Throtle Body Spacer???
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 160
Likes: 0
Ok - I just took the truck for a ride with the TB spacer on, then took it off and took it for another ride. The battery was disconnected for the uninstall, then reconnected.
There is without question a difference in off the line, seat of the pants acceleration. With the spacer in, power was good right from the throttle. Without the spacer, there was a few seconds of "lag" before I could feel the real power coming on - sort of sluggish at first. The truck felt like it pulled stronger through the mid-range, too, with the TB spacer in, where acceleration was fairly uneventful without the spacer in.
There's also a noticeable difference in kickdown acceleration from about 45 mph, but the big difference is off the line - which it seems is where most feel it's lacking power.
Had I been thinking, I would have brough a stopwatch with me and timed 0-60 acceleration.
Before I put the spacer back in, I'll time three 0-60 passes w/o the spacer, and then three with.
My truck also has MIT and K&N filter.
Rick
There is without question a difference in off the line, seat of the pants acceleration. With the spacer in, power was good right from the throttle. Without the spacer, there was a few seconds of "lag" before I could feel the real power coming on - sort of sluggish at first. The truck felt like it pulled stronger through the mid-range, too, with the TB spacer in, where acceleration was fairly uneventful without the spacer in.
There's also a noticeable difference in kickdown acceleration from about 45 mph, but the big difference is off the line - which it seems is where most feel it's lacking power.
Had I been thinking, I would have brough a stopwatch with me and timed 0-60 acceleration.
Before I put the spacer back in, I'll time three 0-60 passes w/o the spacer, and then three with.
My truck also has MIT and K&N filter.
Rick
Junior User
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 80
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by CentralCoaster
The only people I know installing these are kids with pickup trucks.
However... build me a damn supercharger, and ill strap that to my 4.6 in a heart beat!!!! instead of the small assortment of add-ons available!!!!!!!
That brings up another subject maybe for another thread, is there a link where you can go to monitor the production of a supercharger for the 4.6?????? I just dont understand why they would work so hard to make one for the 5.4, when just as many people want one for the 4.6 (well thats what i see in my opinion that is)
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 160
Likes: 0
I'm not a kid, either Coaster.
If you haven't been reading, there are quite a few people here who aren't happy with the acceleration of a truck that's advertised to have 300 hp and 365 ft/lb of torque.
So, shoot me for not being afraid to try something to help with the acceleration.
No - I'm not going to go drag racing with it, but I'm not afraid to add a few parts to help the thing accelerate a little better.
Rick
If you haven't been reading, there are quite a few people here who aren't happy with the acceleration of a truck that's advertised to have 300 hp and 365 ft/lb of torque.
So, shoot me for not being afraid to try something to help with the acceleration.
No - I'm not going to go drag racing with it, but I'm not afraid to add a few parts to help the thing accelerate a little better.
Rick
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 113
Likes: 0
Keep in mind that with electronic throttle control that there are things happening behind the scenes that you have no control over. The throttle is controlled by the PCM, the throttle control is based on what you do with the pedal, but it does not necessarily follow exactly what you're doing with the pedal. There are other things at play. For example, the PCM will control the throttle to "help" with driveability (and other things), so sometimes when you mash down on the pedal thinking that the throttle is opening right up it may not be - it could be ramped open a little slower than you think to keep something like a surge from happening.
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 223
Likes: 0
jdew, I can tap my gas pedal all the way to the floor and let it come up, and the engine doesn't even budge.
I think the main culprit for these trucks feeling slow is conservative shift points and throttle control, and obviously, weight. The engines themselves are much more optimized than they used to be. I'm considering the DP tuner tool, 15-20 hp for $400 is pretty much the norm, at least starting off.
I think the main culprit for these trucks feeling slow is conservative shift points and throttle control, and obviously, weight. The engines themselves are much more optimized than they used to be. I'm considering the DP tuner tool, 15-20 hp for $400 is pretty much the norm, at least starting off.
Cargo Master
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 2,414
Likes: 22
From: Tucson USA
there is a good article in fourwheeler magazine by a guy from a company that writes aftermarket codes for various vehicles. bottom line is dont waste your money on most of this stuff. Exhaust is the most productive way to go followed by free flow intake ssytem particularly if it is a stock motor.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
10 Fords to Drive Before You Die
Joe Kucinski
3 Best / Worst Features Of The 2025+ Ford Expedition
Brett Foote
10 Ways Ford is LOSING to the Competition
Joe Kucinski
Top 6 Best Deals Available on New Fords & Lincolns Right Now
Brett Foote
This Hennessey Takes the Expedition Tremor's Off-Roading Capability to the Next Level
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals
Joe Kucinski
3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership
Brett Foote
10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches
Pouria Savadkouei
Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained
Brett Foote
Its Comin Right for us!
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 12,225
Likes: 2,678
From: GA
Originally Posted by CentralCoaster
Ha! No. The whistle means it's stealing energy from the air flow. Changing kinetic energy into noise.
Carb spacers are older than dirt, and they work, on CARBED motors, (or TBI/CFI motors). They work by allowing the aircharge to develop to a somewhat more organized flow before dropping straight down to the manifold, generating torque (same theory behind long tube headers, established flow = air momentum = torque). Swirlies where added later to help fuel atomization. On MPFI motors, adding a spacer ahead of the plenum accomplishes nothing. Spinning the air into the plenum does nothing. The plenum is an air box that each runner draws from individually. "spinning" 500 cfm of air down the plenum doesn't magically translate into 60 something CFM twirling down an intake runner. You also don't need help atomizing fuel from an injector.
The air also doesn't follow the screw thread pattern, it's moving fast. It just skips over it like any other obstruction that creates noise.
Carb spacers are older than dirt, and they work, on CARBED motors, (or TBI/CFI motors). They work by allowing the aircharge to develop to a somewhat more organized flow before dropping straight down to the manifold, generating torque (same theory behind long tube headers, established flow = air momentum = torque). Swirlies where added later to help fuel atomization. On MPFI motors, adding a spacer ahead of the plenum accomplishes nothing. Spinning the air into the plenum does nothing. The plenum is an air box that each runner draws from individually. "spinning" 500 cfm of air down the plenum doesn't magically translate into 60 something CFM twirling down an intake runner. You also don't need help atomizing fuel from an injector.
The air also doesn't follow the screw thread pattern, it's moving fast. It just skips over it like any other obstruction that creates noise.
exactly
....rpxr ......do you seriously think these trucks are TBI???
hahaha
the only reason you may be feeling more power down low is because this spcer is restricting the air flow by a smaller port, so your velocity is increasing...your losing top end power
if this really helped, dont you think ford would have made the intake 1 inch longer??
Elder User
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 591
Likes: 0
From: Mirror, Alberta
Is it worth it?
Originally Posted by Beefford
Anyone installed one on an 04 or 05 5.4? If so what do you think. Is it worth the money in performance.