Phenolic Intake Spacers

[ThirdStrike]

have you guys seen anything cheaper than 034's kit ($85) ??
i found a set thats 10 bucks cheaper but doesnt look like it comes with the additional hardware(bolts) that 034 offers. http://www.newsouthperformance.com/gasket.htm
anybody have a better suggestion than 034 ? http://www.034motorsport.com/product...s_id=982{1}245

[Matt@JHM]

That link is for a gasket only, guess it's a bit thicker than a normal gasket and "special" material but it is not the same thing as a phenolic spacer.

You could get a set from the original inventors of the intake spacer, Vast Performance.

[ThirdStrike]

vast's kit is $160 vs the 034motorsports kit 85 bucks. i dont see why vast's is so much more

[casawhites4]

same

[casawhites4]

is it that much better, im about to chang emy thermostat...and was gonna do port and polish exhuast mani's and these spacers...

[HighDesertAudi]

Go with 034, they seem to be one of the only tuners that price things reasonably. Plus it's a great product.

I have there Phenolic spacer on my CQ, and it works great. The Intake Manifold is cool to the touch after hard driving. Before it was scalding hot even after a short drive.

[exorcet]

Newsouth performance has been making phenolic spacers for VW/Audi applications for a long while. so they wouldn't be a bad choice.

elitedrummer - vast didn't invent the phenolic spacer..it's been around a LOONG time.. originally used to space carburetors from intake manifolds.

I'd say go with whomever has the best price.

[dgrs4sd]

what is the process (or how in depth) to install these?

[The_Jerbel]

The difference between the 034 and the VAST spacer is that the 034 is a thicker-than-OEM gasket, as where the VAST kit comes with an actual spacer, as well as 2 gaskets (one for each side of the spacer). Most of the time in life you get what you pay for. The VAST kit works. I can get you one a bit cheaper than the price you listed, if you want. PM me for details...

[The_Jerbel]

what is the process (or how in depth) to install these?

Take off the fuel rail, unbolt the intake mani, install the spacers and gaskets, re-bolt up the intake mani, re-attach the fuel rail. done.

[AB18]

I have the vast, it def makes a difference.

[HighDesertAudi]

The difference between the 034 and the VAST spacer is that the 034 is a thicker-than-OEM gasket, as where the VAST kit comes with an actual spacer, as well as 2 gaskets (one for each side of the spacer). Most of the time in life you get what you pay for. The VAST kit works. I can get you one a bit cheaper than the price you listed, if you want. PM me for details...

What are you talking about? I have one and it's defineatly not a "thicker-than-OEM" gasket.

You can clearly see from the picture they have, that it includes the two 5mm spacers, 4 gaskets, and new longer hardware.



Please keep you misinformation to yourself

[The_Jerbel]

What are you talking about? I have one and it's defineatly not a "thicker-than-OEM" gasket.

You can clearly see from the picture they have, that it includes the two 5mm spacers, 4 gaskets, and new longer hardware.



Please keep you misinformation to yourself

My mistake, I've been told, and was under the impression that they are nothing more than a thicker gasket, but have never used one myself. I'm more than happy to be corrected when I'm wrong, thanks for pointing out my mistake!

BTW, if you don't like my posts, don't read them. I try to post as much as my time allows, just simply to HELP PEOPLE, and the advise that I post usually isn't too far off...

[Daft]

have you guys seen anything cheaper than 034's kit ($85) ??
i found a set thats 10 bucks cheaper but doesnt look like it comes with the additional hardware(bolts) that 034 offers. http://www.newsouthperformance.com/gasket.htm
anybody have a better suggestion than 034 ? http://www.034motorsport.com/product...s_id=982{1}245

I have the Newsouth ones. The reason I went with those is because it was alot easier to seat and thread a single gasket than several layers. Once you apply some rtv to the mating surface, the whole thing starts sliding all over. It was tricky enough just to get that single gasket in place without any mess.

I also spoke to the guys at Newsouth before buying it and they explained how this gasket has the same properties as a phenolic gasket but, has a little give to allow even sealing. That was a big plus to me. It just seemed like the multi-layer design would be more prone to leaking under high boost scenarios.

I've had mine on almost a year now and it's rock solid. As for reduction in temps, They claim as much as -30F. I haven't seen that much. I was able to see about -20F from before the gasket. This was on a Stage 1 chip on two 90F days last summer.

