TSX Intake Manifold DIY / Q & A

[Jeff Likes Bagels]

What's this I keep hearing about with the upper and lower section of the TSX IM? Do I only need the lower section to do the mod, or do I need both?

[Skippy]

People who speak of the "upper and lower" portions of the manifold are speaking about the injector base and the primary intake manifold.  The primary intake manifold is what we're swapping, the injector base is the same between the Accord and TSX and there is no reason to swap these parts.

The P2R gasket as well as the hondata gasket are not worth it in my opinion...heat soak is not a question of "if", it's a question of "when".  No matter if you have the gasket or not, your IM will be the exact same temperature after shutdown if you drive all day.  That gasket is really only effective if the engine is used in short sprints (race activities).  For the majority of us, we're going to be driving for at least 10 minutes past warm-up, so there's really no point.  I purchased a hondata gasket for my race engine because I wanted a good template to cut my RBC manifold....I'm going to install it when the race motor gets built but I do not expect it to eliminate or even help out with heat soak.

[Jeff Likes Bagels]

Well, i got my TSX IM installed, and it's working pretty great! It feels like it improved the low-end a lot more. I was luckily able to re-use the TB gasket. It doesn't take much anymore toget up to speed when driving in my "economy" mode (under 3,000RPM at all times) lol.

[dizzle]

Ive had my IM in for about a day, but noticed that the engine bay tends to get a little more hot than usual. Is this normal?

[Skippy]

there is no reason why a manifold swap would increase engine bay heat.  How are you collecting your data and what are your before and after temps?

[dizzle]

not using any data collector, just the senses. it might have been when i was on the throttle a lot when i first tested it out. i have'nt been on it the past few days  so the engine bay hasn't been as as hot. must've been a false alarm.

ive ran my car hard a couple times but it didnt seem as hot. thats why i thought i may have missed something when i did the install.

[Jeff Likes Bagels]

Yeah that was probably the case. Weather could have been in a part as well.

Did you end up using the TSX bracket? I said to hell with it, and didn't get one, lol. How are the gains? I've noticed with mine that the car pulls harder at around VTEC - 3000 RPM. Anything above that, it's hard to notice because the car is already flooring it, lol.

[dizzle]

the weather has been pretty hot so i guess thats partly due to the heat in the engine bay.

i didnt buy the bracket either. the only thing that sucked was that one of the wires was just sitting there but it was fixed by zip tying it to another one. as far as gains, im impressed with the throttle response. i dont feel a lag when i WOT, and i do agree once the RPMs are up there, you dont notice it lol. and you gotta love the intake screaming even more.

[Jeff Likes Bagels]

Yeah, my dad was worried about that wire that used to clip onto the IM bracket. But it's no biggie. I also think that my gas mileage has improved by like 2-3, because when I'm driving normally, it doesn't take the car as much work to get up to speed. At first I didn't really notice any difference with the IM, but now, every time I look down at the speedometer while only at 2500 RPM, it moves so much faster, lol.

[Skippy]

Know thy VTEC crossover point.  Economy VTEC engages at 2200 RPM, not 3000.

[Jeff Likes Bagels]

Well, when I put the dash in between I meant "to", lol. I guess I should've clarified.

[dizzle]

i'd have to say this is my 2nd favorite mod thats well worth it, aside from lowering suspension.

[Skippy]

Well, when I put the dash in between I meant "to", lol. I guess I should've clarified.

It's all good man, dually noted

[Jeff Likes Bagels]

dizzle, have you noticed any difference in sound with the IM? It's hard for me to tell, because now that I've had it for awhile, I don't even remember what the intake sounded like alone, lol. I have noticed, however, that the intake has a deeper growl at low to mid-RPMs.

[dizzle]

honestly i havent really paid attention besides WOT. ill have to check tomorrow and start focusing on it.