MACE Manifold Insulator & Plenum Spacer Review

[HamaTime™]

Well I finally bought my first two MACE products.

• 25mm Manifold Insulator
• 12mm Plenum Spacer

Installed them on Saturday afternoon. Didn't take me too long, started at about 2pm and finished at about 5pm (considering I dropped one of the Fuel Rail spacers onto a ledge on the trans and spent over an hour and a half looking for it, and then had to jack the car up and reach under and get it).

so:

TIME TO INSTALL: 1.5 hours

INSTRUCTIONS: Very comprehensive and easy to follow, fantastic! I wasn't confused about anything.

CUSTOMER SERVICE: Steve at MACE is a very helpful and very pleasant bloke. Very easy to deal with and get along with. Very Very impressed!

RESULTS: A+

Been driving it around since Saturday and I have really noticed the difference, low end torque has really increased, it climbs the revs alot easier and faster, and really feels like it's breathing and wants to move. I'm starting to feel a little kick into the seat, which will be increased as I further modify the engine in the future.

The torque band really does feel like it's throughout the whole rev range, the main power of the motor kicks in low, and it really helps it get moving. For such a simple mod, with my future plans in mind, this is really the start to a kickass budget V6 setup that will really put out some good figures, times and driveability.

PERSONAL TOUCHES: I wasn't a fan of the wood colour the spacers came with, so I sprayed them with 3 coates of chrome paint (High Temp Proof of course). Then carefully sanded back the paint on the face surfaces (top and bottom)

See Below:

All up these are fantastic products from a fantastic company. One I think all us car enthusiasts should back, because with loyal support and products of this calibre already, things can only get better in the future.

Very proud to now use MACE products.

A+ to Steve and the team at MACE!

[Trayner]

1+ for MACE being a well run company .

Top efforts MACE.

[Brett_jjj]

Mate how much are these?and where do I go to buy them?Ive had a bit of a look through the mace links here, found the products,but couldnt find anything about how or where to actually price and buy them.Im gonna get some, going on what youve just said about them.

[HamaTime™]

look for them on ebay

Manifold Insulator

Plenum Spacer

or PM MACE on the forum.

Ask MACE for the prices, I think they're usually $220 for Manifold Insulator and $150 for the Plenum Spacer (in the sizes that I have)

[large]

Or the website u can purchase them off

[large]

Have u had any trouble with the paint

[Brett_jjj]

Thanks heaps guys.I will go have a look.

[HamaTime™]

No it's high temp proof, and it's heat resistant material so it won't heat up anywhere near enough to even remotely heat the paint.

[Brett_jjj]

Ive just started learning how to change a few things like the timing etc on the chip in the ECU,Ive just finished sorting out my first attempt,and the gains Ive got from that alone sounds just like what you describe that youve got with these spacers fitted.Im hoping that by putting the two together,they will even further complement eachother.Just with the chip alone its running so much crispier than standard.Even made the gear changes better in the auto trans through the auto trans settings on the chip,No more laggy changes.But Im definitely gonna get these spacers.Does anyone know if there is there any trouble with bonnet clearance when fitting these spacers.Ive read you can get them in different sizes.

[HamaTime™]

There is nothing to worry about when running a 25mm MI and 12mm PS...I don't keep my engine cover on, but I think it should fit.

There's a thread/post around here on that somewhere. I think when Steve reads this tomorrow he will be able to more accurately tell you than I will at this current point.

Good work with your tinkering on the ECU, how did you do it? Mind if you give a detailed run through? I'm seriously considering getting rid of the LPG system which means perfect timing is less of an issue and can more easily tune the memcal etc.

[WogBoyz]

Glad ya like them mate, im pretty sure steve told me that the cover wont fit, cant remember for sure tho.. also +1 on MACE being a great company, ashame the dont have anything for my ssv

[HamaTime™]

Yeah something like that.

Well your SSV starts with like 270+ kw so your already in a world away from us! Start with some OTR CAI equipment though, they really open them up!

[MACE]

Thanks for the constructive feedback HamaTime

Above all glad your happy with the parts and service

[MACE]

In regards to the engine cover and these spacer your best bet would be to take a couple of measurements just to make sure as every car is different; fitment summary from experience for your car is as shown below.

