Air Intake Choices for Roadracing
07-27-2008, 07:06 PM
#1
Le Mans Master
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Air Intake Choices for Roadracing
Just purchased an 02 C5Z for track use and I need some advice from you veterans. I am looking for the best CAI as far power around a track & it seems that a Vararam B2 with its cool air inlets and positive pressure "at speed" make it a leading candidate. I am also considering a "Breathless Vortex Rammer". I am doing the cooling mods with a Dewitts radiator and also installing the Pfadt external oil cooler as I know they are more important than a CAI. However, I'm looking for some advice on the CAI & if there is another CAI available that is better than the ones I mentioned please advise. TIA 
07-27-2008, 08:11 PM
#2
Le Mans Master
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I will be watching this thread closely... I have the BP Vortex and have been happy with it over the years.. but lately I have been driving to events and being caught in some rain (Typically my car will only see sunny days, so it wasnt an issue).. Couple weeks ago I was caught in some driving rain driving to an event and when I stopped and popped the hood I saw lots of drops all around my filter... wasnt thrilled about that.. My race shop and I have "Air Intake" as an item to discuss. I know they say you dont need to worry about Vararam and Vortex and hydrolocking unless you submerge the nose in water but the basic philosophy of open inlets...sucking in forced air right to the filter makes me second guess that...
07-27-2008, 08:24 PM
#3
Le Mans Master
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I will be watching this thread closely... I have the BP Vortex and have been happy with it over the years.. but lately I have been driving to events and being caught in some rain (Typically my car will only see sunny days, so it wasnt an issue).. Couple weeks ago I was caught in some driving rain driving to an event and when I stopped and popped the hood I saw lots of drops all around my filter... wasnt thrilled about that.. My race shop and I have "Air Intake" as an item to discuss. I know they say you dont need to worry about Vararam and Vortex and hydrolocking unless you submerge the nose in water but the basic philosophy of open inlets...sucking in forced air right to the filter makes me second guess that...
07-28-2008, 07:30 AM
#4
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taken quite a few V raams and other double cone intakes OFF cars for better air intake. and better breathing. Less air turbulence in the intake
Plus put duct tape over the screens for aero
Vortex and Cyclone work well.
Plus put duct tape over the screens for aero
Vortex and Cyclone work well.
07-28-2008, 09:37 AM
#5
Drifting
The zip-tie mod gets my vote if you're going to go to the trouble, and is free. FWIW, I've been on-track with many other Z06's with CAI units and zip-tie airboxes, and as far as I can tell, they have no straightaway advantage over my stock airbox.
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Last edited by RedLS6; 07-28-2008 at 09:40 AM.
07-28-2008, 10:29 AM
#6
Le Mans Master
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I was advised of the issue you mentioned about the BP Vortex and is one of my reasons for posting. Being new to this I plan on driving my car to events although hopefully not in the rain. IMO, the Vararam seems less likey to ingest gulps of water but rather a spray of water that will have to be drawn upward against gravity. My main question is from a purely dry condition performance aspect, thanks for chiming in
What are you running?
07-28-2008, 11:09 AM
#7
Team Owner
I had the Vararam then went with the Callaway Honker, IMHO the Honker is definitely the better of the two.
07-28-2008, 11:56 AM
#9
Le Mans Master
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So based on your response and others here I feel pretty good
07-28-2008, 01:26 PM
#10
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Dry conditions - Vortex is awesome... as I said...I've had mine for 5-6 years with NO issues. Dont let the water issue frighten you away from that then, I have over 50k miles on mine on the street and track. I'm just looking for something better if its out there.
What are you running?
What are you running?
Driven in the rain and never a water issue.
07-30-2008, 11:22 PM
#13
Safety Car
Interesting sidenote for anyone looking at intakes - I have a blackwing intake on a heads and cam C5/Z06. Fast intake, 90mm TB.
I run a Wideband O2 sensor fulltime. Speed Density tune i.e. MAF is nonfunctional - fueling is via the VE table and MAP sensor (in general).
At cruise and idle my AFR is around 14.7.
I bought an ACP/Kerry Hitt CF vented hood to replace my old, nonvented hood. Put the hood on and my AFR at idle and lower rpm/cruise sailed to 15.7-16.2.
The engine is getting more air with the vented hood.
FWIW.
joel
I run a Wideband O2 sensor fulltime. Speed Density tune i.e. MAF is nonfunctional - fueling is via the VE table and MAP sensor (in general).
At cruise and idle my AFR is around 14.7.
I bought an ACP/Kerry Hitt CF vented hood to replace my old, nonvented hood. Put the hood on and my AFR at idle and lower rpm/cruise sailed to 15.7-16.2.
The engine is getting more air with the vented hood.
FWIW.
joel
07-30-2008, 11:39 PM
#14
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Actually, I am happy with my Blackwing. Hasn't caused any problems, seems to help with power and gets plenty of cold air coming in through the front screens.
Bill
Bill
07-31-2008, 07:59 AM
#16
Race Director
I did my first zip-tie mod in 1998 for the C5Registry newsletter, and have done many version since, including a version for the C6 where I flipped the filters over and allowed them to breath through the shroud.
I personally don't think you get much improvment with any of the airboxes over just going to a high quality gauze replacement filter. You have to make aero and/or cooling sacrifies in order to get COLD air into your engine, so I think most of them are a wash in the end.
btw, have the K&N setup on the Z06...as there was no drop-in-replacment filter available. I like it, but I have no idea if it was worth the investment.
I personally don't think you get much improvment with any of the airboxes over just going to a high quality gauze replacement filter. You have to make aero and/or cooling sacrifies in order to get COLD air into your engine, so I think most of them are a wash in the end.
btw, have the K&N setup on the Z06...as there was no drop-in-replacment filter available. I like it, but I have no idea if it was worth the investment.
07-31-2008, 08:43 AM
#17
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While car was on the dyno, I installed a Honker intake. I picked up 13 HP and 11 torque at the rear wheels. Probably does even better with ram air effect at speed on the road course. By far the cheapest dollar/HP of all my mods.
