Originally posted by PDXSVT:
I agree mostly with Contouraholic, but I'll also speculate that maybe the carb spacers in the old days had a TINY impact of in effect lengthening intake runners, similar to "tuning" the intake. I doubt there's much angle to work like that on our Duratecs, I'd bet our intakes are already rather tuned.
I agree with the length "tuning" somewhat, but most of those spacers were in the 1/2" thick range and I can't imagine that distance really having a measurable effect unless the "floor" of the intake was really close to the inlets. Also, if all 4 ports (or 2, 0r 1) dumped into a common plenum, it was supposedly a slightly smoother flow and better fuel/air mixing. Some stock manifolds were pretty rotten at the first turn. I always was of the mind that a better manifold was a better idea. Most of the aftermarket stuff had a little more rise and better radius turns.
My name is Richard. I was a Contouraholic.
NOW: '02 Mazda B3000 Dual Sport, Black
BEFORE: '99 Contour SE Sport
Duratec ATX Spruce Green
PIAA 510's, Foglight MOD, K&N Drop-in
| 
