next mod: Helix Throttle Body Spacer

Its a pretty simple bolt on, should take less then
an hour with basic hand tools.
Everything is up front and easy to get to lucky for us.
Only trick will be to adjust the 2 cables going to the throttle
body, which wont be a problem.
Ive installed these things on mustangs, tahoes, hummers and
hondas. None have been a problem, all have been a success.
Once I empty this tank of gas, Im going to install mine on my
personal Vx.
Also, one of my employees has an awd Svx.
We have raced a few times, all are very accurate since
both vehicles are autos and awd.
I plan on seeing how the Vx does before and after the install.
That to me is real life results. (dyno test are good for nascar
guys) :)

A few years ago I used a couple of TB gaskets as a template to bang out a throttle body spacer in 6061.

It wasn't because I believed the hype, it was more a matter of it being an easy and fun project.
After installation, adjusting cables/brackets, etc., I decided that it was not worth the effort to either manufacture or install. It did nothing for driveablity, mileage, power or otherwise. I used that leftover scrap to make a nice battery hold-down.

Granted, mine was the product of 45 minutes on a mill, with zero testing or prototyping. It also didn't look 1/10th as pretty as the model you're showing. If I were looking for a bit of underhood bling, it might make it on my list. It is a nice piece of work.

No one's ever proven that these things perform, but they sure look nice -and sometimes that's enough.

You want a faster truck? Ditch those heavy wheels and tires - you'd be amazed.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mbeach

You want a faster truck? Ditch those heavy wheels and tires - you'd be amazed.

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The Gods love less unsprung weight

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mbeach

A few years ago I used a couple of TB gaskets as a template to bang out a throttle body spacer in 6061.

It wasn't because I believed the hype, it was more a matter of it being an easy and fun project.
After installation, adjusting cables/brackets, etc., I decided that it was not worth the effort to either manufacture or install. It did nothing for driveablity, mileage, power or otherwise. I used that leftover scrap to make a nice battery hold-down.

Granted, mine was the product of 45 minutes on a mill, with zero testing or prototyping. It also didn't look 1/10th as pretty as the model you're showing. If I were looking for a bit of underhood bling, it might make it on my list. It is a nice piece of work.

No one's ever proven that these things perform, but they sure look nice -and sometimes that's enough.

You want a faster truck? Ditch those heavy wheels and tires - you'd be amazed.

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Fust FYI
I weighed the 17" Cepek rims against
my stock heavy then expected 16" rims
they only weigh 2 lbs more each wheel :smilewink

What does the stock wheel weigh? Or stock wheel/tire combo weigh? 18's that is.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Vehi-Cross-Az

Also, one of my employees has an awd Svx.
We have raced a few times, all are very accurate since
both vehicles are autos and awd.
I plan on seeing how the Vx does before and after the install.
That to me is real life results. (dyno test are good for nascar
guys) :)

---

Not trying to burst your bubble, but...
Unless you and he can replicate the exact same conditions (temp, wind, etc.) and reaction times racing as a test means moot!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by JHarris1385

What does the stock wheel weigh? Or stock wheel/tire combo weigh? 18's that is.

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My truck had 16" stock.

honestly, I Never thought Id see suggest negative comments
from people who own the same cars.
At this point, I really dont care who buys it or not,
really.

Its funny though to see the ones who always have
something negative to say, are never the ones bringing
anything to the game.

At least Im trying to help owners who want help.
To those who just like to knock stuff and are backseat
engineers, I really dont care what you do.

As for our car against car race, it would just to be as
some sort of guideline to compare results.
The races would be 3 in a row, one after another, same conditions.
Its not Nasa and not Nascar, its more for fun to get
a idea of how much of a difference if any it could be.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Vehi-Cross-Az

honestly, I Never thought Id see suggest negative comments
from people who own the same cars.
At this point, I really dont care who buys it or not,
really.

