Just Received Vararam Intake - Very Upset With Quality/Fit Finish
02-16-2009, 04:40 PM
#1
Drifting
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Just Received Vararam Intake - Very Upset With Quality/Fit Finish
So I just received my intake -- the vararam VBR2. The 2 is supposed to be the revised version of the intake system.
Now when I purchased it, I was already aware of the 'home-made' asthetics of the system. That doesn't bother me because I'm mostly interested in the performance gains. I haven't installed it yet, however I pieced it together in my living room just to see how the system will be installed once I go out and take things apart on my car.
Here are my gripes:
1) The instructions. They're terrible and are completely useless. Thanks for including pictures and a vague description of how to put things together. These are nothing short of what you'd expect from an ebay vendor--selling a set of instructions that have been copied hundreds of times. Thank GOD someone put together a great D.I.Y guide for the installation. If I were Vararam, I'd be pretty embarrassed that a CONSUMER has better installation instructions than provided.
2) The seals/foam on the bottom half (the ducts). They say to put the foam on after the system is installed of course...but I lined up the pieces just to see how they'd fit. They do fit (sort of) however the person that cut the holes for the screws either has a poor template or an 8th grade education. They don't line up at all--not even if you flex the system as it might once installed. If you line 2 holes up, the other 2 screws might as well be a city block away.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3621/...1eac7913_o.jpg
Here you can see 1 and a HALF screws make it, look closely and you'll see the bottom two don't at all.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3216/...c9e86be246.jpg
Another angle with better lighting.
Now -- Even forgetting about the holes, the foam covers several areas of the ducts, obstructing airflow. Looks like I'll be doing a lot of cutting and reshaping.
3) The seal/foam for the top housing doesn't wrap around the top completely. They made a half-a$$ed attempt at putting it all the way around but left a gap about a centemeter or two wide for direct air to pass through--unfiltered. Again, probably a poor template.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3432/...6272ce9a_o.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3437/...2f8044a7_o.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3182/...1188afd7_o.jpg
As you can see, the filter as a whole, is a little loose in the top and bottom. Once you lock it in place it'll tighten up. Yes, however the locks are on the left and right, not the top and bottom where the gaps are the largest.
4) The fit and finish of the top and bottom as a whole is kind of crappy. Once again, the fit and finish of the foam doesn't make it--this time it's not even the right shape for the top. The marriage of the bottom ducts to the top housing don't share a similar shape--a poor design if you want to use the foam seals. As you can see here, once you compress the foam, it bunches.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3482/...cf95e37a_o.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3179/...52fcefc1_o.jpg
Additionally, pieces of the intake have been what would appear to have been sanded and other pieces have been scribbled out and written over.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3273/...22e23a94b2.jpg
Here's the sanded area that has significantly weakened the corner lip of where the top and bottom halfs connect.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3325/...06fcb155_o.jpg
Additionally, each duct is made of 2 halves that seem to be glued together or bonded in some way. Another shoddy job here since there are many areas that missed the glue and can therefore pass air between it. How is this system supposed to 'pressurize' (if that's even what it does) at 60+ mph speeds??
Last but not least there are plastic burrs all over the place. 2 or 3 minutes is all it takes to remove them by hand so they don't get sucked into the intake.
To be quite honest, I'm really pissed off that $300 dollars can't buy me an intake that has some $2 dollar foam that's cut correctly.
It really makes me wonder about all that bullsh-- testing and writeups they have. I wonder who they hired to write all that and why they couldn't have used that same person to write a decent set of instructions.
Perhaps they could pay him a few dollars more to do a little quality assurance as well. I'm very unsatisfied with this system already and it's not even on my car.
Those of you who are going to comment on the amazing power gains--just remove your intake system entirely. You might as well -- with the gap I've got in mine I might as well have a vaccume cleaner for a motor. Sucking up sand, dirt, and debris as I drive along the roads of Florida.
Now when I purchased it, I was already aware of the 'home-made' asthetics of the system. That doesn't bother me because I'm mostly interested in the performance gains. I haven't installed it yet, however I pieced it together in my living room just to see how the system will be installed once I go out and take things apart on my car.
