First, the install took me 2.5 hours but it would have taken much less time if I didn't come across two problems (errors).

The instructions are great and I didn't need to use my Helms at all. This is also the first time I've removed the manifold on this car so I was taking my time.

Everything went smoothly until I went to replace the second stud and dropped a nut into the lower manifold. It was resting right on top of a valve and it took me a good 45 minutes to fish it out with a wire clothes hanger. STUFF a rag or paper towels in the lower manifold! Learn from that mistake.

Second problem was when it came time to reinstall the "CompTech elbow." For those that don't know, this is the piece that connects the blower discharge to the intake manifold. It would have been MUCH easier to disconnect the elbow where it meets the blower discharge rather than taking it off the intake manifold. Once the intake manifold spacer is installed it is so much harder to get the elbow and manifold to match up. It literally took me another 45 minutes to put 4 bolts back in.

So I took it for a drive and I can't really notice much of a difference. The car pulls hard, no problems and I'm thinking the gains on the intake manifold spacer are going to be throughout the powerband so it's hard to "feel" a gain when it is consistant throughout. I drove the car for about 30 minutes at 7-8/10s of its capability (shifting at 6,000 rpm). When I got home the intake manifold was still smokin' hot (unlike other reviews that have said the manifold is considerably colder). I wasn't expecting it to be cold to the touch because the supercharger really heats up the charge air.

So I guess i'll need to get out the scan tool this weekend and read IAT values. I'll have to dig up my notes to see what they were on the old CL-S (which has become my daily driver for the time being) to compare to the new car with the manifold spacers.

Oh and I guess I've got a throttle body spacer for sale (can't use it with the supercharger).

 

I have the Thermoblock spacers in conjuction with the IC. It stayed really cool after the install. Like you said though, the s/c'er builds up alot of heat. I bet water injection with the spacers would work really good too.

 

i noticed this...when it's cool outside the upper intake is now cooler to almost cool to the touch...but when it's hot out...i dont notice any difference (to the touch) i will be jet hotting my headers next...i hope this makes a big difference on unhood temps and there effect on radiant heating the upper/lower intake

 

Hey did I mention to you before.... and this is totally off topic, sorta. I know you had to remove your stock strut brace to use the ThermoBlock and IC together.

Have you seen the Neuspeed bar? It goes behind the stock bar and I think it would give you enough clearance. It doesn't have the bracing back towards the firewall, but atleast you have a brace again from strut to strut. I can't find my pics (I have it on my car) for some reason but I'll PM you later and show you.

 

Hmmm... actually I saaw a pic of someones car with a Neuspeed strut bar and was wandering the same thing. Not having the strut bar does makes the care twitchy and abit squirrely. I'll put this on my list, I do want to keep the spacer.

Right now the car is back to stock, waiting to go to the dealer for a transmission. Car is very unsafe right now, randomly downshifts, slips...hard etc. Almost got in a wreck today.

 

Don't feel bad... there have been quite few of us that have done the same exact thing... i actually got fed up with trying to get it with a damn hanger and just called up my father who came to the rescue with some mechanics fingers (long claw thing) i spent about 45 minutes with the hanger he had it out with the claw in about 1 1/2 minutes...

 

I'll remember to snap a few pics tomorrow. If I remember correctly the bar is pretty inexpensive. Like $110.

 

I'll need to pick one of those up. My magnetic screwdriver and needle nose pliers weren't long enough.

 

the magnetic extension is better...sometimes you cant see what you're trying to retreve

 

Home Depot or auto parts store?

 

I am sure you can get the Magnetic one at an auto parts store... My dad said he picked up the claw thing at the dollar store... i already grabbed amagnetic one from work but am planning on getting the claw one too. Especially for a situations where what you are trying to get wont stick because your banging it into stuff... prolly be the best $1 i ever spend...

 

Just keep in your toolbox a magnetic extention, it's like a pointer but has a small magnet on the end. Great for retrieving dropped nuts and bolts. The good news is you were able to get it anyway. Any auto parts store will have it on their KD or Lisle tool displays.

 

I also did the same thing, dropped a nut in the manifold. I used a telescoping magnetic pickup. I think Sears sells Lisle tools, they should have one.

 

The magnetic telescope is probably the most useful tool I have... saved me a lot of headaches many a time!