Should I Run A Carb Spacer?!

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KOZ45

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Mount the carb directly to the manifold or run a spacer?

Open bore/plenum? Best for single plane manifold?

4 hole?

What material and what thickness?

I have a Weiand 7512 Xcellerator (open plenum / single plane......right?)

Will I need any new carb brackets or linkage issues?

Thanks for any and all info!!
 
Wilson makes a 1inch spacer !! Has a swirl effect for the air fuel mixture ! There are a lot of different ones on the market ! I hear a lot of good things about the Wilson !
 
I was thinking of running one for control of heat. I am running Edelbrock carb. I have been hearing how todays fuel "boils" more so than the old gas from the 60s-70s.
 
Depending if you have room under the hood or not and/or if you don’t mind cutting the hood....

On a single plane intake, I have found a 4 hole tapered spacer works very well often. It’s not a slam dunk that it will on every engine combo. Also the amount of thickness of the spacer is a question. If you know someone with a spacer there not at the moment in use, ask to borrow it.
 
rumblefish360 said:
Depending if you have room under the hood or not and/or if you don’t mind cutting the hood....

On a single plane intake, I have found a 4 hole tapered spacer works very well often. It’s not a slam dunk that it will on every engine combo. Also the amount of thickness of the spacer is a question. If you know someone with a spacer there not at the moment in use, ask to borrow it.
Click to expand...

I gather that most engines will do better with a spacer to make the plenum bigger . I think I really need one , but my throttle body is already up in the 6 pack scoop.
 
famous bob said:
I gather that most engines will do better with a spacer to make the plenum bigger . I think I really need one , but my throttle body is already up in the 6 pack scoop.
Click to expand...
A 6 pack scoop? Aftermarket scoop?
Picture please.
 
If you have an auto trans, the linkage will get pretty out of whack with a tall spacer. Don't forget, your intake manifold is, in most cases, taller than the stock one already. For the control of heat, a 1/2" spacer should be enough. The throttle cable itself is pretty easy to adjust or modify. Tall manifold + tall spacer + aftermarket air cleaner = hood clearance problems, and/or throttle/transmission linkage problems.
 
As for heat..get your timing right.Retarded timing will cause the hottest part of the burn to occur in your heads rather than the cylinder and may cause problems.
As for the spacer...the factory never used one but 3/8" may benefit some combinations.
 
rumblefish360 said:
A 6 pack scoop? Aftermarket scoop?
Picture please.
Click to expand...

AFTERMARKET FIBERGLAS HOOD-------
ir3333 said:
As for heat..get your timing right.Retarded timing will cause the hottest part of the burn to occur in your heads rather than the cylinder and may cause problems.
As for the spacer...the factory never used one but 3/8" may benefit some combinations.
Click to expand...

Most respond best with a 1'' spacer , or more !
 
I was just wondering if it was something like below.
No worries!
A846BD92-EE7A-489F-920F-64B685E3BB16.jpeg
B05088C5-7379-4275-A3C0-E8ADA5209405.jpeg
 
Spacers work to varying degrees & it depends on what you are using it for. I run a 2" spacer on my bracket car, I experimented with no spacer, 1/2", 1", 1/2" & 1'" combined, & finally the the 2". I kept all of the data as I experimented to find the best combination for my application.
 
spacer on an AL carb is always a good idea, be it 1/4 or more. Even an aluminum plate with a large surface area helps like the cookie sheet ones under Quadrajets. The TQ's had a 1/4" fiber gasket and the phenolic fuel bowl to keep fuel temps low. Imagine the heat in a motorhome doghouse! Ford used a spacer as a vacuum take off for the EGR, plenty of them around.
plug port.....Most all performance builds dyno better with a spacer.
 
The Weiand 7512 manifold seems to be pretty tall already, so I am concerned about being able to fit a good size air filter under the hood also

I guess I could also look at a drop filter base if I run into issues?

For the price, I will try a 1/2" tall spacer first and see how things look
 
Engine masters did an episode on spacers. They emphasized that each combo might have different results, but... generally, single plane intakes liked four hole spacers, and dual plane intakes liked open spacers.
Then there's different heights, different materials, tapered, like the Wilson (I think there are Wilson copys, much cheaper). You will not know what works for you, till you try em!
 
Remember you should have at least 2 inches of clearance above the tallest part of the carb. (Choke horn) This allows them carb to breath well and never the fuel best.

A filter lid is a good idea that is helpful, but it also need to be able to draw in air easily. Not sandwiched against the hood.
 
I'm running a 1" composite one on my Torker w/Eddy 650. Like a few other folks,, eliminated hot start issues. Car runs great.
 
Are we supposed to just "GUESS" what you're talkin about here? Like you know "what's this on" and all that? I see your signature, but that doesn't mean a thing. Might just be for a Briggs and Stratton, but we're "just supposed to frikkin know?"
 
RustyRatRod said:
Are we supposed to just "GUESS" what you're talkin about here? Like you know "what's this on" and all that? I see your signature, but that doesn't mean a thing. Might just be for a Briggs and Stratton, but we're "just supposed to frikkin know?"
Click to expand...
Ouch!!! But u r right. I really feel for u since ur cat broke ur crystal ball. Kim
 
Are you guys saying a carb spacer can make power?
Maybe you will get one of those ones with the snow in it this Christmas Rusty!
 
Last edited:
ir3333 said:
Are you guys saying a carb spacer can power?
Maybe you will get one of those ones with the snow in it this Christmas Rusty!
Click to expand...
A spacer CAN make power, IF it happens to be the right one on the right combo. I have heard of a $20 spacer making 15-20hp. BUT..... how many were tried, and how many purchased, and how many dyno pulls did it take to find that power?
 
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