Here are my gripes:
1) The instructions. They're terrible and are completely useless. Thanks for including pictures and a vague description of how to put things together. These are nothing short of what you'd expect from an ebay vendor--selling a set of instructions that have been copied hundreds of times. Thank GOD someone put together a great D.I.Y guide for the installation. If I were Vararam, I'd be pretty embarrassed that a CONSUMER has better installation instructions than provided.
2) The seals/foam on the bottom half (the ducts). They say to put the foam on after the system is installed of course...but I lined up the pieces just to see how they'd fit. They do fit (sort of) however the person that cut the holes for the screws either has a poor template or an 8th grade education. They don't line up at all--not even if you flex the system as it might once installed. If you line 2 holes up, the other 2 screws might as well be a city block away.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3621/...1eac7913_o.jpg
Here you can see 1 and a HALF screws make it, look closely and you'll see the bottom two don't at all.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3216/...c9e86be246.jpg
Another angle with better lighting.
Now -- Even forgetting about the holes, the foam covers several areas of the ducts, obstructing airflow. Looks like I'll be doing a lot of cutting and reshaping.
3) The seal/foam for the top housing doesn't wrap around the top completely. They made a half-a$$ed attempt at putting it all the way around but left a gap about a centemeter or two wide for direct air to pass through--unfiltered. Again, probably a poor template.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3432/...6272ce9a_o.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3437/...2f8044a7_o.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3182/...1188afd7_o.jpg
As you can see, the filter as a whole, is a little loose in the top and bottom. Once you lock it in place it'll tighten up. Yes, however the locks are on the left and right, not the top and bottom where the gaps are the largest.
4) The fit and finish of the top and bottom as a whole is kind of crappy. Once again, the fit and finish of the foam doesn't make it--this time it's not even the right shape for the top. The marriage of the bottom ducts to the top housing don't share a similar shape--a poor design if you want to use the foam seals. As you can see here, once you compress the foam, it bunches.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3482/...cf95e37a_o.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3179/...52fcefc1_o.jpg
Additionally, pieces of the intake have been what would appear to have been sanded and other pieces have been scribbled out and written over.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3273/...22e23a94b2.jpg
Here's the sanded area that has significantly weakened the corner lip of where the top and bottom halfs connect.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3325/...06fcb155_o.jpg
Additionally, each duct is made of 2 halves that seem to be glued together or bonded in some way. Another shoddy job here since there are many areas that missed the glue and can therefore pass air between it. How is this system supposed to 'pressurize' (if that's even what it does) at 60+ mph speeds??
Last but not least there are plastic burrs all over the place. 2 or 3 minutes is all it takes to remove them by hand so they don't get sucked into the intake.
To be quite honest, I'm really pissed off that $300 dollars can't buy me an intake that has some $2 dollar foam that's cut correctly.
It really makes me wonder about all that bullsh-- testing and writeups they have. I wonder who they hired to write all that and why they couldn't have used that same person to write a decent set of instructions.
Perhaps they could pay him a few dollars more to do a little quality assurance as well. I'm very unsatisfied with this system already and it's not even on my car.
Those of you who are going to comment on the amazing power gains--just remove your intake system entirely. You might as well -- with the gap I've got in mine I might as well have a vaccume cleaner for a motor. Sucking up sand, dirt, and debris as I drive along the roads of Florida.
Last edited by DevilMan02; 02-16-2009 at 04:43 PM.
02-16-2009, 04:48 PM
#2
Race Director
Sorry to hear how dissapointed you are about the product. I have heard the build quality is humorous but the results are otherwise solid. can you post a close up picture of the actual intake opening where the foglight housing part connects to it?
-Alex
-Alex
02-16-2009, 04:58 PM
#3
Thanks for the heads up guess i'll wait for the VBR3 model to come out. Got there power duct more for looks than anything but it dose not work with stock unit. but there ad sounded good. 
