Does anyone know why the factory decided to top our manifolds with the silver plate in the first place? I'm glad they did as it led to the REM and all but does anyone know it's purpose? Never seen a post on this aspect.

 

They were going to have a bust of Bill Clinton top the engine but chickened out at the last minute.

Don't really get your question - the cover is part of the plenum, which aids in tuning the intake air charge.

For comparison: There are all sorts of plenum boxes for the SB Chevy engine - each optimizes some part of the range, and usually makes more overall pwer.

The factory design is a compromise for emissions, low noise, etc. It would not surprise me if the RES mod makes mpore noise along with its alleged power.

 

What I mean is why isn't our intake manifold just one big piece of metal - why is the plate removable? Honda must of had a reason.

 

Gotcha. Generally access panels are there for 2 reasons:

1) The mfr. found it was easier to make the part out of 2 pieces rather than 1 casting
2) For service access in case debris or metal part gets in there during routine maintenance or because of a specuial circumstance - far easier to pyull of an access plate than remove the whole deal.