Another P2R TB Spacer Install
#1
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Thread Starter
Another P2R TB Spacer Install
As noted here: https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-performance-parts-modifications-112/new-goodies-xlr8-806832/ I recently received a P2R Spacer from XLR8. Below is my install from this last Saturday.
My wife and kids were out of town this weekend, so I had the garage to myself and backed the car in to have good lighting...fortunately we were back to having nice days in Phoenix again after some unusually cold weather (19 degrees three nights in a row at my place...that's not normal).
![](https://img64.imageshack.us/img64/320/img3157d.jpg)
The requisite "before" shot:
![](https://img812.imageshack.us/img812/7411/img3159t.jpg)
Engine cover off and getting ready for some disassembling:
![](https://img689.imageshack.us/img689/892/img3160a.jpg)
And then...I ran into a bit of a snag. You see, while my car is only a 2006, I have a 30 mile commute for work (each way), coupled with the fact that I live much closer to the surface of the sun for the better part of the year, and it turns out that the hose connecting the air filter housing and the throttle body was starting to develop some dry rot:
![](https://img812.imageshack.us/img812/1533/img3161s.jpg)
![](https://img820.imageshack.us/img820/2169/img3162u.jpg)
Obviously, at this point, my car wasn't drivable, and my wife had her car over in San Diego. Thank goodness for a great neighbor and a dealership parts department that was open on a Saturday. An hour later and I was back on track:
![](https://img823.imageshack.us/img823/4892/img3163uc.jpg)
Fortunately, once the bolts were loosened up, the throttle body slid right off.
![](https://img37.imageshack.us/img37/231/img3164et.jpg)
However, the gasket material didn't come off so easily and I had A LOT of the gasket firmly stuck to the surface of the intake manifold. Out came one of the best tools ever...it uses a plain razor blade but is made for scraping activities:
![](https://img545.imageshack.us/img545/5459/img3165d.jpg)
The completely clean intake manifold connection surface:
![](https://img831.imageshack.us/img831/1793/img3166u.jpg)
Thanks to A-zine user Sharksbreath, I picked up some copper liquid gasket. I went with the spray variety and gave each thermal gasket the once-over on each side:
![](https://img109.imageshack.us/img109/2841/img3167y.jpg)
After spraying it was time to get everything on before it dried. Re-assembly began:
![](https://img155.imageshack.us/img155/4039/img3168mt.jpg)
![](https://img6.imageshack.us/img6/7335/img3169b.jpg)
![](https://img153.imageshack.us/img153/7513/img3170qi.jpg)
All in all, not counting the 1 hour side trip to replace my torn connection hose, it took me about 2 hours. Aside from that one little "glitch", the only other problem I had was with removing the top studs from the manifold. I DIY video in the 3G garage and used the two nuts to remove the first stud, but I must have done something wrong because I couldn't ever get the nuts back off the first stud to do the second. So, a pair of channel locks solved the problem.
Do I notice a difference? I think so. But, it could be in my head. It seems to have a little more pep in the throttle. I think it will make a bigger difference when we get into the summer months and heat soak really becomes an issue.
BTW, while I was in there, I took the opportunity to vacuum out some debris from the air filter housing and dropped in a new K&N filter to replace the stock element.
My wife and kids were out of town this weekend, so I had the garage to myself and backed the car in to have good lighting...fortunately we were back to having nice days in Phoenix again after some unusually cold weather (19 degrees three nights in a row at my place...that's not normal).
![](https://img64.imageshack.us/img64/320/img3157d.jpg)
The requisite "before" shot:
![](https://img812.imageshack.us/img812/7411/img3159t.jpg)
Engine cover off and getting ready for some disassembling:
![](https://img689.imageshack.us/img689/892/img3160a.jpg)
And then...I ran into a bit of a snag. You see, while my car is only a 2006, I have a 30 mile commute for work (each way), coupled with the fact that I live much closer to the surface of the sun for the better part of the year, and it turns out that the hose connecting the air filter housing and the throttle body was starting to develop some dry rot:
![](https://img812.imageshack.us/img812/1533/img3161s.jpg)
![](https://img820.imageshack.us/img820/2169/img3162u.jpg)
Obviously, at this point, my car wasn't drivable, and my wife had her car over in San Diego. Thank goodness for a great neighbor and a dealership parts department that was open on a Saturday. An hour later and I was back on track:
![](https://img823.imageshack.us/img823/4892/img3163uc.jpg)
Fortunately, once the bolts were loosened up, the throttle body slid right off.
![](https://img37.imageshack.us/img37/231/img3164et.jpg)
However, the gasket material didn't come off so easily and I had A LOT of the gasket firmly stuck to the surface of the intake manifold. Out came one of the best tools ever...it uses a plain razor blade but is made for scraping activities:
![](https://img545.imageshack.us/img545/5459/img3165d.jpg)
The completely clean intake manifold connection surface:
![](https://img831.imageshack.us/img831/1793/img3166u.jpg)
Thanks to A-zine user Sharksbreath, I picked up some copper liquid gasket. I went with the spray variety and gave each thermal gasket the once-over on each side:
![](https://img109.imageshack.us/img109/2841/img3167y.jpg)
After spraying it was time to get everything on before it dried. Re-assembly began:
![](https://img155.imageshack.us/img155/4039/img3168mt.jpg)
![](https://img6.imageshack.us/img6/7335/img3169b.jpg)
![](https://img153.imageshack.us/img153/7513/img3170qi.jpg)
All in all, not counting the 1 hour side trip to replace my torn connection hose, it took me about 2 hours. Aside from that one little "glitch", the only other problem I had was with removing the top studs from the manifold. I DIY video in the 3G garage and used the two nuts to remove the first stud, but I must have done something wrong because I couldn't ever get the nuts back off the first stud to do the second. So, a pair of channel locks solved the problem.
Do I notice a difference? I think so. But, it could be in my head. It seems to have a little more pep in the throttle. I think it will make a bigger difference when we get into the summer months and heat soak really becomes an issue.
BTW, while I was in there, I took the opportunity to vacuum out some debris from the air filter housing and dropped in a new K&N filter to replace the stock element.
Last edited by ttribe; 02-07-2011 at 08:05 PM.
#5
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Thanks for the compliments. I think it turned out well.
#7
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looks good man! i'll be installing mine along with the aemV2 intake this weekend.
nice touch on the spray version...gotta get me some of that too.
nice touch on the spray version...gotta get me some of that too.
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#8
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Yeah, when I went to the Checker/O'Reilly near my home, they were out of the Permatex Liquid that you described, but they had the spray so I decided to give it a try. Seemed to work just fine.
#10
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