Question about a Skunk2 plenum spacer and strut bar.

[RCAnismo]

I'm getting some aftermarket parts put on the Z. I went to Zerolift in Cincy and Robert suggested the Skunk2. I read that the Skunk 2 doesn't allow for the factory strut bar to still be used. Zerolift says they can put some washers/shims on the strut bar and it will still fit since some of the other plenum spacer manufacturers use this method to keep the factory strut bar. Motordyne is another company that makes the plenum spacer and they say this shim method won't work w/ the Skunk2 but I'm not sure if they just want me to buy theirs instead.

Does anyone know if these shims will work or has anyone installed or know someone that has a Skunk2 plenum spacer for a Z and they kept the factory strut bar?

[aris_unlimited]

I don't even know of anyone putting on the skunk2 plenum spacer. All I have seen people use is the motordyne brand. Also the motordyne has 2 different sizes of spacers and iirc the smaller one doesn't require spacers on the strut tower bar.

[sluggoZ]

The Motordyne 5/16" spacer kit is OK with the stock strut bar.The Motordyne 1/2" kit will definitely need a after-market strut bar.The Skunk 2, I'm not familiar with & it's not the choice of the majority 350Z owners that I know from my experience & other forums , I have the Pure Innovations (new company) 5/16 kit that I bought on a group buy a couple of years ago...priced a lot less than Motordyne & has the same quality parts.

[RCAnismo]

Thanks, I don't think Pure is still in business.The guy said he likes Skunk2 because theirs is made of a composite and other brands are alloy. Something to do with the heat transfer is better with the Skunk2.

I may just go with the Motordyne just to be safe.

[pat the farmer]

Have you considered the AAM? Also motordyne has a iso thermal kit you can buy for the heat soak and all that kind of good stuff, seems to me has the motordyne would be best as a whole kit. I personnaly wanted it but I might just buy the spacer or something because I'm on a budget goodluck anyways.

[RCAnismo]

I'm assuming the 1/2" kit gives better performance than the 5/16" kit?

Have you considered the AAM? Also motordyne has a iso thermal kit you can buy for the heat soak and all that kind of good stuff, seems to me has the motordyne would be best as a whole kit. I personnaly wanted it but I might just buy the spacer or something because I'm on a budget goodluck anyways.

I haven't heard of AAM but I think I'm going to end up going with the Motordyne. I'm going to look into the thermal kit also, I haven't heard about that.

[RCAnismo]

Ok, I did some research and it looks like the Motordyne spacer comes with the iso thermal upper and lower spacers so I went ahead with that.

Here is the the final list of parts I'm getting ordered:

Motordyne 5/16" spacerAFE High Flow Short Ram Air IntakeInjen Titanium Tip Tru Dual Catback ExhaustBERK High Flow CatsEibach Pro Street Coilovers

Can't wait to get everything on.

Side Note: Sluggo, congrats on getting the ride of the month. That car looks incredible, very nicely done and clean looking.

[Sentientbydesign]

To clear the misinformation.

The shims go on the strut bar, not the spacer, so if MD told you that you couldn't shim your strut bar, they might be a little cookcoo.

Will shimming your strut bar work as well as not shimming it? I'm not sure, seems like there would be more flex involved.

The various spacer thicknesses all work, but move the power band around. The 5/16 will show the most immediate gains in the mid range, the thicker spacers will improve top end HP with some sacrafice to mid range (this has to do with plenum volume and intake velocity).

I have the blox 5/8" spacer which I am selling and will be going with a 5/16" for more midrange power and for strut bar clearance and for some experimenting that I'm doing.

[pat the farmer]

Yeah the iso thermal kit seems to be a cool setup. Did you get that one with the coolant control valve block off or just the base kit? either way it's a great kit. Motordyne is very popular and problly one of the first to come out with a kit like that ( as far as I know..) so I think that would make it one of the most advanced intake spacer kit available. Of course it's just a spacer but AAM as one that is angled and all that so I'm gonna check into that for myself just to see what kind of benefits you get from it and then I will decide. You should keep us posted once you get everything together to see how she runs like after enough chat for now

peace

[RCAnismo]

To clear the misinformation.

