So i am currently at the local junkyard and i found a couple mdx spacers but the 2 a different wondering which one ill need for a 03 acura cls ill post up some pictures 2 mdx spacers but you see the difference? I need to know if its the left or right one

 

One on the left has some tabs that bolt down some coolant lines i believe the one on the right had nothing attached to it when i pulled it out

 

to be safe; grab the one on the right!
cuz the one on the left has brackets for something. I'm just worried for clearance with the brackets in place.

 

Mmm i was actually feeling the one on the left only because the manifold that was on top of it is alot more similar to the one on the CL not sure if that matters though

 

I dont remember what my runners look like...i cant remember if there is anything that would need those brackets.

but, I think you'll make it work with which ever one you get

 

Trying to upload a picture but its not working...

 

if you stack them on top of each other does everything line up? Is the EGR passage the same shape on both?

 

here are our runners if that helps:

 

I just purchased both for 17$

 

egr ports are not the same one wothout tabs has a more round port, and the other one is looks more like a oval shape. They also dont line up oerfectly either just off by a hair

 

Slightly off

 

Just wondering if i can use the spacer as is, or i am going to hae to get it milled down? I see the p2r spacer is only 3/4" thick also i plan on use p2r manifold gaskets

 

steal at $17 for both.
and instead of milling down the spacer, cut the hood bracing.

 

Might as well gasket match them while they're out. How thick are P2R gaskets? I remember someone crushed a pop can under their hood so they got a measurement of how much room is between the hood and manifold.

 

I wanted to avoid cutting the hood liner but.... i might have too donit to make this mod work

 

Did some clean work gone through 3 cans of carb cleaner already. I thinkn im just going to go ahead and test the fitment tomorrow as is and which one actually is the right one

 

Why you scared? Cutting the hood bracing is the best way.
Unless you want to spend the money to get the spacer milled and lose volume!

It's just hood bracing.

Or you could space the hinge of the hood, but that looks goofy

 

Just the thought of cutting it gives me chills! Haha

Ill either do that or take the whole thing off.

Good thing i saved the longer bolts and pulled the studs out of the runners

 

^
You could do what 2ndgentl did if you have a fiberglass guy on hand.

 

at this point! embrace your modding!!!
you car isnt under warranty. and you can basically do what you want to the car! it doesnt take much to cut the bracing...you're only getting rid of the parts that come in contact with the manifold.
so, i think it's only the corners of the manifold...and should give you enough clearance to close the hood.
literally takes like 5 mins to cut the thin bracing!

once you cut the bracing and have a little practice, add M3 hood vents!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! involves more cutting....but will vent out the hot ass air the J32 produces. for my car, i've been pondering on adding Mercedes Benz hood vents...the vents that come from the SUVs,, they are full width vents that run across the width of the hood

 

here's my friends 3G with his DIY m3 hood vents!!

 

2nd gen TSX with m3 hood vents

 

Actually look really sick!

 

Oh my
I have always wanted to pop the manifold cover off just to see what it looks like. I knew it was going to be dirty but holy shit that is alot of build up! I dont even want to know what the runners look like. Looks like i have some cleaning to do this weekend, probably why my car runs a little rough sometimes
Actually look really sick!

 

dont over torque the manifold cover bolts! they are 10ft-lbs, a little more than FINGER TIGHT.

also, look into oil catch can! the catch can will catch all of that crud before it enters the manifold!

 

As you already probably know, after cleaning, when you put it all back together, make sure that 'tab' on the metal gasket is to the rear toward that ^ 'stud' above; otherwise, if you accidentally flip it, so it's toward the front, you will have engine issues.

 

I made sure of that, thanks!

 

I didnt have have a torque wrench but i got them snug. Where can i get a catch can or doni gotta make one some how?

 

Got the manifold all cleaned up about 2 hours and 6 cans or carbs cleaner later almost looks like new. Sorry i couldnt take any better/more pictures it started to down pour right after i took this one. I ordered the p2r thermal gasket and ill probably go through one more time and give it a final clean and do the runners as well, any tips i should know on doing those? After all that ill test out the MDX spacer

 

Looks good! Catch can you can get on eBay. They're universal. Some just look ricier than others.

 

What happens with rain with these vents?

 

I think I read somewhere we have an inch of clearance and those are 1.5. You'll need them milled or cut the under hood brace like said above. Im following this thread as this is my next mod. looks like im one step behind you....finishing headers todays because I didnt listen to you and used the chinese hardware and stripped 3 flange bolts putting them on...fml

 

I am just going to have it milled down, I don't really want to cut into the hood brace for this mod I don't think its worth all the extra work but that's just me. go check out a junkyard and pull one out yourself its really cheap I only paid 17$ for 2. going back to my first post on this thread it the spacer on the left, not the right. the EGR port on the left matched to our car oh and make sure you pull the longer studs and save the bolts as well you'll need them.

good luck on getting the stripped bolts off the flanges.

 

the real vents have plastic routing to route the water away. my friend, being the cheapDIY guy didnt ADD these plastic routes. so, as you guessed, water ran straight down into the engine (which doesnt harm the engine) HOWEVER, the location he chose to cut the hood was right over the fuse box. I would have chose a different location...
he ran the car like this for a year with NO electrical problems ,until he totaled the car.

 

good to know...I wouldve guessed the one on the right without the "tabs" and wouldve guessed wrong.....Im gonna do what you did and go get one for like 9 bucks from a junkyard. There are some great ones around me in FL btw, and have it milled to half thickness. Lmk how much it costs to mill it. As long as it is less than 90 bucks it still beats paying 109$ for the 3/4" p2r spacer.....too bad they cant just cut it evenly in half giving you two .75 inch spacers...could sell one then.

 

Gnuts the P2R gasket is 1/8" thickness just got mine today hopefully will have the MDX spacer milled down by the weekend

 

The p2r gasket doesnt quite match up with the MDX spacer, does anyone know if this will cause any problems like leaks or bad air flow?

 

NOO! you're going to lose volume. might as well went with the P2R spacer.

 

....i would trim anywhere it would protrude inside of one of those six inlet "rings" - thats just me - for airflow. I would say your fine and not to worry about leaks.

 

I know, I am still spending less money having it milled down and its going to be 3/4" just like the P2R. I don't want to cut anything under my hood with this I will still have hood clearance