Protege Garage Intake Mani & NSN IM spacer review

[Laser03pro]

I got a question on the website the intake shows only 2 bolt holes for the fuel rail do you just not bolt up the other 2 mounts??

 

[Crazee D]

thats my problem
no holes line up on the fuel rail

plus i think with the spacer in I need deeper threads on studs and bolts now too!!

 

[baconbitz]

How did you go about getting the fuel rail and all of that out of the way when you where doing this? Im in the process of doing this right now and would like to get the car back up and running today sometime.

 

[baconbitz]

Nevermind, I figured it out. Now I just have about 2 vacuum lines and the damn egr pipe to disconnect to get the lower part of the manifold out.

 

[Run for Cover]

what about the install instructions? does it come with it or where can we get them?

List of required tools that are needed and such

 

[baconbitz]

Really its not that bad of an install, just takes time and a few busted knuckles. As for tools, basic tools will get you by just fine. I'm doing this in the parking lot at school here in Tampa. The hardest thing you have to do is get the EGR pipe off, its a b**** but if you work with for a while then you can get it. I would have finished up tonight but it started raining so I stopped.

If you have a decent tool kit and and basic mechanical knowledge you'll be alright.

 

[Shadow102]

Yeah the EGR was the biggest problem i had with the whole install its just hard to get a wrench big enough in there. Besides basic hand tools the only thing i would suggest would be a 12mm 3/8drive Swivel socket just makes getting the nuts and bolts that hold the manifold to head off easier. There should be no reason to use longer bolts or studs and you only need one gasket which i suggest go between the spacer and the head.

 

[baconbitz]

Yeah the EGR was the biggest problem i had with the whole install its just hard to get a wrench big enough in there. Besides basic hand tools the only thing i would suggest would be a 12mm 3/8drive Swivel socket just makes getting the nuts and bolts that hold the manifold to head off easier. There should be no reason to use longer bolts or studs and you only need one gasket which i suggest go between the spacer and the head.

Yea ive got long skinny ass fingers that helped with that part.I didnt even get the EGR off the stock mani, just took it off at the exhaust manifold and wiggled it out from there. Also it really does help if you take the manifold out in 2 pieces, I know it made my life 10x easier. Oh and if anybody still wants pics of the stock mani next to Ken's I can get pictures of that tomorow.

 

[cmahlig]

how does the spacer add hp/help the engine?

 

[baconbitz]

Someone correct me if im wrong but my understanding is that it lowers intake temperatures.

 

[Shadow102]

Someone correct me if im wrong but my understanding is that it lowers intake temperatures.

correct. effectivly what it is doing is stopping heat transfer between the metals of the intake manifold and head, therefore the air in the intake manifold doesnt heat up due to metal temp.

 

[mightyray]

So I attempted to swap the 626 manifold with the NSN spacer today and it was more than I bargained for. I ran out of light but I'm done except for a few vacuum lines and plugs. You guys weren't lying when you said the egr tube was hard to get out. I spent well over an hour trying to get it out and eventually just took a hack saw to it. The whole swap was fairly straight forward but it took me a while to figure everything out. Some things to note:

I hadn't realized that you had to remove the fuel lines as well to remove the intake.
I used the home depot EGR line and the fittings it came with fit perfectly but the line itself is pretty long.
I used a dremel to get the excess throttle body gasket off.
PB Blaster and locking pliers helped get the EGR tube off the exhaust manifold.
This is a moderate skill level mod. I saw some guys say this took them 4 hours, but it took me over 7 and I'm still not quite done. I'm not the best mechanic though so you guys can probably do it faster.
I took some pictures that I'll post soon.

 

[KrayzieFox]

So did you guys still use a gasket on the intake manifold, or just the NSN spacer?

P.S. This is a pretty old thread. Good job on the revival mightyray (2thumbs)

 

[mightyray]

The NSN install guide says to put put the gasket between the head and the spacer.

 

[KrayzieFox]

Ok, cool.

So head, gasket, NSN spacer, intake manifold right? But why not put a gasket betweent he spacer and manifold as well? Seems to me like it would leak without one..

 

[Shadow102]

Ok, cool.

So head, gasket, NSN spacer, intake manifold right? But why not put a gasket betweent he spacer and manifold as well? Seems to me like it would leak without one..

The spacer is soft enough that the manifold seals just fine against.

As far as disconnecting the fuel lines there is no need to do that. After unbolting the fuel rail you just lift up with the injectors and everything come out that way you don't end up with fuel every where and you can put it back the same.

 

[mspHtown]

Ok, cool.

So head, gasket, NSN spacer, intake manifold right? But why not put a gasket betweent he spacer and manifold as well? Seems to me like it would leak without one..

if your worried about it not sealing properly, then just add the gasket.

i didnt want to risk it leaking, so i used a gasket on both sides of the spacer.

 

[KrayzieFox]

Yea that's what I had in mind. Did you block off the EGR or did the pipe still fit even with double gaskets and the spacer?

 

[mp3-79bronco]

where do you buy the nsn spacer?

 

[mspHtown]

Yea that's what I had in mind. Did you block off the EGR or did the pipe still fit even with double gaskets and the spacer?

still running the egr, so yea it fits with double gaskets and spacer.