The shims go on the strut bar, not the spacer, so if MD told you that you couldn't shim your strut bar, they might be a little cookcoo.

Will shimming your strut bar work as well as not shimming it? I'm not sure, seems like there would be more flex involved.

The various spacer thicknesses all work, but move the power band around. The 5/16 will show the most immediate gains in the mid range, the thicker spacers will improve top end HP with some sacrafice to mid range (this has to do with plenum volume and intake velocity).

I have the blox 5/8" spacer which I am selling and will be going with a 5/16" for more midrange power and for strut bar clearance and for some experimenting that I'm doing.

I think they were implying the hood wouldn't shut if I shimmed the strut bar. Thanks for the info on the midrange power. I'm glad I went with the 5/16" now.

Yeah the iso thermal kit seems to be a cool setup. Did you get that one with the coolant control valve block off or just the base kit? either way it's a great kit. Motordyne is very popular and problly one of the first to come out with a kit like that ( as far as I know..) so I think that would make it one of the most advanced intake spacer kit available. Of course it's just a spacer but AAM as one that is angled and all that so I'm gonna check into that for myself just to see what kind of benefits you get from it and then I will decide. You should keep us posted once you get everything together to see how she runs like after enough chat for now

peace

I'm not really sure if I got the one with the coolant control valve block off. Is that the better one?

[Sentientbydesign]

I'm not really sure if I got the one with the coolant control valve block off. Is that the better one?

If your car never sees freezing weather (not sure how the KY climate is), then simply bypassing the throttle entirely will also work (requires a small barbed coupler)

[RCAnismo]

If your car never sees freezing weather (not sure how the KY climate is), then simply bypassing the throttle entirely will also work (requires a small barbed coupler)

Well even though I don't drive it in the winter it definitely gets below freezing here. (18 degrees right now) I guess I should go for the the one with the control valve.

[R350Zz33]

y dont we have composite parts like fuel rails and intake manifolds(plenum) they have a composite fuel rail for civics that keeps the fuel cooler and helps gain higher hp or somthing and a intake for civics thats not out yet that keeps the air really cool. y dont we have parts for these.

heres what the rail is fore and info on it its pretty cool i want one for my z but they dont make them for us:( :Composite Fuel Rail

Skunk2 introduces its new series of composite intake manifolds and fuel rails. Skunk2’s new composite components are made using a proprietary casting process, from a carbon reinforced aerospace thermo-polymer composite that is 33% lighter, 60% stronger, and runs up to 100ºF cooler than aluminum. Keeping the air and fuel cooler results in a significant increase in horsepower and torque. This composite is also chemical resistant to all types of fuels including alcohol.<

[Sentientbydesign]

Richie... *Massive palm face*

The VQ35HR HAS a composite/polymer plenum. Only the DE engines have the aluminum ones. Also, there is at least one company that makes a composite upper plenum for the DE.

Just out of curiousity, do/did you ever make your parents mad just so they'll spank you and therefore give you attention?

[R350Zz33]

the composite intake i have is nothing like that though and i wish we had a fuel rail like that my friend has it and it weighs nothing the box its in weighs more

[Sentientbydesign]

What the hell are you talking about?

Your plenum is designed to prevent heat soak and composite fuel rails have to be very precisely made. Not all resins will handle raw fuel. In addition to that, they have to handle both high pressure and be manufactured or coated with something to remove the inherent porousness that most composites have.

I'm studying up on composites right now. Believe me, your fuel rail being warm is easily fixed with some heat wrap. And the >1 lb it weighs is nothing to worry about.

