Thinking about fitting the phenolic manifold spacers I have had sitting here for ages tomorrow - just after a rough idea how long it will take; I'd hate to be caught out by something taking me 12 hours when I thought it would take me two! Also, anything "obvious" that I need to be aware of that I might not think about?

Cheers.

 

Email/PM mit. He's done it. You also have to disconnect a coolant pipe or something on the manifold to make it worthwhile. As I said, mit will fill you in.

Could also email/PM Carl Davey too...

 

I've got the instructions for the throttle body hose "mod" cheers

 

so whats all this about? manifold spacers??? and throttle body mod???

 

they are thick heat resistance gaskets for the ends of the inlet manifold, to keep the air going in cold, as for the throttle body mod, im thinking its loop the water pipe back instead of going through the throttle body, yes?

 

Carl Davey, specialist Subaru Impreza parts supply

 

I'd feel cheeky hassling Carl about it seeing as I bought my spacers in the US! Mind you, I think I'll be getting a set of the header tank spacers off him (get me chasing stupidly small drops in temps!)

I've just been out to have a look at what I'm faced with - and have come in for a brew already. Does anyone actually know what all those bloody pipes are for?!

I promise I'm not quite as clueless as that makes me sound! - it's just at the point where I consider it a PITA job! I'm certainly not doing what the Subaru Workshop manual says for an inlet manifold removal if I can get away with it!!!

 

Not stating the obvious, but have you sorced 4x Inlet Manifold gaskets as you will need 1 top and bottom of the spacer on either side.

While you are there - its worth stripping the manifold and getting it paited.
Crackle paint is easy to get and Carl has a really good "how to" guide on his site.
I did this and powder coated the header tank at the same time.
It really smartens up the appearance of the engine bay.

 

Yip, I had the gaskets

My manifold is actually in pretty good nick so the painting isn't really needed at the moment )

 

Yeah, I fitted CD's header tank spacers; every little helps (especially as I've still got a TMIC)... Anything to help control those damn inlet temps.

 

Don't you need longer bolts ?

dunx

 

For the manifold spacers, or the header tank spacers?

If the latter then no. Existing header tank bolts are reused to secure the spacers to IM. Then two countersunk bolts that come with the kit mount the header tank to the spacers - thus keeping the header tank away from the IM. Plus the spacers thelmselves are of a bad heat-conducting material.

 

I'd like to see the step by step, for removal of inlet manifold. I have a MY00

 

For inlet manifold spacers - the answer is "it depends". I know GrimmSpeed (the place in the US I got mine) do two separate thickness spacers, one for people with TMICs and thicker ones for those running FMICs - the thicker ones need, and come with, longer bolts.

I think Carl only does one thickness of spacers, so, presumably, don't need longer bolts.

 

Just pull lots of stuff off until you can unbolt and lift the inlet manifold clear. Then replace inlet manifold and replace all the utterly random crap and 1000's of bloody black hoses until everything that you disconnected is reconnected again. Thats pretty much it

 

That some random instruction, but hey I'm game, going to try to do it in morning to fit my inlet pipe. Fingers crossed I don't mess up. Might try and squeeze the pipe in to save time and manifold lift.

 

If you can't tell, I'm a little narked with the whole job

I'm fairly sure the MY00 will be an improvement over what I suffered today with my 02 STI; from memory of peeking under other peoples bonnets, you've got a little less stuff you'll need to move.

 

I'm sure I posted up some instructions a while ago. Anyway, having done it four or five times now, I could tackle it in maybe 3/4 hour? But like everything it needs practice. Just go slow, label everything you take off with masking tape, you can't go far wrong. At the final stage where you think you've freed everything it will get a bit stuck at one end or the other, it's just the inlet pipe and associated gubbins that gets in the way. It will come off eventually though.

 

Excellent, can't wait to tackle this as its good satisfaction doing it yourself.