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Originally Posted by JKinATL
So, as a generalization, it seems like a TBS tends to add power across the entire range of RPMs, even low-end, whereas mods such as SRIs and CAIs detract from power in low-RPM situations and add in high-RPMs. I'm interested to know if anyone else agrees with these generalizations?
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No, that's not altogether true, though it depends mostly on the brand and type of intake. My Fujita F5 SRI made power throughout the powerband - low to high. I have dynos. The TBS adds a trivial amount of power, but the main benefit is that it prevents heat soak - this is answered below...
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Also, I read elsewhere that the TBS may not exactly be good for the engine in the longer-run because the spacer, and its gaskets, don't allow the intake to absorb and disperse heat from the manifold... thus reducing the life and durability of the manifold. Any thoughts on that?
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First things first - heat soak is bad all the way around. Yes, heat has to disperse from the block, but if heat soaks into the manifold and then into the intake, there's no water channels or any other method of heat dispersal in those places, so the engine compartment heats up and heat is never removed except by the air around it or coming in through the front of the car at higher speeds.
The intake manifold gasket is something one would consider when doing the spacer, which keeps the heat from soaking TOO much into the manifold. Now, I say too much because it doesn't 100% PREVENT heat soak from occurring, just keeps it from happening too much. The water/coolant system works harder to keep the heat away from the block as a result because less heat is soaking into the manifold, hence less heat is soaking into the intake.
The result is a cooler charge of air entering the manifold and then the combustion chamber = more power/torque across the RPM band. The consequence? Keeping heat where it's supposed to be - where the water/coolant system can get to it and disperse a lot more effectively than the air can. And again, not ALL the heat is at the block, just a bit more than usual because the heat soak is prevented. Trust me, keeping heat where it can be dispersed more effectively is probably the best policy - the IM and TB don't have cooling capabilities at all, so why would it best to have heat soaking into those metal components when they're not built for dispersal?
That's my two cents, anyway; an engineer may prove me wrong.