I am installing a Vara Ram intake on my 03 50th convertible 6-spd. Will I get good results ? My goal is to get just over 400hp--any other suggestions ?
I am also going to put an exhaust system on, but I don't want it real loud-any sugestions on the make and type ?

 

You will get about 20hp from the Vara-ram.

 

You wont get there with just a vararam!!! 15-20 at the very best.

As for exhaust, that is all very subjective!!! What is too loud for one person is quiet to the next! The real issue is in cabin RESONANCE! The drone of some systems will drive you crazy and have caused some people to get nausiated!

My recommendation to you is to find people in your local area or in a radius where you are willing to drive and listen to their install's. If you like the sound of their system "COPY IT!) Remember, things like aftermarket cams and high flow cats will make the system sould different. If youi purchase , say X brand cat back system because you liked it on Joe Blows car and he had a cam, headers and high flow cats, they will be a LOT quietier on your car.

I personaly have a complete Stainless Works system and love it. It has just a little bit more resonance than the Z06 Ti system but sounds wicked cool at WOT!!!

Here are some pictures of it:










The rear and mid section is 3" stainless. The 3" PIPE will also contribute to the sound and noise level so the system.

Im sure that if you post in the general section asking for a test listen, someone will answer. I have an OPEN offer for anyone in the NE that wants a SW demo.

BC

Bill C

 

Hey thanks for the info. I just finished putting on the vararam and I love it. I was thinking about a Corsa exhaust touring type-Do you think that would be my next step ?

 

If I do put exhaust on do you recommend I put an x-pipe on ?

 

IMHO you should go with the corsa indy's. if you go with the touring the sound won't be any different than stock at idle, but you will notice a difference at WOT. with the indy's the change will be worth your while but still tame. also to answer your second question, Yes get the x-pipe because it smoothes the exhaust out and you get rid of most the popping the corsa will cause and the so called "motor boat" sound. if your going to get Long tube headers wait and get the x-pipe with the long tubes. hope this helps, and good luck with your choice

 

I would go try to listen to a system before you by. The Corsa Touring is not that loud, the pace car is better. You won't get any appreciable gains from just a cat back. You need long tubes and high flow cats.

 

Get long tubes and high flow cats, a lot of complete systems will come with an X pipe. Yes, you should get one.

 

With a Vararam and some good LT headers (which come with an x-pipe)
you should come close to 400hp at the crank.

 

 

I think C5's average about .3 and 3 mph over stock air box. I had one on my coupe, I liked it. Little hard to install, sometimes the air bridge brackets don't line up, overall though I recommend the vararam.

I tried the magnaflow magnapack catback. Very cool deep sound, very loud, but with an A4 with a 315 the drone was not good.

 

Will a Z still get 20 more horses?

 

Z has a better stock air lid on the box. But I think Z's still do fairly well with a vararam.

 

Hey Bill
A good friend of mine has a car identical to yours--same color-He is concerned about the heat on the floor boards-- is that a factor ?
Also does the long tube header hang down further than the stock exhaust ?
Do you have any problems with leaks or them loosening up?
I know in the past headers were famous for leaking and loosening and burning your feet on the floor boards--I had a 72 vette that did that

Thanks for all your help
Gary

 

Quite the contary! There is no more heat from the under floor pipes than you get from the OEM steel ones. In fact the SS pipes cool down really quick (much quicker than the thick OEM pipes!)

As for heat, I installed FROST KING everywhere and heat is not a factor. I do not think it would be any more than stock with out the frost king. Yes the tunnel did get hot prior to the header install as does most C5's with out it but now it is MUCH cooler and quieter.

The headers dont hang any lower than stock. I have one bolt on a clamp that I need to either cut off or move. It scrapped one time. The headers have never scrapped.

I changed the single bolt clamps provided by stainless works to double bolt band clamps! They work FASNTASTIC! Yes the single bolt clamps did loosten up prior to the switch to the double bolt clamps.

The header flanges are really thick and I have only needed to retighten the flange bolts one time. My stainless works system is top quality! It was also easy to install and fit was fanstatic

Bill C

 

Hey Bill,
What name brand exhaust system did you put on your car and what was the cost ?
About putting in that frost king material--Is the carpet glued down ?
Does it pull up easy ? Where do I buy that frost king material ?

 

I had a complete Stainless Works system installed. I cant remember how much the headers were because I got CCW wheels, new P zero tires, new TPS in the rims and a bunch of other stuff done. Just call stainless works and tell them Bill Curlee recommended you.

As for the Frost King Mod, its just a little time consuming more than it is difficult. The carpet just lifts out once you pull the seats and remove the sill covers. In fact, the factory installs the entire interior in just a few minutes.

The frost king is a foil covered, soft closed cell foam. It is very thin and has a light adhesive on the side that sitcks to the surface that you apply it to. The material is easy to install and molds easily to the surface that you are applying it to. The best part is, if you make a mistake OR decide in the future that you want to remove it, the material just pulls back off easily. No mess or residue. I purchased mine at Home Depot. Look in the area where the heat duct material and duct supplies are. If you do the entire car front to back,, doors and hump,, you will need about 10 rolls.

As for testimony as to "does it work" , my wife took the car to work the evening that I finished the install and when she got home, commented on how much quieter the car was as to the reduction in road/tire noise. It also significantly reduced the tunnel heat that soaks through. Oh, yea, I also installed some foil covered bubble wrap on the sides of the tunnel down near the area near the gas peddel.

I also did the same imstall on my 98 coupe.
Shoot me an e-mail address and Il give you what i have on interior pictures.

BC

 

grf36468@gulftel.com

 

Can I see photo's of a Vararam System installed? I have an anniversary addition and don't want to adjust the stock look too much.

 

I have an 03 vert aniversary edition also. From the outside the fog lights are perforated and inside you can see the vararam intake. Under the hood you can tell, but it looks good-just a bolt on so if you wanted to sell down the road you could put the old one back on. It definitely wakes up the motor really noticeable !! I was reall surprised !!