Zaphod

Hi guys,

I know that a lot of you (including me on my Euro 1,6 Turbo-NB) have removed the intake manifold brace.

What are your experiences on the VVT engines - as the intake manifolds on these seem quite a bit bigger and therefore heavier to me...

I am in the process of adding an oil cooler and maybe also a sandwich plate for sensors...

Please share your valuable knowledge with me...

Thanks!

hornetball

iTrader: (4)

I've removed the brace on the red car and so-far, so-good. It has a '99 head with a VICS IM.

StealthNB

remove the brace, get a grinder and trim the brace so that you are able to fit an oil filter easily. put the brace back, keep the brace. .... repeat.... keep the brace..... it is there for a reason.

DeerHunter

The IM brace was removed when my VICS-equipped stroker was built over 5 years ago. No ill effects whatsoever.

18psi

iTrader: (76)

vics and vtcs manifolds are pretty much the same in size.

krissetsfire

iTrader: (1)

I basically cut mine in half. I read a lot about it not being necessary but I came to the conclusion that I believe it helps absorb some vibration from the IM.

With it cut in half I half tons of room for me to get my hands in for oil changes. There is room to put tools in for messing with my sensors in my sandwich plate and my oil feed line to my turbo.

No reason to not have it in my opinion. To each their own.

99mx5

iTrader: (16)

I made a brace to replace the factory one for more space. When I had the coldside supercharger on my car, the brace that came with it came loose and I discovered that the IM studs vibrated loose. Granted, there was more vibration than the regular IM, but it convinced me to keep the brace on the stock IM.

Zaphod

Very nice idea! Props for that!

Jeffbucc

I must be alone in not having any issues removing my oil filter with the IM brace in place. Don't think I have ever even noticed it besides when I forget to unbolt it before I remove the upper IM.

Granted, I have an oil filter wrench on a wobble extension so removal is easy.

VanMSM

This is what we did with mine:
https://www.facebook.com/ChikaraMoto...type=3&theater

Sorry, when I try to link the above as a picture it doesn't show up. Anyways, I just didn't feel comfortable running without the brace. These engines have a lot of vibration, I've lost three of the 6 bolts holding my Tial MVS together.

Zaphod

Thanks! Looks like I will be doing this...

Leafy

iTrader: (1)

If I dont run the manifold brace, my intake manifold studs eventually fail. They get to the point where a couple just fall out when you touch them with your hand, a couple more break the second you put the socket on them, and then there ends up being 2-4 that were actually contributing to holding the intake manifold on. Havent had a problem since I put the brace back on. This is a vvt motor with vics manifold.