[R350Zz33]

im just saying it would be nice to have parts like that

[pat the farmer]

I'm not really sure if I got the one with the coolant control valve block off. Is that the better one? [/QUOTE]

It's just basicly a spacer that goes at the tb and I think you change it with the stock one or something like that I am not exactly shure how it is designed, I don't have one. The thing is, is you can bypass all coolant flow to the tb by just turning a vavle close and it keep the tb cooler and therefore can increase power a little bit. If you go on the Motordyne site itself, there is different kits you can buy. For example the 5/16 spacer kit and then you can decide if you want more goodies to come with it, like the iso thermal gaskets and such, for a slight change in price that is. Hope it as made things clearer hehe. Just check out the Motordyne site again and see for yourself. They have other good stuff and they have come out with an exhaust system now, which is pretty sweet because you can delete one cat, go check it out lol.

[Sentientbydesign]

im just saying it would be nice to have parts like that

You HAVE a part like that!

[rmezz13]

im just saying it would be nice to have parts like that

Honda's have them because they need them. We don't need them (tell your friends).Honda's need light weight and cooler fuel (for what .075 whp?) to squeeze out every inch of power and less weight to move that 2200 lbs can down the road. There is no demand for a composite fuel rail, sounds like a ricer mod anyway.

BTW Kinetix Racing makes the upper plenum that is made of composite plastic, and comes with the spacers for the strut bar.

Search through the 350Z general info and FAQs. I'm pretty sure there is an installation guide on plenum spacers and maybe some info on the kinetix V+ plenum.... I would look for it but i have to go.

[pat the farmer]

Honda's have them because they need them. We don't need them (tell your friends).Honda's need light weight and cooler fuel (for what .075 whp?) to squeeze out every inch of power and less weight to move that 2200 lbs can down the road. There is no demand for a composite fuel rail, sounds like a ricer mod anyway.

+1 ahaha I like your thinking lol

[RCAnismo]

I'm not really sure if I got the one with the coolant control valve block off. Is that the better one?

It's just basicly a spacer that goes at the tb and I think you change it with the stock one or something like that I am not exactly shure how it is designed, I don't have one. The thing is, is you can bypass all coolant flow to the tb by just turning a vavle close and it keep the tb cooler and therefore can increase power a little bit. If you go on the Motordyne site itself, there is different kits you can buy. For example the 5/16 spacer kit and then you can decide if you want more goodies to come with it, like the iso thermal gaskets and such, for a slight change in price that is. Hope it as made things clearer hehe. Just check out the Motordyne site again and see for yourself. They have other good stuff and they have come out with an exhaust system now, which is pretty sweet because you can delete one cat, go check it out lol. [/QUOTE]

Ok, looks like the CCV comes on the 5/16'" ISO thermal kit. Motordyne's site is helpful."2) The second component is the throttle body Coolant Control Valve (CCV). The CCV allows you to selectively heat (or not heat) the plenum assembly. With local weather temperatures below 55'F the valve is left open. In warmer weather the valve can be closed for maximum thermal benefits."

Good stuff.

[rmezz13]

BTW Kinetix Racing makes the upper plenum that is made of composite plastic, and comes with the spacers for the strut bar.

And a coolant bypass kit (brass elbow for coolant line)

http://www.kinetixracing.com/k....aspx

[pat the farmer]

Great stuff your all set man

[Hydrazine]

To clear the misinformation.

The shims go on the strut bar, not the spacer, so if MD told you that you couldn't shim your strut bar, they might be a little cookcoo.

I always tell people that the strut bar spacers go underneath the strut bar. It would be cookcoo to say otherwise.

On a different subject, does Skunk2 post or advertise on this forum? We were in a discussion in this thread http://my350z.com/forum/intake....html but then all of a sudden they disappeared without a trace.

Have you seen them around here?

[Sentientbydesign]

Hey Tony,

Nice to see you on NICO. I don't remember Skunk ever posting on here. I thought they went out of business