Whats The Very Best Carb Spacer?

Discussion in 'Race 400/430/455' started by Guy Parquette, Dec 22, 2010.

  1. Guy Parquette

    Guy Parquette Platinum Level Contributor

    Now that I'm taking off the flat hood and going with a stg2 scoop I can run a spacer.
    The combo;
    494" steel rod stroker
    TA SE stg2 heads ported by TA (don't remember flow)
    12.8 comp
    TA 508s cam installed 6 degrees adv
    4150 Quick Fuel 1050cfm race carb
    (don't want to change to a 4500)
    SP1 ported and flow equalized

    Engine was never on a dyno but did mph at 128 weighing 3680, so figure
    620ish. Shift at 6,200-6,300.

    What has anyone experienced the best spacer to be....or is this a trial and error thing?

    Thanks for any info
     
  2. cstanley-gs

    cstanley-gs Silver Mist

    Saw a GTO at the Turkey Run in November.. had plywood spacers ...
    Seriously.. Ive heard of using wood but had never seen it. Wish I had a picture.
     
  3. staged70

    staged70 RIP

    I have always used a phenolic open spacer on a race car. On a street car a 4 hole . The material in the phenolic is best for keeping heat out of the carb
     
  4. skierkaj

    skierkaj Day 2 Street Screamer

    I've seen people do that. Not sure how well it works, but it looks like garbage.


    Here's a good explanation (of the types and what they achieve), and EXPENSIVE spacer you might consider- http://www.summitracing.com/parts/QFT-300-4150-1AL/
     
  5. Jim Weise

    Jim Weise EFI/DIS 482

    Guy,

    On the Single plane manifolds, the most consistantly powerful spacer on the dyno has been that HVM Super Sucker, followed closely by a pheonolic clover leaf spacer. Depending on how often you go to late rounds and round robin type racing, the phenoilic spacer may be more consistant due to a reduction in heat transfer to the carb.

    If you have plenty of time between rounds typically, or manually cool with cold water or ice, then the HVM spacer is the one you want. It is the most consistantly powerful, beating the cloverleaf on motors of that HP range by about 3-5 HP typically.

    Stay away from open or 4 hole spacers in this application, at that power level.

    JW
     
  6. Guy Parquette

    Guy Parquette Platinum Level Contributor

    Cool, thats the info I was looking for!
    Thanks Jim and everyone.
     
  7. cstanley-gs

    cstanley-gs Silver Mist

    Ha! you got that right...
    Here was this very well done tricked out 69 Goat... huge blower, chrome out the yin yang... and a slab of plywood under the carbs :puzzled:
     
  8. skierkaj

    skierkaj Day 2 Street Screamer

    Any noticeable difference between the 1" and 2" versions on the dyno?

    For once I actually knew what I was talking about!
     
  9. Nothingface5384

    Nothingface5384 Detail To Oil - Car Care

    ditto on what he said..

    also, i know someone ran a combo of spacers, but dont remember what sequence?

    was it a 1in 4hole spacer ontop of a 1in open spacer?
     
  10. staged70

    staged70 RIP

    I would never stack them . The 4 hole spacers are good for keeping the heat out of the carb for a street car. But a major obstruction on a real race car. Get the cloverleaf design and it will make you smile:3gears:
     
  11. Tom Rix

    Tom Rix Well-Known Member

    Guy,

    You might also look at the Wilson Manifolds lightweight aluminum tapered spacers. After many dyno pulls on both my Top Stock and Super Stock motors I never found anything better for the 4150 carb or a quadrajet. They do mostly Pro Stock stuff and do have a website. Summit carries them also.

    Good luck and Happy Holidays!

    Tom
     
  12. John Chitwood

    John Chitwood Well-Known Member

    Reher-Morrison makes a Anti reversion plate and spacer . They offer it for both 4500 and 4150. These a getting popular with race engine builders.
    Just another option.
     
  13. Guy Parquette

    Guy Parquette Platinum Level Contributor

    Thanks everyone.
    I would think the taller the better up to 2" then?
    And Tom, I have that air cleaner base in the shop...thanks for the recommendation.

    Oh, And Jim, is that an HVM or HVH?
     
  14. Jim Weise

    Jim Weise EFI/DIS 482

    HVH Guy.. sorry

    Looks like some new stuff has come out on the market since we did our last big spacer test.

    Time for a new test, the RM stuff looks interesting. Wilson and HVH spacers are very much the same type of tech, be interested to see if one is substantially better.

    JW
     
  15. BadBrad

    BadBrad Got 4-speed?

    BadBrad runs a half inch of plywood under the Q-jet. Makes the hot start much easier.
     
  16. BQUICK

    BQUICK Gold Level Contributor

    Jim
    I ran back to back with a HVH SuperSucker and my new Wilson Manifolds spacer a few months ago. Both 1 in Dominator spacers.
    Ran within .02 and the mph was the same.

    Strange thing was that the Wilson caused a slightly rougher idle. Seems that it leaned out the mixture some most likely due to pulling more air. But maybe a distribution issue.

    Anyway I sold the SuperSucker and kept the Wilson....since it has my name on it......:Brow:
     
  17. Guy Parquette

    Guy Parquette Platinum Level Contributor

    For now I am going with the 2" Wilson spacer...If I would run a 4500 I think I would go with the 1" also.
    We will see!
    Thanks guys...
     
  18. Greg#19

    Greg#19 Well-Known Member

    I think Buicknut said it best. Test. We tested about 5 different 1 inch spacers and the difference between the worst and the best was so noticable that we didn't even have to look at numbers, the sweep time and sound of the engine was night and day. The dynoshop had piles of spacers they let us test with so we didn't have to buy them. Funny thing was that the best was a $20 Mr Gasket 4 hole plastic spacer. Every engine combo is different though, so unless you are using the same combo repeatedly like Jim probably does, there probably isn't even a general guideline to go by.
     
  19. Stg'd 2Discover

    Stg'd 2Discover Lumpty, Lumpty, Lumpty

    Guy,

    My 71's combination liked the Wilson 1" billet taper spacer with the 1st generation SP intake and a 4150 -1050 quick fuel carb. I initially jetted up 4 numbers and then backed down to 3 and now at 2 in the front. It was a noticeable enough difference to feel in the seat. Sorry no back to back numbers.

    Tom
     

    Attached Files:

  20. Guy Parquette

    Guy Parquette Platinum Level Contributor

    Yes, I am going to test back to back at the track between no spacer, the 2" Wilson and the 1" this spring and jet accordingly for each. I'll let you guys know which one works best for me anyways.
     

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