Phenolic Intake Manifold and Throttle Body spacers (gaskets) made by Outlaw Engineering.
http://www.outlawengineering.com

No joke here. I'm trying to get 20+ 4th gen buyers lined up for OE to develop and test a set on the 95-99 Maxima. They said they've had dozens of requests for the SR20DE and nearly no interest in the VQ or VE engine.

They said they usually see slightly better gains on 6cyl vs 4cyl designs. For instance (according to their graphs and my research)
Acura/Honda 3.5L +4.5%hp / +4.3%tq
Mitsubishi 3.0L +1.7%hp / +3.5%tq
Ford/Mazda 2.5L +6.1%hp / + 8.8%tq

Taking an average should give us like +6fwhp / + 9fwtq. Even at half that gain I think it's worth $100 in parts.

Here's a set they did for the Honda/Acura folks


Please reply here if you're interested so I can start a count.

Thanks to Pat Rucker in the 3rd gen forums for some ideas. Sorry Don @ Mobiletek if I'm stealing your idea.

 

How much $$ are we looking at?

edited: Sorry, I wasn't reading well enough the first time around.

 

What purpose do these serve? What exactly makes them...make you gain power.


Edit- i looked on their site.........looks like a decent product. If you could get it under 100 bucks that would be better though if you ask me.

 

The spacers reduce air intake temps and prevent heat soak from the engine up the intake path. Very similar to icing down the intake between drag runs.

The TB spacer helps reduce our 180deg. coolant from heating the intake system from the top down. This is similar to our TB coolant bypass mod except you can still run it in winter. I'm thinking you could do both of these together.

The same 3 examples above reduced temps by an average of 27deg-44degF. That's equal to 4hp-13.5hp depending on who's calculations you believe.

 

I'd consider getting a set of these.

 

Me too.

 

seems like you and I have talked about this huh?

 

I would definetly be in for at least one set. Maybe as many as three

 

Is it possible to slip these gaskets in without completely removing the upper intake manifold?

 

...A friend and I were talking about this months ago. If what he and I are working on falls through then I may be in on this.

I used to be a part of the Ford 2.5 community...so I am familiar with Phenolic Intake Spacers. Gains have definitely been shown. Go to www.probetalk.com and do a search.

 

I'd be in for a set.

 

I'd buy one

 

I know these REALLY help the stang guys. I would be up for a set depending on the price, I was thinking about this along with Aaron92se a while ago for the VE, but the problem was our ignition coils in the back, if you raise the intake, then you have to get longer coils correct?

 

Or shave our coil packs so they don't sit higher. Most of these kits are going to raise the manifold by 1/4" to 3/8". Not THAT much, but still, you will have to shave the coil pack to make sure it makes a solid connection to the plug.

 

I'd be interested as well.

 

I'm interested too, but what about:

1) the EGR tube that's connected to the back of the intake manifold on the 4th gen. How do you overcome that problem?

2) the two rear support arms on the 4th gen intake manifold? I gues you don't have to use them, but why did Nissan put them on in the first place?

3) there may be a clearance issue with the MEVI equiped cars. The MEVI sits a lot higher than the USIM and the clearance is tight against the hood. Hell, the stock underhood cover on the US-Maxima is made to fit the MEVI (it's already cut out for it). Adding another 1/4"-3/8" in height may cause hitting on hard shifts and wheelhop.

4) there may be a rear coil pack issue.


Dave

 

Good points Dave. My rubber manifold gasket looked to be about 3/16" thick so this would only move things 1/16" higher. I think the 3rd gen's have a slimmer gasket so they may have more to worry about. Maybe the MEVI folks will need poly engine mounts or raise/rake their hood slightly. I was looking that doing that anyway this spring to help underhood cooling.

 

The EGR tube will be somewhat of a problem. Pat (MadMax024) (VE 5spd) did this. He removed his rear manifold support plates and hasn't used them in years. As for the EGR tube, he had a little problem getting it to fit on, but he got it. I dunno how, since it's 1/4" higher. It's hard to attach when you are completely stock. But he said he did it.

 

I would be interested.

 

Seems interesting, I'm just curious about the amount of time it would take for the installation. 100$ in parts sounds great but if you pair that with more than a couple hours of labor ... Assuming it isn't a bad install job, then I would most likely be in.

 

I'd be interested, pending addressing of fitment issues for the EGR, coil packs, etc.

 

Im definetly in, if the fitment with coils and egr is not a problem...

 

Fit fittment problems on the above items is solved I would buy in a heart beat. It's almost impossinle to find any more inexpensive NA mods that give results.

 

i'll be down if its a easy bolt on

 

I'm in if all clearance issues work out (including MEVI possibilities).

 

me too

 

I'd buy this in a heartbeat!

drifters in japan also use this type of gaskets to keep temps down while bouncing off the rev limiter in second, hehe

need to find out about those fitment issues..

thanks for possible new mod
-Vadim

 

That's a great mod that's proven to make power, im definetly down.

 

I am down for a set if it fits without any fitment issues pertaining to the MEVI.

 

If there are no fitment issues, I will be purchasing.

 

Once again, if these fit with no issues, and are proven to make power, I will definitely be buying them.

 

yep, me too. even though I don't have an MEVI..




YET.

 

For those concerned with hood clearence, you can put washers in the mounts to sit the engine lower, it's something the honda guys do, not sure if it would work, but it's a thought.

i'll be in on this once I see VQ gains

 

well if it work , i want one

 

I want one if it would have no clearance problem with the MEVI installed. Does this kit even work with the MEVI (fit and function)?

My MEVI is on it's way........

Thanks Eric

 

I'd be interested. Plus, it would give me more incentive to pull my intake manifold for a good cleaning.

-Aaron

 

Id just want one for the intake manifold ,because i have the pathfinder TB and the gasket woudnt work on it and it wouldnt be needed anyways because there is no coolant going thru the TB.
Remember one thing the hondas with vetec do not have a EGR systemso the egr tubes may be a problem on our cars but sombody is going to have to find out.

 

uh... what everyone else said

 

me too..

 

These parts are not that expensive and if they can really produce the gain that's you proposed it is a solid deal.

Pardon my ignorance, how can these spacers lower the intake temperature - they are really thin?!?

Lo-TSe