Performance Racing Throttle Bodies

Understanding Muscle Car Throttle Bodies

When was the last time you thought about your muscle car’s throttle body? This seemingly inconsequential part determines how much air enters the car engine. Essentially, when you step on the gas pedal the throttle body opens based on how far down you push it. So, if you’re flooring it, the throttle body is going to be wide open, whereas your average daily drive to work shouldn't see this happening too often – unless you like to have a little fun on your way in. Throttle bodies are found between the air intake and the intake manifold and leverage a butterfly valve that opens and closes to control the flow of air into the engine. These parts tend to last the lifespan of your vehicle, but OEM throttle bodies can become dirty or clogged after 100,000 to 150,000 miles. Most OEM throttle bodies for muscle cars are great, but you'll find that adding an aftermarket throttle body is almost always the way to go, especially if you want to make more power.

Benefits of Aftermarket Throttle Bodies

The benefits of aftermarket throttle bodies are all about performance, and you may need them to serve as the part that brings together the rest of your build. When looking for an aftermarket throttle body, the biggest factor to consider is the size. Essentially, you want to find the largest high-performance throttle body you can fit on the engine to allow the maximum amount of air into the cylinder heads. Some great muscle car throttle body sizes tend to be in the 80 mm to 90 mm range, but check your intake manifold and air intake to see what sizes are compatible. Can't fit a bigger high-performance throttle body on your stock ‘Stang, Camaro, or American muscle car? Don't worry, you can swap out the intake manifold to make more room for the massive racing throttle body you want. Other supporting parts for your throttle body upgrade include tuners to ensure that your ECU knows how much air can enter the engine, throttle body control modules, and upgrades to your fuel injection system. In the market for a new muscle car throttle body? Shop online and connect with our sales techs to find the best aftermarket throttle bodies for your vehicle.