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Like I said, it's a showpiece, without a dyno chart, it's still just bling. Which doesn't appeal to everyone.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Vehi-Cross-Az

Its funny though to see the ones who always have
something negative to say, are never the ones bringing
anything to the game.

---

...or selling anything



-The Backseat Engineer

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mbeach

Like I said, it's a showpiece, without a dyno chart, it's still just bling. Which doesn't appeal to everyone.


...or selling anything



-The Backseat Engineer

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Your opinion doesnt make it fact
They dyno all their units in house, they all make
HP, theres no reason it wouldnt make HP on our vehicles.
Thats Fact, not opinion.

Not sure what "bling" you see in this part, since you barely
even see it once installed.
Sorry you find something wrong with me actually selling something
but thats how I make a living.
And trust me, Im not getting rich on these even when I do
sell them here or locally to other customers.
You make it out to my main goal is to just make a living.
My goals seem to be in question here, so let me lay it out for you
since you seem to know me.
My main goal is to help other VX owners find good quaility items for
their vehicles. Parts not readily available for such a rare vehicle.
If the process I get to try and test stuff for my own Vx, while others
who own them, possible get parts that never existed.
In the process if we actually make a few bucks the old fashion way
of free enterprise, so be it. Thats sort of what this country was built
on last time I checked.
If that bothers you, then maybe dont respond to the thread.

AZ I agree with you, I know what you are doing, and i'll say it again, thank you. You keep up the good work, and don't pay attention to the negativity. I just don't simply understand why poeple in this world, includding in this site like to step on other people. I would understand if you showed no intrest to us whats so ever, But i know you care and thats all that matters. Agian Thank You. And for those that Just plain simply like to slap the docter for trying, just remeber what your mamas said when you where young, " if you don't have anything good to say, Don't say anything at all". AZ Good Job Bro.
And I still Love everybody here:flower:, not talking sides, just being real and honest.:bgwg: So lets just all get along :group: .

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Vehi-Cross-Az

Your opinion doesnt make it fact
They dyno all their units in house, they all make
HP, theres no reason it wouldnt make HP on our vehicles.
Thats Fact, not opinion.

Not sure what "bling" you see in this part, since you barely
even see it once installed.
Sorry you find something wrong with me actually selling something
but thats how I make a living.
And trust me, Im not getting rich on these even when I do
sell them here or locally to other customers.
You make it out to my main goal is to just make a living.
My goals seem to be in question here, so let me lay it out for you
since you seem to know me.
My main goal is to help other VX owners find good quaility items for
their vehicles. Parts not readily available for such a rare vehicle.
If the process I get to try and test stuff for my own Vx, while others
who own them, possible get parts that never existed.
In the process if we actually make a few bucks the old fashion way
of free enterprise, so be it. Thats sort of what this country was built
on last time I checked.
If that bothers you, then maybe dont respond to the thread.

---

Don't take it too personal AZ, some of us "older fellas" been turnin' wrenches on this or that for 30-40 yrs.
Seen a lot of engineering fads come & go in that amount of time...that kind of experience breeds skepticism...simple as that.
You want to see an example of what I'm talkin' about, try to find Naoki's webpage (maybe someone will post a link), I don't think there is an accessory made, bogus or not, that he hasn't hung on his VX.
He has magnets all over the place to "straighten" electrons or something...it's somethin' to see.:rolleyesg

Quote:

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Originally Posted by CoastieCosta567

AZ I agree with you, I know what you are doing, and i'll say it again, thank you. You keep up the good work, and don't pay attention to the negativity. I just don't simply understand why poeple in this world, includding in this site like to step on other people. I would understand if you showed no intrest to us whats so ever, But i know you care and thats all that matters. Agian Thank You. And for those that Just plain simply like to slap the docter for trying, just remeber what your mamas said when you where young, " if you don't have anything good to say, Don't say anything at all". AZ Good Job Bro.
And I still Love everybody here:flower:, not talking sides, just being real and honest.:bgwg: So lets just all get along :group: .

