Hondata Intake Spacer

[crankbender]

Semi back from a very needed hiatus...Things are extremely busy still so my presence will nto be full force but I felt I owed people my thoughts on this.

The original thread a pictures can be found here.
Hondata heatshield gaskets released for DSM's

IMHO the build quality on this piece was very good. It appeared to be a single piece of polymer that was then machined. This technique is widely used as it will provide a flat durable piece with no seams.

I actually cut on of these up and tested it for the K value. I had at one time posted all the graphs but apparently they didn't take (may have been when my photos were whiped for not being of my car as they were all technical graphs). I have since then gone back over all my notes (1200+ pages from over a year) and have been unable to find the exact numbers. What I can tell you is that it was a very good thermal insulator and as such will accomplish the job it was intended for.

Now to address the possible sealing issues. Actually one of the first things I told the guys at Hondata is that the gasket should have instructions to seal it to the head with a thin layer of 700F silicone. This will not only prevent leaks but will also add to the heat resistance. Of course this should be used on the manifold side also.

Now people have said that your intake manifold will always be hot because of underhood temps are somewhat correct. First I have always been a proponent of correctly vented hoods. If you have a correctly vented hood this will not be a huge problem as your underhood temps will be considerably cooler. Also what needs to be remembered is that only a certain ammount of energy can be transfered from the air under the hood to the manifold. This ammount is much much lower than the ammount of thermal energy that is transfered through a metal/graphite gasket. Because of this I do believe that you will have less thermal energy transfer to the intake charge.

This is a good investment...especially if you are a tinkerer. The gasket if properly sealed is reusable and in that sense will pay for itself after a few removals of the intake manifold.

would I buy one? Deffinately. Don't get me wrong this gasket isn't going to give you 50 hp...it probably won't even give you 1hp directly but if the ic and the rest of your turbo system are correctly working this could save you 2-5 degrees in intake charge. This may not seem like a lot in density and it really isn't but it may let you run .5 degrees more timing and get just a little more power. At worst you have a reusable gasket for 60 bucks that will give you a little extra assurance as intake temp lowering IMHO is one of the best things you can do for your car.

[crankbender]

mods please leave this here for a few days before it moves to the tech article section or copy it there.

I owe people the chance to see this here.

Thanks.

[DSMJim]

Interesting review. I honestly wouldn't mind trying one out on my magnus smim to see how it works. I also wanna figure out how to properly vent my carbon fiber hood. Maybe cutting some holes in the area around the turbo?

[crankbender]

Originally Posted by DSMJim

Interesting review. I honestly wouldn't mind trying one out on my magnus smim to see how it works. I also wanna figure out how to properly vent my carbon fiber hood. Maybe cutting some holes in the area around the turbo?

Take a look at some of the rally sites for vents. You will have to cut the hole and then put a shield in front of the hole (bonded to the hood). This will effectively draw air out the vent.

RRE use to have some example vents for sale on their site.

Put the vents about 8 inches from the windshield pointed at the windshield and they will draw the air through the engine bay. An extra vent just above the exhaust mani moved back to directly over the front edge of the head/valve cover will help keep the hot air from that area from getting to the rest of the bay.

[greathuskie]

im confused, do you point the opening of the vent towards the windshield or towards the front bumper?

[blcknspo0ln]

jumping on, i actually sat there and read the bigger thread

thanks for the review crankbender, i'm definitely considering this once I get a better IM

[crankbender]

Originally Posted by greathuskie

im confused, do you point the opening of the vent towards the windshield or towards the front bumper?

The opening of the vent should be tword the windshield. This way the air rushing over the vent cover creates a low pressure area to suck the hot air out. Just don't get too close to the windshield or the high pressure area created by the windshield will force air into the vent instead of letting hot air out. This is why your air conditioning system when set on vent flows more air the faster you go.

Think kinda the opposite of a WRX hood scoop.

[silverbulletAWD]

I'm glad you posted your results. Thank you, I've been waiting. The sealing issue is my biggest concern. I'll be calling Hondata shortly to see if they could make me one w/o the port holes cut in so I can transfer my new ones and cut my own. This should save me alot of hassle in reassembly this season.

Andy

[greathuskie]

i cant find a good vent that would look good on a DSM hood

[danielbui]

Originally Posted by crankbender

The opening of the vent should be tword the windshield. This way the air rushing over the vent cover creates a low pressure area to suck the hot air out. Just don't get too close to the windshield or the high pressure area created by the windshield will force air into the vent instead of letting hot air out. This is why your air conditioning system when set on vent flows more air the faster you go.

Think kinda the opposite of a WRX hood scoop.

is the vent your talking about based off or as same as the cowl induction theory?

[crankbender]

Originally Posted by danielbui

is the vent your talking about based off or as same as the cowl induction theory?

no. If you get too close to the windshield you get cowl induction...you don't want this. This is why I said do not get too close to the windshield.

[bigemrich]

Any pics of how to properly vent the hood. I would be very interested but from the previous posts I am somewhat confused :o

--Kyle

[crankbender]

properly vented



properly vented



properly vented.

see how all the vents are pointed backwards. I am not saying those hoods are good or the vent placement is ideal but the theory behind it is sound.

[definitiveno]

bender, wich hood do you think is the most functional available to the consumer?

[crankbender]

Originally Posted by definitiveno

bender, wich hood do you think is the most functional available to the consumer?

sorry I don't know all the hoods out there well enough to make that call.

[92awddsm]

Back to the spacer. Do you know if any of our vendors sell them? If not, who would you reccomend I purchase one from?

[definitiveno]

Originally Posted by 92awddsm

Back to the spacer. Do you know if any of our vendors sell them? If not, who would you reccomend I purchase one from?

Werd

[almostquick]

http://www.carbontrix.com/hoodpics.htm

I always thought that these were good vents and was planning on doing somewhat of the same lay-out as they have on the car.

[laggin3]

Yea I have to say that I have been waiting on the info from your tests. Thanks for posting this. And can you tell me what the name is of that silver car with the black rims? I HAVE to get that hood.

[danielbui]

Originally Posted by crankbender

no. If you get too close to the windshield you get cowl induction...you don't want this. This is why I said do not get too close to the windshield.

OK thanks. i was trying to visualize location but that cowl induction hood kept poping into my head.

[definitiveno]

Originally Posted by danielbui

OK thanks. i was trying to visualize location but that cowl induction hood kept poping into my head.

Look up "venturi effect"

[herostar]

In reference to the cowl induction idea, would raising the back of your hood up about 1/2" and getting rid of the weather stripping help or would it just be a waste of time?