02-16-2009, 05:07 PM
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St. Jude Donor '12-'13-'14
Sorry about your intake, From what I have read here on the forum, I won't be buying one, It is a shame that they have no quality control, I have read 3 maybe 4 threads about the same issue this week alone. If it were me for 300 bucks I would be sending it back.
JMO.
Bill K
JMO.
Bill K
02-16-2009, 05:07 PM
#5
Burning Brakes
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Sad for the price you paid you would expect a little better quality.My car had a bpp votex ram air on it when i purchased it no problems with it so far. good luck with the install.
02-16-2009, 05:28 PM
#7
Instructor
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Wow. I have certainly heard of the quality issues many times on this forum, but this puts it into perspective. A car as great as the C5 deserves something better.
Your post justified the extra $200ish for the Calloway Honker for me.
Your post justified the extra $200ish for the Calloway Honker for me.
02-16-2009, 05:41 PM
#9
Melting Slicks
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Even though many people report gains from this system, it has MANY flaws!
Common sense tells you that the filter is very under sized for serious horse power applications!
The foam seals clearly don`t work properly, thus the system really isn`t pressurized, as it has leaks all around the lid!
If you doubt me, try an automotive smoke machine designed to detect intake leaks, I did and I`m am confident your results will confirm my statement.
When I reinstalled my old twin flow on my blower car the twin filters flowed so much more air I had to have the idle re-tuned.
Just my opinion based on real world trial and error...
Common sense tells you that the filter is very under sized for serious horse power applications!
The foam seals clearly don`t work properly, thus the system really isn`t pressurized, as it has leaks all around the lid!
If you doubt me, try an automotive smoke machine designed to detect intake leaks, I did and I`m am confident your results will confirm my statement.
When I reinstalled my old twin flow on my blower car the twin filters flowed so much more air I had to have the idle re-tuned.
Just my opinion based on real world trial and error...
02-16-2009, 05:43 PM
#10
Safety Car
Wow... sounds like you got a really lousy setup. Mine was nowhere NEAR that bad; everything fit, it all lined up; the screws lined up... the foam fit, the filter sealed beautifully. After installation, I didn't have to re-adjust anything... was lined up perfect right off. I wonder if VR just sent out a bad batch this month or something, prompting all these sudden complaints at once?
I DO agree with the instructions... I took one look and threw them straight away into the trash with a laugh. Who are they kidding?
I used CajunDude's instructions, modified a bit for me having a Z06 vs. a coupe. Easy. Tedious, but easy. I'd do this again.
If you do return it, hopefully you didn't buy it from that certain vendor who charges a 25% restocking fee... Ouch! Steep "fee" for not accepting a faulty product.
I DO agree with the instructions... I took one look and threw them straight away into the trash with a laugh. Who are they kidding?
I used CajunDude's instructions, modified a bit for me having a Z06 vs. a coupe. Easy. Tedious, but easy. I'd do this again.
If you do return it, hopefully you didn't buy it from that certain vendor who charges a 25% restocking fee... Ouch! Steep "fee" for not accepting a faulty product.
02-16-2009, 05:55 PM
#11
Night Owl for life
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that's pretty much what i've always read about vararam.
callaway honker does the same thing as the VR, but the quality is top notch.
callaway honker does the same thing as the VR, but the quality is top notch.
02-16-2009, 07:35 PM
#18
Drifting
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http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3214/...c06a26ca_o.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3351/...ddcb9e20_o.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3428/...4f33a636de.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3476/...6cfe29d1_o.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3182/...f40d38bb_o.jpg
Also while I was taking these photos, I found this:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3641/...8e8c74d8_o.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3468/...f61582ac_o.jpg
You be the judge: Precision performance piece or sloppy piece of sh**?
02-16-2009, 07:44 PM
#20
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St. Jude Donor '12-'13-'14
I still say send it back, That is uncalled for.....
Talk about Corvette Tax. I don't care if it gives you 100HP, My car deserves better.....
Talk about Corvette Tax. I don't care if it gives you 100HP, My car deserves better.....