Project 350Z – Finding More Power with MotorDyne Engineering
In looking for more low hanging horsepower fruit for Project 350Z, we decided to try an intake manifold plenum spacer from MotorDyne Engineering. The 350Z's VQ35DE engine has a very thin intake manifold plenum that slopes toward the front of the engine to clear the low hood line. Although this is good for styling, the engine would prefer more plenum volume and the flow to the front most cylinders is somewhat choked off due to the low overhanging plenum wall.
MotorDyne Engineering is the originator of the VQ plenum spacer. Currently there are several on the market. In testing spacers in the past we had had bad luck. We tested a plenum spacer from a competing company and found that it actually lost power over the stock manifold. We were kinda sketchy on the concept but Eric Hsu told us to give Motordyne Engineering a call as he had tested their spacer during his tenure at Cosworth with good results.
We talked to the folks at MotorDyne and they assured us that we should get no less than 6 whp from the spacer and many of their customers got much more. We were still skeptical but the MotorDyne folks were confident so we ordered their 5/16″ thick Iso-Thermal plenum spacer kit.
MotorDyne Engineering makes a 1/2″ thick spacer that is claimed to make more power but it will not fit under the car's Strut Tower brace and since we like a stiff chassis and did not want to run without the brace, we opted to get the thinner spacer.
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