What is the best air intake that anyone can install? And what kind of extra HP can I expect?

 

SEARCH is your friend...this gets asked and answered at least twice a week. There's at least a half dozen after market companies making air intake systems, and cold air intake systems (that's two types of intake). They all claim huge horsepower/torque claims, but the general consensus is that you'll not achieve anywhere close. Everyone will have the opinion that their choice is the best choice.
You can also use a later model Z06 intake for improvements over a regular C5, or do the "zip tie" or "flip it" modification to the oem intake system. Enjoy the reading.

 

I went to a 2002 Z06 airbox top and use a paper filter. If it is good enough for 405 HP, it is good enough for my stock C5. Don't have to worry about hydrolock. The paper filters filter better and no worries about oily MAF sensors with over-oiled cloth filters. Paper has not shown to lose HP in dyno runs. I think it is the best bang for the buck, especially for early C5's with very restrictive airbox covers.

 

Oh no, here we go again... Honestly, you will get many different opinions here, some are smog legal, some are not. After my research I ended up with the VaraRam. Like many others, I like it and others don’t. So go with what you like and can afford. Most of all, have fun.

 

C5 Honker Air Induction System, seems to have a great review. Kind of pricey but if you want the best.





C5 honker

 

From my experience all after market air intakes are the same and help a little . Even the zip tie mod works better than the stock set up. True ram air or cold air systems are a different story and get better gains.

 

I went from the vararam to the honker, i like the honker better.

 

Blackwing, Honker, Stinger, Vararam - all are good.

 

Curious... why do you like the Honker better??

 

 

The LS6 air intake is the best. 2001+ and above C5's have it stock.

 

I went with the Blackwing. Easy installation

 

VaraRam. It is the only one that has been proven on the track and gives a money back guarantee. The best is not always the most expensive.

 

Does the blackwing actualy filter better than the K&N type cotton stuff?

 

You need to define "Best". Do you want best quality, best performance, best looking, best filtration, or the best bang for your buck.

 

Halltech TRIC intake...true bottom feeder, discontinued do to possible hydrolock issues, 2+ years and never had a problem, but ofcourse i dont drive through 2 feet of water....

 

I bought the Vararam because it truly channelled/forces cold air from outside the car into the engine.

All the others do not. The may pull/suck cool, non-super heated, underhood air from the hood. But, the vararam is going for the ram-air effect.

 

It would be interesting for someone with a Passport G-Meter to do a before and after on a few...I bought the Blackwing and Corsas before the G-Meter, but I have it for the LT1 bolt ons....

 

I'm a big VaraRam fan, that's why it is the first system that we agreed to carry

http://www.customcorvetteaccessories...mintakec5.html

Peace
Chip

 

If you live in California, think twice about the Vararam, as it can be a royal pain to install/uninstall/reinstall for smog tests. If you live in a state that doesn't have visual inspections, then take a look at the following (grouped by cold air and non-cold air, but in no particular order) and my comments, if any:

Vararam: Brings cold air in through the fog light panel area to a panel-type filter. Owners have had good luck with system on the dragstrip, but plan on spending hours to install and a bit more to get everything lined up well. Downside: Eliminates engine bay-cooling air that would've come in from the fog light panels (Z06 or coupe/vert with opened-up panels), so the engine bay may end up being toastier, especially if you add headers later. $250-$400

Vortech Rammer: Brings cold air up from in front of the radiator and into an enclosed box. Its filter is quite a bit smaller than the Halltech Warhead or Blackwing unit. $250

Callaway Honker intake system: This one relocates the MAF so that it is just in front of the throttlebody. It directs cold air from underneath and costs about $500. I believe this unit is 50 states legal (smogwise). Excellent design and quality. If cost is no object, this bad boy should be at the top of your list.

K&N FIPK: This is more of a semi-cold air system, as the cold air intake opening is more of a slit. Its filter endcaps are carbon fiber. However, it is configured similarly to the Halltech Stinger-R and is 50-states legal. $350

Reverse Zip-tie: Allows cold air to be drawn in from underneath, but the bare filter is exposed to potential damage from larger objects. The advantage here is that you may pass smog if the tech doesn't know "which way is up".

Warm air systems: (Easy installation)

Halltech Stinger-R: Not only contains the massive Warhead filter, but also includes a larger-than-stock airbridge and smooth throttlebody coupler. For $350.00 or less, this system represents one of the best bangs for the buck. Fortunately, for about $40, you can add cold air induction. See my procedure at http://www.conceptualpolymer.com/corvette_c5_corner.htm
This is what I did and a swap to smog-legal status is very easy to do, as I have kept my Z06 intake box.

Halltech Stinger SSM: This intake system features an even larger filter than that of the Stinger-R, TRAP, and Blackwing. < $400

Blackwing: Includes just a large filter, but an excellent one at that. Its cost is close to that of the Stinger.

Volant Twin Cone: This system gives you more open filter surface area than any stock box does and is well suited to an engine bay that gets cold air in from the fog light panels, as the filters are more or less in the air flow path. $265

2002+ Z06 airbox cover: A larger opening allows more air to be drawn in through the filter. Expect up to a 5 RWHP gain from this simple swap. $50

Zip-tie: An easy and inexpensive mod (eliminates the OEM box’s upper lid), but its sealing ability is questionable at best.

How good are they? My experience has shown that most will bump up RWHP by at least 10. The advantage of having cold air is that power will not be "dialed down" under slow moving/stop&go conditions.
You could easily lose 10 HP with a warm air system after engine bay temps rise during slow-moving conditions. Cold air prevents this from happening.