C5 throttle body spacer
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 1,496
Likes: 353
From: Little Rock Arkansas
There have been extensive tests of LS engines with throttle body spacers. Any gains would be negligible to largely none at all and ultimately they're not worth the rather high cost they are.
Spacers were/are very popular on carbureted vehicles, where fuel delivery occurs largely at the point of air entry. Fuel delivery on a modern electronic-fuel injected vehicle is way past the point of the throttle body. All you are effectively doing by installing a spacer is increasing the distance air has to travel to get to the intake which increases air velocity by an incredibly small amount.
If you want a better upgrade for your '97 that sees legitimate results, put the $120-$150 you would pay for a spacer towards an OEM LS6 intake upgrade - a much proven upgrade for early C5s in terms of money spent and "bang for buck". You will see legitimate power gains there rather than throwing your money away on a piece of molded metal.
Spacers were/are very popular on carbureted vehicles, where fuel delivery occurs largely at the point of air entry. Fuel delivery on a modern electronic-fuel injected vehicle is way past the point of the throttle body. All you are effectively doing by installing a spacer is increasing the distance air has to travel to get to the intake which increases air velocity by an incredibly small amount.
If you want a better upgrade for your '97 that sees legitimate results, put the $120-$150 you would pay for a spacer towards an OEM LS6 intake upgrade - a much proven upgrade for early C5s in terms of money spent and "bang for buck". You will see legitimate power gains there rather than throwing your money away on a piece of molded metal.
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
There have been extensive tests of LS engines with throttle body spacers. Any gains would be negligible to largely none at all and ultimately they're not worth the rather high cost they are.
Spacers were/are very popular on carbureted vehicles, where fuel delivery occurs largely at the point of air entry. Fuel delivery on a modern electronic-fuel injected vehicle is way past the point of the throttle body. All you are effectively doing by installing a spacer is increasing the distance air has to travel to get to the intake which increases air velocity by an incredibly small amount.
If you want a better upgrade for your '97 that sees legitimate results, put the $120-$150 you would pay for a spacer towards an OEM LS6 intake upgrade - a much proven upgrade for early C5s in terms of money spent and "bang for buck". You will see legitimate power gains there rather than throwing your money away on a piece of molded metal.
Spacers were/are very popular on carbureted vehicles, where fuel delivery occurs largely at the point of air entry. Fuel delivery on a modern electronic-fuel injected vehicle is way past the point of the throttle body. All you are effectively doing by installing a spacer is increasing the distance air has to travel to get to the intake which increases air velocity by an incredibly small amount.
If you want a better upgrade for your '97 that sees legitimate results, put the $120-$150 you would pay for a spacer towards an OEM LS6 intake upgrade - a much proven upgrade for early C5s in terms of money spent and "bang for buck". You will see legitimate power gains there rather than throwing your money away on a piece of molded metal.
Thank you. Great information.
1/4 mile/AutoX
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 11,441
Likes: 2,186
From: Buffalo Texas
There have been extensive tests of LS engines with throttle body spacers. Any gains would be negligible to largely none at all and ultimately they're not worth the rather high cost they are.
Spacers were/are very popular on carbureted vehicles, where fuel delivery occurs largely at the point of air entry. Fuel delivery on a modern electronic-fuel injected vehicle is way past the point of the throttle body. All you are effectively doing by installing a spacer is increasing the distance air has to travel to get to the intake which increases air velocity by an incredibly small amount.
If you want a better upgrade for your '97 that sees legitimate results, put the $120-$150 you would pay for a spacer towards an OEM LS6 intake upgrade - a much proven upgrade for early C5s in terms of money spent and "bang for buck". You will see legitimate power gains there rather than throwing your money away on a piece of molded metal.
Spacers were/are very popular on carbureted vehicles, where fuel delivery occurs largely at the point of air entry. Fuel delivery on a modern electronic-fuel injected vehicle is way past the point of the throttle body. All you are effectively doing by installing a spacer is increasing the distance air has to travel to get to the intake which increases air velocity by an incredibly small amount.
If you want a better upgrade for your '97 that sees legitimate results, put the $120-$150 you would pay for a spacer towards an OEM LS6 intake upgrade - a much proven upgrade for early C5s in terms of money spent and "bang for buck". You will see legitimate power gains there rather than throwing your money away on a piece of molded metal.
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Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
There have been extensive tests of LS engines with throttle body spacers. Any gains would be negligible to largely none at all and ultimately they're not worth the rather high cost they are.
Spacers were/are very popular on carbureted vehicles, where fuel delivery occurs largely at the point of air entry. Fuel delivery on a modern electronic-fuel injected vehicle is way past the point of the throttle body. All you are effectively doing by installing a spacer is increasing the distance air has to travel to get to the intake which increases air velocity by an incredibly small amount.
If you want a better upgrade for your '97 that sees legitimate results, put the $120-$150 you would pay for a spacer towards an OEM LS6 intake upgrade - a much proven upgrade for early C5s in terms of money spent and "bang for buck". You will see legitimate power gains there rather than throwing your money away on a piece of molded metal.