Before the gasket on a 90F day, my IATs read 62C or 143.6F.
After the gasket on a 90F day, my IATs read 50C or 122F.

This was based on a 3rd gear pull with a hot motor on the same stretch of flat road.

As for being stage 3 now, I haven't seen a 90F day yet, but I have already seen 130F from the same 3rd gear pull on that road in only 70-72F weather. I need upgraded ICs but, at least the gaskets are trimming a small bit off until I get some.

[HighDesertAudi]

My mistake, I've been told, and was under the impression that they are nothing more than a thicker gasket, but have never used one myself. I'm more than happy to be corrected when I'm wrong, thanks for pointing out my mistake!

BTW, if you don't like my posts, don't read them. I try to post as much as my time allows, just simply to HELP PEOPLE, and the advise that I post usually isn't too far off...

Sorry, I thought you were just being a VAST whore.



All of them probably work just as well, it's just nice to see 034 passing some savings along.

It's not that bad trying to get all the gaskets in place, just put the bolts through the IM and gaskets before you put in on the engine, than thread in the bolts.

[S4shpion]

I have the Newsouth ones. The reason I went with those is because it was alot easier to seat and thread a single gasket than several layers. Once you apply some rtv to the mating surface, the whole thing starts sliding all over. It was tricky enough just to get that single gasket in place without any mess.

I also spoke to the guys at Newsouth before buying it and they explained how this gasket has the same properties as a phenolic gasket but, has a little give to allow even sealing. That was a big plus to me. It just seemed like the multi-layer design would be more prone to leaking under high boost scenarios.

I've had mine on almost a year now and it's rock solid. As for reduction in temps, They claim as much as -30F. I haven't seen that much. I was able to see about -20F from before the gasket. This was on a Stage 1 chip on two 90F days last summer.

Before the gasket on a 90F day, my IATs read 62C or 143.6F.
After the gasket on a 90F day, my IATs read 50C or 122F.

This was based on a 3rd gear pull with a hot motor on the same stretch of flat road.

As for being stage 3 now, I haven't seen a 90F day yet, but I have already seen 130F from the same 3rd gear pull on that road in only 70-72F weather. I need upgraded ICs but, at least the gaskets are trimming a small bit off until I get some.

Did newsouth include the bolts?

[S4Per]

what type of differences are people seeing with these installed? anyone have logs?

[Wizard-of-OD]

The difference between the 034 and the VAST spacer is that the 034 is a thicker-than-OEM gasket, as where the VAST kit comes with an actual spacer, as well as 2 gaskets (one for each side of the spacer). Most of the time in life you get what you pay for. The VAST kit works. I can get you one a bit cheaper than the price you listed, if you want. PM me for details...

The phenolic spacer that comes with the 034 kit is approx 6mm thick.
I would say thats a HELL of ALOT MORE thicker than OEM gasket.
Its a phenolic spacer....it should not be priced through the roof.
If any of you guys want one,let me know....I have a nack for hooking up AZ peeps

[a4rings]

the main difference i see is 5-6mm (034) vs 10mm vast

[andream88]

Are they proven not to damage the engine?
I mean, where does all the heat originally transferred from the block to the heads go after you put the spacers in........?????

[Daft]

Are they proven not to damage the engine?
I mean, where does all the heat originally transferred from the block to the heads go after you put the spacers in........?????

All heat that the engine creates is drawn away by coolant, oil or air flowing past the motor via the fans.

Reducing heat transferral to the intake manifold is not going to be an issue since the intake manifold does not have cooling passages for oil or coolant.

In addition, these gaskets do not stop heat transfer, they reduce it. The intake manifold still will raise in temp. Just not as much as before.

[andream88]

^^^Ok, thank you.
So which one to buy between ASP, Vast, 034 and NewSouth?

Thanks

[Daft]

Honestly, they should all provide about the same level of heat reduction. You'll have to choose one based on your own preferences.

[ThirdStrike]

^^^Ok, thank you.
So which one to buy between ASP, Vast, 034 and NewSouth?

Thanks

from what daft said it seems like the newsouth kit is the best option for me. ease of install is important and it seems they all do the same thing for heat reduction. ... new south it is that is unless issam can hook me up with better pricing
nobody has still yet come up with an explanation as to why vasts is soo much more

[casawhites4]

Honestly, they should all provide about the same level of heat reduction. You'll have to choose one based on your own preferences.

