Hi all, Has any of you used or have any information positive or negative in regards to the use of the 1” intake spacer. Between the intake and block. Considering one to raise intake slightly, but sure don’t want to diminish performance. thanks for any and all responses !! Brian https://www.ebay.com/itm/Fits-264-3...561262?hash=item36303d5aae:g:YzUAAOSwPe1T85Fd
On Russell Martin's website he says don't use them as they do not work and can actually rob the engine of power.
Yes I have seen that. I also value his opinion. However I’d like some true tested feedback. I’m interested in one, but the positive results need to be there. I have received a few emails stating it would absolutely help. I emailed the company that makes them and received this reply ~. Interesting Check out the link. That is from another customer on the small nailhead that was on the dyno. Only one guy I know says they decrease power (won't name names) but the one in the picture increased on the dyno. Unfortunately I don't have the results since I didn't pay for the dyno time. Cam, carb, compression has a lot to do with risers, a worn out nailhead can't be used in the comparison. Thanks Any other opinions? Thank you all !!
I have heard the spacer under the carb can help on the nailhead, I am curios if thr spacers under the intake would help. Would love to see the results of any test you know about. I would think whoever sells the spacers should have done some testing Dave
The spacers you are talking about WILL hinder performance as I've tested them on the dyno. Was even worse with 2" spacers. Under the carb. helps to increase plenum capacity which is a help & NOT a hindrance. Tom T.
Thank you ! That’s the info I had hoped to receive. Do you recall how much power was lost when the intake spacer was installed ? Looks like I will be putting one under the carb. Thanks again & I eagerly await your reply All the best Brian
The simple explanation for why they don't work (and I have no direct contact or experience with them, but I know performance engine theory and workings) is that you are essentially lengthening the intake runner, which is what stock/low performance intake manifolds have. Long runners support a lower RPM torque curve at the sacrifice of top end power. A single plane high rise or tunnel ram may look really tall (which I'm sure is what whoever is making these intake spacers is going for), but the runners themselves are actually very short and very straight, which is why they are good for top end power. Most dual planes (low RPM intakes) have runners going from one side of the plenum to the other side of the intake, making all kinds of turns, so the runners are very long. A carb spacer does nothing with the runner length, but does increase plenum volume, which is why they work well. Most aftermarket intake manifolds are actually designed to work with the smallest cubic inch engine of a given family, so almost any intake will benefit from a carb spacer. To make a simple example, a small block Chevy intake was designed to work on a 265-400 cube engine, so they err on the side of safety and make them to run properly on the under 300" engine. So even on a mild 350, the engine will benefit from a larger plenum volume (i.e. carb spacer). Plenum volume is also why Doc's dual plane mod works: It's taking that metal divider out of the plenum and leaving more space for fuel/air.
I have bought 1” and had them milled down to the height I wanted for hood clearance. This was for carb spacers, not intake spacers.
The reason the spacers don't work is flow. The Nailhead intake port is at an angle...not straight up. If you Google a cut-away pic of the Nailhead, it's pretty obvious that whoever made those spacers was more interested in making a buck than making horsepower. Jim
apples and oranges..you are comparing apples and oranges.. nailheads are not mopar wedge motors..never will be...
Very cool, I agree. And they would've made 50 more hp if those runners would've ran to the same side head the carb was on instead of running all the way over to the other side. Which is why you saw the serious cars running tunnel rams and things like hillborns back then. Its nice that they made two big 4 barrels run on a street car, but making the intake runners that long is what hindered the performance enough to be low rpm streetable. Max performance, that design is terrible. But cool looking as I said.
And, yes, I ooh and ahh as much as the next guy when I see one at a cruise or show. Still super cool, but performance wise, leaves much, much on the table. If it worked so well pro stock guys would still be running them instead pulling them off in favor of short runner tunnel rams like they did and still do. You'd think they would've kept that long runner design on the 426 hemi if it was so great, no? Makes you wonder why they went to short straight runners later on with more experience, technology, and a higher performing engine, right?.......
Nailhead, Bbb, bbc, bbf, wedge, hemi, boss, ls-6, w-30, it doesn't matter. They're all just air pumps. Long runners, low rpm. Short runners, high rpm. Fubaring an intake design so bad to run 2 four barrels when a good intake with 1 will beat it such as a cross ram isn't doing a thing but looking cool. Think about it this way: we both have 12 ounces of milk to drink. Mine is in my hand with a 2" straw. Yours is 100 yards away with a 100 yard straw. Assuming we both suck the same (let's just assume as we're all friends we suck equally), who's milk gets drank (drunk?) faster? Common sense. I'll have mine down while you're taking 5 or 50 breaths just trying to get the milk to your mouth.
Look up sonic supercharging. Cost would have been the biggest factor in why they stopped making them and other factors as well They also made a shorter version as well. Mopar had/has been factory fitting 2x4 set ups for a long time in just about every way you could possibly fit 2x4s There racing division got all sorts of stuff made to get cars homologated for nascar racing. Mind you, I am not saying that the nailhead spacers do or would work, just saying that long intake runners can work for engines designed with that style of intake in mind