Spacers were/are very popular on carbureted vehicles, where fuel delivery occurs largely at the point of air entry. Fuel delivery on a modern electronic-fuel injected vehicle is way past the point of the throttle body. All you are effectively doing by installing a spacer is increasing the distance air has to travel to get to the intake which increases air velocity by an incredibly small amount.
If you want a better upgrade for your '97 that sees legitimate results, put the $120-$150 you would pay for a spacer towards an OEM LS6 intake upgrade - a much proven upgrade for early C5s in terms of money spent and "bang for buck". You will see legitimate power gains there rather than throwing your money away on a piece of molded metal.
I just sold a mint unmolested LS6 (2001-2004) INTAKE MANIFOLD for $375. You can find them in the parts for sale section. EASY bolt on improvement.
The LS6 (2001-2004) intake has a deeper / larger plenum for added air flow. COMPARE the two below:
Here is a early LS1 intake manifold as distinguished by the curved more shallow bottom:
Here is a LS6 / 2001+ intake manifold. You can easily tell by the FLAT bottom:
BC
Last edited by Bill Curlee; Feb 1, 2016 at 10:40 AM.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
YES!!! You have to make some VERY MINOR modifications but its a direct bolt on 100% fit!
Your car will have the steam cross over plumbing under the intake manifold shown below. All you need to do is push the piping down so it rest BELOW the heads of the fasteners that secure the valve valley to the block. I used a plastic mallet and a small wooden dowel and massaged it so it was below the bolt heads and she fit like a glove!
OR
You can also purchase the rear block off caps and the front steam crossover pipe to convert it to the later 2001+ style set up.
You can see the BLOCK OFF plugs on the 2001 at the rear of the picture on each head:
Your car will have the steam cross over plumbing under the intake manifold shown below. All you need to do is push the piping down so it rest BELOW the heads of the fasteners that secure the valve valley to the block. I used a plastic mallet and a small wooden dowel and massaged it so it was below the bolt heads and she fit like a glove!
OR
You can also purchase the rear block off caps and the front steam crossover pipe to convert it to the later 2001+ style set up.
You can see the BLOCK OFF plugs on the 2001 at the rear of the picture on each head:
1/4 mile/AutoX
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 11,441
Likes: 2,186
From: Buffalo Texas
I used this kit, it is pricey but I wanted the four corners to bleed off the trapped air when filling the coolant system(there is a process to make sure you don't have trapped air in the LS engine) I filled mine and started it with NO issues!!!!
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/tf...0601/overview/
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/tf...0601/overview/
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
LOL! I have an 02 ZO6 Came OEM with the rear block off plugs and NO pluming. 
I did a heads, Ported FAST90 and cam mod and wanted the added rear cylinder venting benefit.
SO,,, I purchased an OEM 2001+ Front cross over pipe and installed it in the rear. Just flip it around and connect it to the front using a metal T fitting and some rubber hose:
Bill
I did a heads, Ported FAST90 and cam mod and wanted the added rear cylinder venting benefit.
SO,,, I purchased an OEM 2001+ Front cross over pipe and installed it in the rear. Just flip it around and connect it to the front using a metal T fitting and some rubber hose:
Bill
1/4 mile/AutoX
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 11,441
Likes: 2,186
From: Buffalo Texas
now you tell me Bill, the LS engine was new to me (kinda) and at the time I installed my LS intake all I knew was the lines could be a clearance issue. I had also read that the LS engine trapped air so common sense told me that if all of the highest part of the engine were able to let the air out the easier it would be to fill the system !!! (and it worked)
Another note for the bypass,you could run a hose from the drivers cyl. head directly to the radiator !!!!! No extra clamps and fittings !!!!
Another note for the bypass,you could run a hose from the drivers cyl. head directly to the radiator !!!!! No extra clamps and fittings !!!!
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
LOL! I have an 02 ZO6 Came OEM with the rear block off plugs and NO pluming.
I did a heads, Ported FAST90 and cam mod and wanted the added rear cylinder venting benefit.
SO,,, I purchased an OEM 2001+ Front cross over pipe and installed it in the rear. Just flip it around and connect it to the front using a metal T fitting and some rubber hose:
Bill
I did a heads, Ported FAST90 and cam mod and wanted the added rear cylinder venting benefit.
SO,,, I purchased an OEM 2001+ Front cross over pipe and installed it in the rear. Just flip it around and connect it to the front using a metal T fitting and some rubber hose:
Bill
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 42
Likes: 1
From: Kommnifornia
Not to get too far off the intake train. But.
can you run the ls1 throttle body on the ls6 intake? Or would you recommend upgrading(not sure if there is anything to be gained) to the ls6 throttle body as well?
can you run the ls1 throttle body on the ls6 intake? Or would you recommend upgrading(not sure if there is anything to be gained) to the ls6 throttle body as well?
1/4 mile/AutoX
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 11,441
Likes: 2,186
From: Buffalo Texas
yes you can a few of the guys here have them polished !!!!!!!
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 4,449
Likes: 409
From: Portland OR