What is the benefit of using a spacer between the carb and intake? I see them in catalogs and such, and was just wondering if there are benefits to using one. Thanks in advance -Ryan

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the path i walk, i walk it with my own resolve

sometimes cooling, sometimes a very slight "ram" effect, sometimes nothing...

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Slanted D150

It can effectively isolate the carb body from any conductive heat that would otherwise come up from the exhast manifold, to the intake, and to the carb body which can evaporate fuel in the bowl causing drivability or difficult hot starting issues.

Like it's said, if you use a tall one (if it will fit), it can cause a slight ram effect and or give the fuel time to mix better before 'crashing' to the intake plenum floor... I do know one trukc tht used this on a 4 barrel intake and it worked (need 4" of extension)...

If using a phenolic spacer, the objective on the other hand is to isolate the carb from the heat of the intake manifold and it's heat 'stove'... which won't 'evaporate' the gas so much, but it will cause the gasoline in the bowls to 'boil' like a kettle of water on your stove... then the gas 'pukes' out any hole it can escape from and usually it pours out the vents or mains and causes a hard starting issue as your intake is now 'flooded' (more gas and not enough air to light it off)... Some people only need a compromise and use a 'thicker' standard gasket (about 1/4" thick) to help combat the heat soak issue...


Hope that makes things a bit clearer...

-D.Idiot

I use a 1" spacer on my junk. I tested it at the track and it was worth a tenth in the 1/4. It made the motor idle somewhat better too. It supposedly has something to do with amplifying the vacuum signal to the boosters. Don't mean squat to me, all I know is that it did make an improvement. If it didn't work I would have thrown it away.

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Official Cookie and Mater Tormentor.

I used three separate ones on top of one another.

First one is a 8 inch square of thick head gasket material from Mr. Gasket used to block heat rising up from engine and manifold and flowing up around the carb. I cut in 4 separate holes for the 4bbls. . Then I made a inch thick riser out of 6 inch square aluminum as a heat radiator mated to Holley patter, then added gasket and another 2 inch aluminum riser with the milled swirl groove in side it, then another gasket and another 3/4 inch aluminum riser. Altogether, a little more than 4 inches. Carb is cool enough to put your hands on, and starting is about as close to instantaneous as you can get, in that engine doesn't really turn over before it it running, cold, with no choke. This is a Holley 4bbl on a offy manifold. It would turn over a few times before starting before I did this and it sure wasn't that cool so I regard it as an improvement. This is in a '64d100 truck. If a had some more room I'd add more!

rock
'64d100

Makes me hungry for a double decker sandwich

Double O Oreo cookies........

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Ed
64 Valiant 225 / 904 / 42:1 manual steering / 9" drum brakes

Slantzilla, is that a four hole or an open spacer?

I have a 4 hole I use on the Offy and an open on my Clifford.

The Offy has a 4 hole carb plate, we milled the Clifford to an open for the spray.

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Official Cookie and Mater Tormentor.

Spacers can "fine tune" the induction system just as collector length is important in the same way on the exhaust side. Hood clearance is usually a design parameter in intake manifold manufacturing, giving up maximum performance for functionality in many cases.

Compromise is a way of life.

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'63 Valiant V200 Convertible
225 Aluminum Block

does anyone run a spacer on their super six carter bbd? If so where did you get it and did it "improve" performance?

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63 valiant v200 Wagon 9.5, Schneider cam, E.I. 22 mpg all day