* Raising manifold by 12mm: Cover will go on like factory
* Raising manifold by 25mm: Cover will need to be trimmed around the alternator or bonnet liner needs to be removed or trimmed. Otherwise cover will rub on bonnet liner
* Raising manifold by 37mm: Cover will need to be trimmed around the alternator and other parts along with the bonnet liner needing to be removed. Otherwise cover will rub on bonnet liner/possibly not close depending engine mounts
* Raising manifold by 50mm: No hope of keeping cover without some serious bonnet mods. Will still require bonnet mods without cover

Hope this helps

Cheers
Steve

[large]

Hey gamma wat kind of prep work did u do before painting thanks

[Jaminkle]

There is nothing to worry about when running a 25mm MI and 12mm PS...I don't keep my engine cover on, but I think it should fit.

There's a thread/post around here on that somewhere. I think when Steve reads this tomorrow he will be able to more accurately tell you than I will at this current point.

Good work with your tinkering on the ECU, how did you do it? Mind if you give a detailed run through? I'm seriously considering getting rid of the LPG system which means perfect timing is less of an issue and can more easily tune the memcal etc.

I would also like to hear about this ECU modding

[large]

Sorry hamma

[thekid93]

so just to make sure, how to order my self a 25mm one, i wont have any problems closing my bonnet at all??

cover doesnt matter to me

[HamaTime™]

Hey Hamma wat kind of prep work did u do before painting thanks

I didn't use any. I just used 3 thin coats of High Temp Auto Paint (Chrome) - This being said, if you wanted to do a completely proper job of it, just use some basic wood undercoat/primer of sorts (not metal) and then do your coats of chrome.

so just to make sure, how to order my self a 25mm one, i wont have any problems closing my bonnet at all??

cover doesnt matter to me

No you won't have any clearance issues with the cover off.

PM MACE on the forum - go to Mace Engineering Group - Specialising in powering Australia's best Commodores | Automotive performance accessories and order through there or go to his ebay page.

[thekid93]

I didn't use any. I just used 3 thin coats of High Temp Auto Paint (Chrome) - This being said, if you wanted to do a completely proper job of it, just use some basic wood undercoat/primer of sorts (not metal) and then do your coats of chrome.



No you won't have any clearance issues with the cover off.

PM MACE on the forum - go to Mace Engineering Group - Specialising in powering Australia's best Commodores | Automotive performance accessories and order through there or go to his ebay page.

cheers for cleearnance issues,

ok, with your painting? pretty much,just spray hi temp paint on it? did you sand it off the top and bottom?

[WogBoyz]

Yeah something like that.

Well your SSV starts with like 270+ kw so your already in a world away from us! Start with some OTR CAI equipment though, they really open them up!

yeah man got it all planned out lol

[MR_VX]

not the right spot to post i no but check it out

Mace Engineering Twin 69mmThrottle Manifold (eBay item 180578390118 end time 03-Nov-10 16:30:42 AEDST) : Cars, Bikes, Boats

[MACE]

The only think I all to HamaTime's help about painting the spacers is that it doesn't hurt to prep them up with sand paper first.

Glad ya like them mate, im pretty sure steve told me that the cover wont fit, cant remember for sure tho.. also +1 on MACE being a great company, ashame the dont have anything for my ssv

All you have to do is ask We've helped out a few LSX and LXX boys of recent with otr's cams mail or tunes etc.

not the right spot to post i no but check it out

Mace Engineering Twin 69mmThrottle Manifold (eBay item 180578390118 end time 03-Nov-10 16:30:42 AEDST) : Cars, Bikes, Boats

Boy at that price I'm even looking at buying it myself LOL

Seems to have lasted very well considering that one was made about 3 years ago.

I wish they weren't such a pain in the arse to make

[HamaTime™]

Yeah probably should have done that.

Oh well, we'll see how it goes.

[MACE]

Yeah probably should have done that.

Oh well, we'll see how it goes.

I wouldn't worry about it too much as cut surfaces are a bit rough off the bat which do assist with paint adhesion