Intake Manifold Spacer 4.0l Coming!

You are correct if the manifold was always at the same temperature as the engine. Another way to look at it is the engine produces heat but the manifold doesn't, so if there is a plastic "insulator" aka spacer, then the manifold will be cooler since it's no longer acting as a heat sink.

To play devils advocate, we can argue that the engine will be hotter. All this translates to is that the cooling system will take out more heat. Thermostats will still work at the same temperatures, just they'll open sooner while the engine is running. Personally, i'm not inclined to believe Aluminum does much other than slightly change the aerodynamics, but plastic will change the aerodynamics AND bring in slightly cooler air, which might actually show a difference in mpg / power / torque / whatever you're chasing..

 

All good points. Plastic may be cooler but aluminum is far more cost effective for manufacturing just a few parts.

Even if you went with plastic, you'd still need to design and CNC an accurate aluminum prototype to make a mold. And then there's the expense of a molding machine and the cost of high minimum runs.

But once you've made one CNC prototype, you already have the xyz data to duplicate the original design on the same machine in as few numbers as you need, and whenever you need them.

 

If you still have the xyz, i'm sure I could try and make one by hand when I get home in a few weeks.

I'll probably be too lazy to measure mine and just install it

Though making a few of various thicknesses would be good way to pass the time for those slow days at work.


I finished up making these today;

 

Why thank you sir

 

Isn't machined metal beautiful?

This is the machine that does my stuff.




I'm in total awe of the highly skilled technicians who turn my ideas into reality.

 

Pretty sure i can get these 3D printed for about 5 bucks in material and about 50 bucks in setup and machine time.. as you stated, it's a matter of designing the right shape.

 

Try starting your own thread.

 

Hey now.. just responding to the member who was saying that thermoplastic is expensive, it's not. Not trying to steal your light here sunshine.. seems like you've got a good thing going and i'm not interested in taking away your "market share" haha..

 

I hear ya, seems like a lot of threads become multi topic. I have actually even looked at phenolic materials but they are tough on machinery for milling, and I don't know a place local for decent priced water jetting. Certainly other options for making spacers.

 

Ya, it's only been a year and a half... Give the man a chance!

 

But what happens when the engine bay and the entire system reaches Thermal equalization?

and how does material effect Aerodynamics?

 

Bitch please.

 

HA!

 

Materials can significantly impact how air flows through. It's not fluid dynamics vs. aerodynamics. Just because something feels smooth, doesn't mean it actually is. That being said, I can't see how a 1/2" of spacer material would have an overly significant impact on fluid flow if it were smooth vs. super smooth.

 

That the OP has shown considerable confidence in this product's ability to deliver what he has promised is as well as he has been quite forthright about the issues he has faced in getting this product tested and into production is impressive to me personally. I have read with interest those here who have installed this product and I too will purchase this product at some point. I too would like to see some numbers but the current customers seem to be very impressed which is great. That I have not yet purchased is due more to the fact that it's is lower on my list rather than waiting on numbers. It has been discussed here that, sans an s/c, the only other way to improve upon these engines is to change a whole bunch of things that each add a little to the end result. To that end, that this product should (and appears to be), delivering as promised (although he has not yet produced concrete numbers to prove it), yet it still seems to add fuel to some of you guy's fires is upsetting to me. I have a friend who is a vendor here and have watched and helped in the R&D process which is expensive and time consuming, if, in fact you have done this process, by all means, feel free to criticize the man, if not and you still wish to continue then I would hope that when he does in fact produce those numbers, that all of you armchair critics have the maturity and decency to take the time to acknowledge that when he does.

 

That's the point, the engine will still be at the same temperature whether or not the intake manifold is directly attached. The intake manifold will have a lower equilibrium temperature if it is not conducting any heat from the engine, which means it needs a material that doesn't conduct heat attaching it to the engine (plastic instead of metal). I'm more interested in seeing results of a plastic spacer vs stock than aluminum spacer vs stock, but i guess i'll need to start a different thread to investigate that since i do have access to a 4wd dyno..

 

Yes Mike I understand the Physics behind Classic Mechanics, I was asking the Quoted member to Gage his take.

So if a Sailplane has a polished aluminum skin and the same has Carbon fiber Gel coated skin there is a differential in how the laminar flow works?

 

The intake manifold will have a lower equilibrium temperature

Then its not at Equilibrium.

 

Hell if I know, it would depend on how much skin friction each surface has.