Intake manifold (cutting the fat)
 

Hey guys, I had just torn out the engine to my 1995 mazda miata and noticed that there was a big chunky arm that was bracing the intake manifold. Is there a need for that? There are already 8 bolts holding the manifold on there... is there really a need to have that arm? Or would it be okay to "cut the fat"?

Thanks!

Removing this brace is fairly common, as it easies access to a number of things down there. So far, I've not heard of a manifold failing because of its removal.

Yeap, ditch it. Thousands have removed said brace with no reported failures.

I kept mine though

sweeet. So is there anything else I can cut off?

Remove the stock header and exhaust and install a turbo and 3" exhaust. Then you can ditch the factory intake. :) Or get a megasquirt, then you can remove your MAF sensor and stock intake.

so what about the 2 little hoses full of antifreeze that run through the throttle body? any real need for that?

My brace is gone to, just unbolt it no cutting needed.

This brace question has come up alot lately. I also took mine out and have overall been a happier person since.

Vash-

I would leave those.
There are pictures of the coolant system in the peter pan retoute thread. But avoid looking at his (peter pan) crap. Just look at the stock route, and begi's reroute.
You can then decide if you want to leave it alone or re-route your coolant. But I wouldn't just block those off.

Emilio had epic failure due to him NOT having this brace in. I for one chose to leave mine in.

If you are in an area that is warm year round you dont need thouse TB lines. Thats just to help with cold areas/frost type stuff in the TB.

I am losing mine on this rebuild for ease of instalment and just not neadint that shit..

Emilio broke two throttle shafts. Supposedly this brace helps with the vibration that the IM experiences when you run the motor up to and beyond 7000rpm. People have broken the shafts with and without them, though.

I shift my turbo motor at 6800 or thereabouts. No brace because my oil cooler lines run right through that space now.

...

on my 1.6 I broke two throttle body shafts and never could figure out why, I didnt have the brace installed, could that be it?