---

And if you can save a friend a few bucks, by calling something out....you suggest keeping your mouth shut? Some here make a living (and a hobby) with automobiles, not just a VX. This "spinning your air charge" thing has been around in one form or another for a few decades now. GM incorporates spin vanes in the intakes on Corvettes (better fuel air mix) but the idea just never produced enough to justify the weight of the piece (the gains are that small) If a throttle body spacer, or a Turbonator did anything real, don't you think it would be standard issue on every SCCA car to turn a wheel in anger?? Wouldn't every EVO, GT3, And Ferrari have one on it????Paah-leeze. This is not new tech....it's old myth. Wayne

I'm a little confused? What you meant about that comment Chappa?:confused:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Chopper

And if you can save a friend a few bucks, by calling something out....you suggest keeping your mouth shut? Some here make a living (and a hobby) with automobiles, not just a VX. This "spinning your air charge" thing has been around in one form or another for a few decades now. GM incorporates spin vanes in the intakes on Corvettes (better fuel air mix) but the idea just never produced enough to justify the weight of the piece (the gains are that small) If a throttle body spacer, or a Turbonator did anything real, don't you think it would be standard issue on every SCCA car to turn a wheel in anger?? Wouldn't every EVO, GT3, And Ferrari have one on it????Paah-leeze. This is not new tech....it's old myth. Wayne

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ldub

Don't take it too personal AZ, some of us "older fellas" been turnin' wrenches on this or that for 30-40 yrs.
Seen a lot of engineering fads come & go in that amount of time...that kind of experience breeds skepticism...simple as that.
You want to see an example of what I'm talkin' about, try to find Naoki's webpage (maybe someone will post a link), I don't think there is an accessory made, bogus or not, that he hasn't hung on his VX.
He has magnets all over the place to "straighten" electrons or something...it's somethin' to see.:rolleyesg

---

I totally understand, but keep in mind, Im in my mid 40s myself
and have been working on cars since I was 16.
I opened my performance shop back in 1990 here in Tucson
(motorsportwarehouse.com) and I spend half my day actually
talking customers out of $500 headers for their civics and $800
cat backs for their GM trucks etc, only to offer more reasonable
cost alternatives. Usually similar products without the inflated
brand name prices. Im the Only shop in town who does this.
Most shops reel you in and the promises of massive hp gains only
for the customer to be let down.
That said, I was very skeptical about this particular item myself a few
yrs ago when it came out.
I had customers coming in asking for it by name, so FINALLY I gave in
and started stocking a few of their (Helix) part #s.
After a few months I had customers coming in wanting to buy one
"because their buddy had bought one and loved it" Thats a quote
from a dozen or so customers. How could I argue with a customer at
that point. I wasnt even trying to sell them one, but from word of
mouth on its results alone from past customers, they sold themselves.
That said, thanks for the nice comments guys. :bgwo:
and to the other negative Neds, oh well, its your lose not mine living
in such a skeptical world.

I don't think that I said anything negative, if it appeared so, then I apologize.

All I said was that it was a very nice piece of machine work, and would look good peeking out from behind a nice set of hoses. If you're into the show thing, then by all means jump on. As for performance gains, well, the jury's going to be out on that one for a long time...

Some members had mentioned that they wanted to see dyno'd results, something no manufacturer's really ever been able to come up with. Now if the part improves 'driveablity' then just say so -not everything can be quantified on a dyno. Take a short-shift kit, for example. It won't add a speck of horsepower, but it will make your shifts faster, and by association, your times will drop. If there's something out there that makes the VX "feel" quicker, stop faster, ride better, then by all means, find it and sell it.

Believe me, I spend all day dealing with old farts who have it all figured out. It's frustrating to pitch a new approach (on the most efficient way to push oil down a pipe, no less), only to have it poo-poo'd by some tech who's been around since tubes were the standard.
My challenge is to prove why my way is better - and prove why it's sensible to invest in the change.

So good luck in your ventures, you'll find a receptive community here, thankful for your efforts.