenum volume making the intake appear bigger than it is to the engine. Sometime with real short intakes it helps the fuel make a smooth turn into the runners. Often a 4 hole spacer rather than an open spacer will limit your bottom end torque loss.
Sometime they get put on just because the speed shop has them for sale and somebody seen someone else use one.

[Croz]

There is quite a bit of info about this here.

[Tech @ BG]

Spacers installed between the carburetor and intake manifold can be used to overcome a problem in the design of the engine (too big or small of an intake, carburetor, cam, heads, etc), or to help fine tune the engine to your specific combination. There is not a end all be all better or worse with a spacer, it's a matter of what your specific combination requires.

As a rule of thumb, a 4-hole carburetor spacer will increase the air velocity through the engine at lower speeds, increasing the bottom end torque, throttle response, and moving the power band down a little.

Conversely an open spacer will decrease the air velcoity at low speeds, taking some of the torque away, but it will increase the higher end HP, and raise the Power band up a little.

With either of these the thicker the spacer the more of an effect they will have.

Your best option with spacers, is to run the vehicle without a spacer to start with, and then use a spacer to tune for what you are looking for out of the engine combination.

[1BAD80]