TBI Spacer Airaid worth money?

[kdailey4315]

Hey all
I'm looking to buy a TBI Spacer but I was wondering if any of you guys had any imput on which to buy. Airaid is about twice the money as some other ones on Summit. Is Airaid worth the money or am I just shelling out for the name and the fancy red powdercoating?

[N2TRUX]

I put an Airaid on my 97 and it picked the mpg up by one. It also seemed like it revved a little quicker, but I never put it on a dyno to prove it. I have never run a TB spacer but I hear they help. It impoves the flow by getting the TB a little higher and helps keep the TB cooler so the incoming fuel doesn't vaporize as quick in hot weather.

[piecesparts]

I put the Airaid spacer on my 5.7 in a 91 Silverado. That was the best money I have spent on that truck. It changed the low end torque quite a bit and allowed the acceleration to be more positive. The helical cut in the spacer really mixes the gas/air mixture up and improves response all over. I did get a funny sucking sound from the spacer, due to the swirl effect in the spacer.

[neev_nav]

I've got a K&N Cold Air Intake on my 94 5.7. Is it possible to use both the cold air and the TBI spacer?

[rockman20]

I JUST installed an Airaid onto my 93 One ton with the 454. I can not tell you much right now. Easy install. I think it took me like 15 or 20 minutes max. The spiral core does cause a suction/whistling noise. But it actually kind of sounds like a turbo on a diesel truck.

It only hisses/whistles like that when the truck is getting power. Under normal driving, I never hear it. But cruising up a hill or towing, then you hear it.

I have noticed a little throttle response and a little more power. As for fuel consumption, I haven't even ran a tank through it yet so I don't know. I am hoping I see a 1 to 2 gain.

[bretthan]

piecesparts, have you noticed any increase in gas mileage, and if so, is it enough to pay for the spacer itself?

[rockman20]

I just put my first tank of fuel in. I am not impressed thus far. 75% of my miles on this tank were highway. The remaining 25% was a short tow and a little 4 wheel drive use to get through the mud. Normally I could expect to see about 9 in this kind of situation. I barely got 8. I sure hope this was a fluke. If not, I am tearing that aluminum thing out of there!

[gmcracing92]

when i had a tbi spacer on mine, i ended up getting worse mileage by 2-3 per gallon. i took it right off after only a month. i dont know why it got worse but it did accellerate faster and revved up quicker.

[kdailey4315]

Does anyone know why the airaid ones are twice as much money as other ones. Are you just paying for the name or are they actually a better product?

[piecesparts]

I cannot say that the gas mileage increase was due to the airraid install, but with it creating a better power curve and better low end torque, I got a good all around drive out of it. My mileage was around 15 to 16 MPG daily, when I first got the truck. with the change in plugs, air filter (Standard 14" K&N air cleaner) and the Airaid unit I got around 17 to 18 (mixed driving going to work daily). If I gassed up and got into interstate drivingomly, I got 19.5 MPG, running at 75 miles per hour.
I recently changed over to electric fans and removed the belt driven fan and added the MSD 6A multi-spark unit and I get 19.5 MPG in my mixed daily driving.

I believe that the Airaid changed the performance to a better thing and I gained from it's install. Those that are losing MPG, need to think about the rest of the motor. Is it really up to par for your driving--plugs, cap, rotor, air filter, exhaust, tires aired up to the right pressure, right size of tires---are you working the motor when you don't need to be.

As for price, Airaid is a company that is possibly a little "HIGH" on themselves, compared to others, but their product worked for me. I have had it in my truck for several years and it will stay until the TBI motor comes out for the TPI one that is on the shop floor. The $70.00 for the torque change was cheap by comparison to building a motor.

[Boog]

That's some solid testimony right there. For sure the rest of the engine has to be right to gain anything from this part. Some mag did a test of spacers and such a couple years back but dang'd if I can remember which one and what they came up with. Anyone? I'd like to see some test results. And I'd love to squeeze 18 to 20 out of my 305.

[gmcracing92]

with mine, i had headers and dual exhaust. right when i bought the pickup i did cap, rotor, plugs and wires. i also had a k&N so i figured my motor was "up to par". it does have over 200K and i have since added a chip and get average of 17mpg. i saw on 2 guys garage that they added a trans dapt tbi spacer and i thought that i would try it, it only runs like $45. i did buy mine on ebay from some company in new york and it could have been that it was a piece of crap. when you guys added yours did you have to adjust some transmission cabe. my directions said to and i didnt know what it was tlaking about and my tranny seemed to shift at a high rpm and i guess i should have adjusted it but could that have just been my prob?

[cantburn]

I went with AirRaid and spent the money, but also changed everything else so all would play nice together. Rebuilt the TBI, Replaced the fuel lines, changed the entire ignition circuit(plugs,cap, coil etc. ), Running shorty headers with o2 sensor and 3" pipe with performance cat and magnaflow, AirRaid intake and filter, Z-Max engine and fuel treatment, All engine management sensors changed out and timing kept on track.. I have a '92 GMC K1500 with 98,000 miles, I went from 12-13.5 mpg to 19.5-20 mpg after the changes. I also replaced the thermostat with a 165 degree unit and put a jet performance chip in. Good luck in modding your ride. Chip ParrotHead Parts

[rockman20]

Well, I believe my truck to be up to par. When I bought the truck, the engine was overhauled and currently has about 26,000 miles on it. Transmission has maybe about 6,000 miles on a complete rebuild. I swapped out the plugs, wires, cap, rotor, and I will put a new coil in soon. I also have a K&N filter that maybe has 1,000 miles on it. The exhaust was on the truck when I bought it. It is stock manifolds into Y pipe and then cat and then single Magnaflow muffler and then out the side.

I have brand new tires on the front and are sitting at 70 PSI. The tires on the back are worn but are all aired to 70 as well.

I'm still going to give this thing a chance. I really want to see how it does when I latch onto a 30,000 + pound trailer. The little added torque may be worth it.

I will some day put a TBI chip in my truck as well. A towmaster chip. I would like to see better then what I am in mileage, but I guess when you look at a one ton dually and what I am pulling and using a gas engine.........I can't expect too much more.

[piecesparts]

I would really suggest the change in the chip and the T/stat. The cooler temp will make up for some of the other things that you have done to the motor that would tend to make it run LEAN. The exhaust and air intake improvements are not completely comensated for by the computer until you change the chip and set the T/stat to a cooler temp, which the chip calls for.

The guys at Street and Performance gave me a quick run through on how they look at computer programs and why their company doesn't call for a cooler T/stat, where al of the others that sell on the open market do. S&P calibrates the computer to the readings off of the motor and then adjusts their chips to get the right numbers out, where the ones you buy on the outside uses what you already have and they sell you what they know is a simple improvement.

Don't get me wrong, I have a Hypertech chip in my truck and a 180 degree T/stat. This allows for a good all around yearly driving (winter and summer). I don't run lean on my fuel mixture (plugs and exhaust tips are a good color). The truck runs good, I am running Edelbrock shorty headers with a 3" inlet to a FLowmaster muffler that has dual 2 1/2" outlets. The motor in my truck has 193,000 miles on it and it still runs good, but the other motor that I have is twice the horsepower and that is where I am going to go. I am hoping the TPI motor will still get the suggested mileage that it did in the Vette that it came from.