scottyp99

...oh, wait, I mean "wood laminate". Gonna use a nice grade of ply.....ummm, wood laminate, and I would like some suggestions on how to keep it from absorbing any gasoline. I'm thinking sand it and paint it with something, but what to paint it with?


Scott

Lupigiato

Wasn't aware wood was a possibility. I went with phenolic and a friend used aluminum. Why wood?

scottyp99

Well, it's cheap, it's an excellent insulator, it's cheap, it's easily worked with, and it's cheap. But it's not very gasoline resistant. Engine paint, maybe?


Scott

qtlow

Yes, you can do it. But if your running a Holley Carburetor you must make the spacer out of "holly wood" from a "holly tree" in order for it to be compatible.

PRNDL

And a heck of a lot easier to cut a spacer out of plywood than phenolic or aluminum. WTH is "phenolic" ? Do they have sheets of that at Home Depot? I cut a spacer out of plywood - used a carb gasket as a template. Never installed it tho.

Bugman Jeff

Fiberglass resin is fuel resistant and can be thinned a bit with acetone if need be.

Duane4238

"Phenolic Resin" is a fiber product (similar in a way to fiberglass). It contains layers of woven fabric that are impregnated with special resins, then baked under pressure in a mold to cure the final product. Quite indestructable and long lasting!
Duane

alswagg

3/4" Oak makes a great spacer and insolator. I would not recommend plywood or composite board. Oak or even Maple. Good luck Al

danthony

Good luck with that one. If it doesn't catch fire it will definitely leak as wood contracts/expands much more than metal at the underhood temps and with humidity.

toddalin

I don't know about that. See the link for many wooden carb spacers from Jegs alone.

http://www.jegs.com/p/JEGS-Performan...15166/10002/-1

rcread

Get the Edelbrock Woodfiber Laminate spacers. They are made in the USA. Actually, my office sits directly above the CNC router upon which they are made. The raw material is from just down I5, in Tacoma.

7T1vette

I'm not sure a plywood laminate would be such a good idea. There are many layers of poor quality wood glued together. Wouldn't gasoline mixture just disintegrate it? I know that solid wood spacers have been used with success...but never heard of using plywood.

69Vett

here is a thought, ..... Gas, wood and fiberglass !
wood ... you really chance a fireball ?

Vette5.5

Really think I'd just go with one of the mentioned Jegs or Edelbrock units, as not that expensive. Recall years ago using a multi piece unit with alternate plates of aluminum and gasket material. Advantage of this, was the top aluminum plate was pretty large to keep heat away from the entire carb. No idea where I got this, or even if it's made anymore, but just another idea.

tekvette

I never liked the idea of any wood on a car. Home Depot plywood, even the best grade, when u cut it always have little pieces missing here and there, loose pieces etc.
You could coat the whole thing in fiberglass resin I suppose but by time you buy the wood, can of resin etc, how much are you really saving?
I wouldn't do it.

69 Chevy

Those spacers from Jeg's/Summit are not made from lumberyard plywood. They also caution: Note: Not for use with stock intake manifolds with heat crossovers.

But go right ahead and try to save a penny. Your insurance company will get the last laugh when it burns to the ground and their adjuster spies your handiwork, denying any claim.

Ganey

Mr. Gasket makes them, advantage was adj. height.

Hardway

Agree with everyone above. What you are proposing creeps in to Bubba territory, and we all know how that ends. It is a Corvette for crying out loud, just pony up the money and buy a correct spacer for your application. You will save time and frustration in the end, and possibly an insurance claim.

nutsy

the correct spacer for my 72 454 was only 9 bucs. why use anything else?

scottyp99

Well, I am starting to think that the concept is sound, but the execution is just not practical. I'll probably end up using a phenolic spacer, if any. Thanks for all of your input, I appreciate it, has definitely helped me make my decision.


Scott