Vararam
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 2,977
Likes: 4
From: Delmar Delaware
Vararam
I have a BPP intake now and I saw a Vararam/Powerstack setup for sale. I was wondering,would it be worth it for me to make the switch over or should I just keep what I have now?
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 3,903
Likes: 1
From: You know your drunk when you swerve to miss the tree then you realize its your air freshener! Covington Ga
Im not a big fan of the Vararam because you have to make it fit. I have put a couple on for people and they didnt like how it fit. Thats just my 2 cents.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 402
Likes: 0
From: St.Louis Mo
I had no fitment issues with my vararam intake ( except with my hands fitting to put it in )it was tight . Everything lines up perfectly for me. I haven't read or heard anything about BPP intakes so i can't really say if its better . With my vararam i can feel the difference 
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,760
Likes: 4
From: Broward County Florida
I had no fitment issues with my vararam intake ( except with my hands fitting to put it in )it was tight . Everything lines up perfectly for me. I haven't read or heard anything about BPP intakes so i can't really say if its better . With my vararam i can feel the difference
You can also 'feel' your car is better after an oil change but I assure you it's a simple placebo effect. Top race car drivers can barely feel a 10hp difference and I can with almost 100% certainty say that there isn't that much of a difference between the two intakes and I doubt you're a professional race car driver as well. So even if there were, you wouldn't feel it.
Common man can start to feel 15-20hp gains.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 4,831
Likes: 1,847
From: NJ
2025 C8 of the Year Finalist - Modified
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I had no fitment issues with my vararam intake ( except with my hands fitting to put it in )it was tight . Everything lines up perfectly for me. I haven't read or heard anything about BPP intakes so i can't really say if its better . With my vararam i can feel the difference
Vararam makes the car pull harder on acceleration (top end) because it's forcing air in. I saw someone (I know) who ran at least a couple tenths faster at the strip with the Vararam (was running 13.2/13.3, then broke 12's after installing the VR). It's been proven at the track (many times) and you can really feel the car run strong on the highway under hard acceleration. If I didn't have my Blackwing (w/screens) setup, I'd definately go with the VR. As for the BPP... not sure what kind of gains you've gotten with that, but it also seems like a decent setup!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 831
Likes: 2
From: Silver Spring, MD
I am not familar with the BPP set up. I went from Halltech to Blackwing to current Vararam.
each one was an improvement than its predecessor. you can feel the difference with the Vararam a little better than the blackwing imo
(although the BW is nice).
each one was an improvement than its predecessor. you can feel the difference with the Vararam a little better than the blackwing imo
(although the BW is nice).
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Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,902
Likes: 21
From: Oak Hill Virginia
My $.02. I've helped (done it for them) two friends put vararams on their cars and am considering it for mine.
Vararam
What it is: IMO the best cold air intake you can buy for C5 from a power gain standpoint.
What it isn't: A system that had even a nano-second of thought given to fit or finish (they must have been too busy trying to squeeze as much power out as possible to think about aesthetics and fit). Install is an exercise in patience and a little creativity and it doesn't look anywhere near as good as some of the other aftermarket intakes out there.
I also don't think it feels much different than any other aftermarket intake. You may notice a little improvement in throttle response over the stock system, but you're not going to feel like you just bolted a procharger to your motor.
To answer the OP's question. I'll have to agree with JW, if you race then go for it, you might knock a little more time off the clock at the track. If you are just looking to "feel" a little more power out of your car, you would probably do better putting the money toward another mod.
Vararam
What it is: IMO the best cold air intake you can buy for C5 from a power gain standpoint.
What it isn't: A system that had even a nano-second of thought given to fit or finish (they must have been too busy trying to squeeze as much power out as possible to think about aesthetics and fit). Install is an exercise in patience and a little creativity and it doesn't look anywhere near as good as some of the other aftermarket intakes out there.
I also don't think it feels much different than any other aftermarket intake. You may notice a little improvement in throttle response over the stock system, but you're not going to feel like you just bolted a procharger to your motor.
To answer the OP's question. I'll have to agree with JW, if you race then go for it, you might knock a little more time off the clock at the track. If you are just looking to "feel" a little more power out of your car, you would probably do better putting the money toward another mod.
Last edited by cdkcorvette7; Nov 23, 2009 at 08:39 AM.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 404
Likes: 0
From: NYC
Vararam...
I installed a Vararam and was truly impressed. I did find it a little time consuming trying to get my hands in that front fascia area while laying on a concrete floor but what the hell i liked it. the pieces went together fairly easily at least on mine. Left all the bolts loose til i had it all pieced together then tightened. I bought it because being an engineer i think the design is the best for our cars. utilizing those otherwise useless front openings by the fogs is perfect for capturing oncoming air. i noticed it slightly when i drove it around after the install. it does only become REALLY noticeable with a good tune and when rolling on the highway though. never did i regret choosing it. although it is pricey for plastic moldings i felt it was worth it esp now with H/C 
I would recommend it...oh yeah and it gives this small whistle or something when you get on it maybe others have noticed as well...
I would recommend it...oh yeah and it gives this small whistle or something when you get on it maybe others have noticed as well...
