I know that this question has been asked before, but I couldn't see any answer to the following. Has anyone installed the RPW insulator gaskets/blocks on a TL VRX AWD (or equiv)?

I need to know what has to be done to the brackets, and more importantly, the metal pipe (I haven't figured out what it is) between the rear of the mainfold and rear of the engine. The metal pipe doesn't look like it can stretch enough to handle the extra thickness of the insulator.

Can anyone help? What is included in the kit?

Thanks

Ken

I think your correct about the EGR (Exhaust Gas Recirculation) pipe at the back of the manifold not being able to adjust for the difference in height. Best speak to Dave @ RPW, or Anthony @ phillcom about this. Normally they just disconnect the EGR, but by doing so your changing your emssions system, making it illegal to drive with.

The EGR will fit. I've installed a plenum insulator block and a throttle body insulator block (two days ago).

The brackets that attach to the back of the plenum need to have the tops cut off as the plenum will now sit 5mm higher. In other words, they need to be made open ended. I just cut them off with the trusty "Dremmel Type Tool". The bolts still clamp onto them.

As to their effectiveness? I took temperature readings yesterday at Wakefield racetrack after fanging around for 5 laps. Everything on one side of the insulator block (head and manifold) was over 100 degrees, the plenum on the other side of the insulator block was a cool 35 degrees. Only 5mm of Phenolic resin seperates them!


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After reading RPW's product description and ReallyArt's post, it seems that these Insulator Spacers should to fitted to all N/A Magnas that already have a CAI system.

Otherwise, it appears that the CAI's effectiveness is lost by the time the cool air it supplies reaches the manifold - where, cool or not, it gets added to the 100+ degree inferno - apparently not contributing much at all to its overall 'coolness'.

It would be interesting to see what, if any, difference to the temperature running just a CAI system would have...

VR-X II

"The brackets that attach to the back of the plenum need to have the tops cut off as the plenum will now sit 5mm higher. In other words, they need to be made open ended. I just cut them off with the trusty "Dremmel Type Tool". The bolts still clamp onto them."

AHEM... if you'd loosened the brackets where they also bolt to the block and head (the OTHER end from the plenum in other words)... you'd have seen that there's enough play in the brackets themselves to cope with the 5mm of the gasket. Did that with mine and they all bolted home again with no problems. That EGR pipe has a flexi-bit in it anyway - that's not a problem either.

Install with confidence!

"The brackets that attach to the back of the plenum need to have the tops cut off as the plenum will now sit 5mm higher. In other words, they need to be made open ended. I just cut them off with the trusty "Dremmel Type Tool". The bolts still clamp onto them."

AHEM... if you'd loosened the brackets where they also bolt to the block and head (the OTHER end from the plenum in other words)... you'd have seen that there's enough play in the brackets themselves to cope with the 5mm of the gasket. Did that with mine and they all bolted home again with no problems. That EGR pipe has a flexi-bit in it anyway - that's not a problem either.

Install with confidence!


Damn, I should have checked that. I dutifully followed the instructions that were provided and look where it gets me!

Doesn't actually make any difference in the end but yeah, it would be better not to cut them if it's not needed.


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Thanks for the replies.

I noticed the flexy piece in the EGR pipe, I just didn't know "how" flexy it was.

Are bolts included in the kit?

It appears to be reasonable value with the RPW special at the moment.

Thanks

Ken

I've got a question for Reallyart or anyone else who has one of these fitted;

Did you get a spacer for between the plennum chamber and the T/B to get those temps?? I've ordered only a plennum/intake spacer at this stage, but I've since realised that the T/B runs coolant thru it and I was wondering how much heat would 'bleed' from the T/B into the plennum chamber when there is no insulation between these two components.

For those who have done this and for those doing it, if you take some photos I will make up a DYI guide and place it no teh website. Been meaning to do it but its been rather hectic here at this moment.

Got a new mechanic starting next week (Thank god before I die of exhaustion) so with the free time going to be doing some updating on the website and that woudl be good thing to add as it is such a simple mod that most people can fit it up themselves

The throttle body does get very hot - just touch it next time you go for a drive. The spacer acheives the same purpose there as well - proof is in the pudding. Get the TB spacer, go for a drive and see how hot the manifold is on the throttle body end. Fit the spacer, go for a drive and compare the difference.

Someone already did a sorta photo guide here:

http://home.iprimus.com.au/pjmorris/spark%20plug/spark%20plug%20change.htm

worked well enough for me!

I've got a question for Reallyart or anyone else who has one of these fitted;

Did you get a spacer for between the plennum chamber and the T/B to get those temps?? I've ordered only a plennum/intake spacer at this stage, but I've since realised that the T/B runs coolant thru it and I was wondering how much heat would 'bleed' from the T/B into the plennum chamber when there is no insulation between these two components.

Yeah, you need to get the throttle body spacer as well for it to be even more effective. I only just installed the T/B one the other day as they weren't available last year when I got the plenum spacer.

VR-XII, you're absolutely right. It would be really interesting to see if a CAI actually makes a measurable difference in air temp by the time the air gets to the intake manifold. My guess is that air stays in the plenum long enough to heat up thereby negating a lot of the benefit of having CAI in the first place. Insulator blocks would work really well with the CAI.

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