034 is 6mm
vast 10mm
so how does it have the same heat reduction

[andream88]

I'll go with 034 ones.
They are the only company providing spacers machined for Rs4 heads!!!

Thanks all

[Daft]

034 is 6mm
vast 10mm
so how does it have the same heat reduction

Actually I said "about the same". Meaning that there should be a small delta between each of the ones out there. Its not like one that is 6mm will reduce temps by 5F and one that is 10mm will reduce temps by 30F.

I would also expect that there will be a limitation to it's effects based on thickness. By this I mean that once you pass X mm of thickness, the heat reduction ceases to increase because of heating from engine bay temps, other connections or just due to the charge air temps themselves.

[casawhites4]

Actually I said "about the same". Meaning that there should be a small delta between each of the ones out there. Its not like one that is 6mm will reduce temps by 5F and one that is 10mm will reduce temps by 30F.

I would also expect that there will be a limitation to it's effects based on thickness. By this I mean that once you pass X mm of thickness, the heat reduction ceases to increase because of heating from engine bay temps, other connections or just due to the charge air temps themselves.

awesome, yeah i was just worried that, that might be the issue...and id rather go with vast...but thanks again, your always a help..and you like the 034???
would you suggest phenloic spacers and pp and cc manifolds. i need to change my thermostat and want to change these little things while in there...shouldnt be to hard since i need to change my stat

[ThirdStrike]

awesome, yeah i was just worried that, that might be the issue...and id rather go with vast...but thanks again, your always a help..and you like the 034???
would you suggest phenloic spacers and pp and cc manifolds. i need to change my thermostat and want to change these little things while in there...shouldnt be to hard since i need to change my stat

i think daft made it clear he went with the newsouth stuff based on teh fact that its a single piece vs multiple.
and uhm your thermostat is nowhere near your intake manifold. its on the front of the motor.

p.s. i think vast needs to lower the price on their spacers

[casawhites4]

yeah but the whole front cliip comes off when i change my thermostat..so should be that hard to get inthere and change the manifolds and add spacers...im pretty sure...but might not be sure....input

[S4shpion]

im going to go with newsouth also since i have to take off the intake manifold to get to my leaking aux pump. Might as well throw some spacers on there while im at it.

[casawhites4]

im going to go with newsouth also since i have to take off the intake manifold to get to my leaking aux pump. Might as well throw some spacers on there while im at it.

and might as well get some port and polish manifolds aswell

[The_Jerbel]

I'll go with 034 ones.
They are the only company providing spacers machined for Rs4 heads!!!

Thanks all

The VAST spacers are as well.

[The_Jerbel]

I can get the VAST spacers for you guys for $145. They are a 10mm one-piece spacer, not multiple pieces. They can be machined for S4 heads or RS4 heads. They come with all gaskets and hardware required.

[ThirdStrike]

yeah but the whole front cliip comes off when i change my thermostat..so should be that hard to get inthere and change the manifolds and add spacers...im pretty sure...but might not be sure....input

no. taking you intake manifold off has nothing to do with the front rad support coming off.
the thermostat is below the passenger side head near/behind the water pump. you usually change it when doing the timing belt job.

I can get the VAST spacers for you guys for $145. They are a 10mm one-piece spacer, not multiple pieces. They can be machined for S4 heads or RS4 heads. They come with all gaskets and hardware required.

jerbel please tell me why id pay 145 vs 75+10 shipping with the newsouth stuff?
my original question is does anyone have a better suggestion when comparing price.
it seems everyone has agreed that they all have the same or about the same performance affects.

[The_Jerbel]

Because the VAST spacer is almost twice as thick, which certainly will help with lowering the intake temps, and in turn, affect IAT's. Better is better, it just depends how much you're willing to pay for "better."

[BastardS4]

Ill sell you my vast spacers for 50$.

gaskets/bolts not included.

no, wait, i forgot.

I threw the useless leaking things out.

[andream88]

^^^Are you saying that phenolic spacers are useless and possible cause of leakings?

[The_Jerbel]

they can cause a leak if the gaskets are installed incorrectly...

[S4Per]

one more time: no one has logs showing improvement?