Product: Motordyne 1/4" Plenum Spacer + install parts
Ordred: 20 April 2005
Delivered: 27 April 2005
Install Time working at moderate pace: 2.5 hours. instructions say 1 hour but unless you have messed with the strut bar/plenum before dont expect it to be less than 2 hours!

I'll start with some problems I ran into and might be able to help you out! Along with what the instructions list as far as equipment needed you will also need:

17mm ratchet head (for new strut bar bolts)
14mm ratchet head (for OEM strut bolts)
a BIG wrench (big enough for the 2 locking bolts on the left side of the strut bar)
pliers (regular) the needle nose pliers cannot grip the hose clamps at all

OK, so after getting all the tools together I started the install. The kit came with everything I needed. I am not bad with a wrench, but I am unfamiliar with certain parts of the Z, so following the instructions wasn't as easy as I thought. Most were very easy. Took some time getting all the bolts out and unhooking all the hoses.

FYI you will need to unhook 4 hoses in total. The main intake tube from the throttlebody, the vacuum tube off the left side of the upper plenum, some oil catch hose from the back left side of the IM, and some hose off the back of the throttlebody. This makes it easier to lift the upper plenum. I also took off 2 of my grounding kit wires on the top of the IM.

The plenum torque bolts are the 2 copper-colored screws that are left on the left and right side of the IM (hey i was confused for a few min!). Forget the 4mm wrench. use the upsidedown bolt method.

Make sure you really press those pressure sensitive rubber washers up tight against the bottom side of the plenum posts. I had one fall off and I had to find it LOL.

Dont worry too much about alignment of the spacer/gasket. once you get the 6 big bolts in the middle aligned you can still move the spacer around to fit better. It really wasnt that hard.

The last problem I had was the re-install of the strut bar. ok for those that dont know (like me!) our OEM strut bar is ADJUSTABLE! yes, thats right, you can slide the left side in or out. In thise case I had to turn the middle bolt a little more than 2 times to have it smaller to fit the new bolts and strut bar a spacers. If you dont do this the strut bar WILL NOT FIT! The instructions really didnt make this clear to me. I ddint know what I supposed to turn and what it did. Well the 2 outside bolts losen to allow the middle bolt to turn and move the left mounting bracket in or out. Cool, eh?

Anyhoo, I fired her up and had no issues. I just had dinner so I will go take her out to test it out. See if the butt dyno can feel anything different in low and high RPMs.

overall I give the product a 9/10. it loses one for some install confusion.
Harv out.

 

ok just got in from my evening test drive. didnt have any issues driving, except some damn slight whistling sound between 1k-3k rpm....but that has been there sicne ive had the car. its prolly my CAI. no other problems...no startup problems.

I can say the first thing i noticed was when i hit 4000 rpm the car pulled a bit harder and when i hit 4500 the sound was distinctly louder than previous and continued to pull hard up til redline.

good product, great price, quality, performance, etc. i recommend this to anyone who doesnt want to spend $$$ for an upper or new plenum.

 

Great write-up! I'll be sure to print this page out too when I install the plenum spacer . Is the change in sound above 4500 RPMs only heard at WOT or is it heard at all times?

And yeah, the whistling sound is your CAI haha .

 

you know i really never get the RPMs too high unless im 90%-100% WOT. but WOT was when i heard the difference in sound.

 

You have any pics???

 

My car was not idling right yesterday after install - so from some feedback from other members.

I discovered 2 things this morning:

1. some bolts were loose enough to untighten with hand. I guess after starting the engine the plenum must have tighten down more from the vacuum effect.

2. Part of the RUBBER BUFF around the oil cap got caught between the 1/4" space.

* also followed the order sequence to tighten
* don't know how to reset ECU - so I just disconnected the battery completely while working on the spacer again.
* checked for any loose bolts after a test run. found some that needed to tighten a little more.

Now all is well.

 

glad to hear it m8

 

For future reference, you can follow Technosquare's ECU Resetting procedures here:

http://www.technosquareinc.com/350reset.htm

Works like a charm .