[Z06] Vararam Intake install
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,084
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From: Huntington Beach California
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 2,127
Likes: 33
From: Easley/Anderson South Carolina
when you get to the shroud, can you snap a picture before taking it apart to remove it. The bottom left and right sides where it bolts to the cross frame. I want to make sure mine is in the correct placement.
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 164
Likes: 1
From: Las vegas Nevada
I have the vararam and the power duct as well on my 03Z and I didn't think the install was too bad but the fitment does suck and the whole setup seems very "cheap" as far as quality / materials go. Not to mention the check engine light coming on once in a while with lean codes. Needless to say my stock intake is back on with the zip tie mod.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,084
Likes: 0
From: Huntington Beach California
I have the vararam and the power duct as well on my 03Z and I didn't think the install was too bad but the fitment does suck and the whole setup seems very "cheap" as far as quality / materials go. Not to mention the check engine light coming on once in a while with lean codes. Needless to say my stock intake is back on with the zip tie mod.
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 164
Likes: 1
From: Las vegas Nevada
Yes it can but the problem is turbulence not the increased airflow. In my opinion if the MAF can't accurately read airflow due to turbulence then doing a tune based on a/f ratio won't be 100% either since turbulence in the intake will change depending on weather / wind / speed etc so the tune can basically get the car close enough to where it's happy at the light stays off but it seems like a better solution would be finding a way to get accurate airflow readings instead. I didn't want to spend several hundred $ on a tune only to need to retune it when more mods are done to the car since that's basically just throwing money away that can be used towards more parts. The airflow straightener / screen "to fix lean codes forever" did not work in my case.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,084
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From: Huntington Beach California
Interesting, all I have mostly heard about the VR is GOOD, but I have also read a couple threads relative to lean codes. Additionally, some say after 50+ miles of driving it on the freeway with it installed the computer adapts / recalibrates to the increased airflow and the codes go away ?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 2,127
Likes: 33
From: Easley/Anderson South Carolina
from my research the code is from the maf being placed right at the throttle body and you can install the honeycomb stuff in the maf to correct it, or a good tune. In my case, since my maf is between the filter and the power duct (kinda at the same place as it began) i havent gotten a lean code yet
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,084
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From: Huntington Beach California
from my research the code is from the maf being placed right at the throttle body and you can install the honeycomb stuff in the maf to correct it, or a good tune. In my case, since my maf is between the filter and the power duct (kinda at the same place as it began) i havent gotten a lean code yet
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 787
Likes: 1
From: New Baltimore Michigan
Hey Zee buy a honeycomb maf screen from halltech there like $60.00 shipped. From what i read the lean codes are from turbulent air and the screen smooths the air out, there are guys on here that did not tune the car just installed the screen and the codes went away, plus they say a tune will not resolve the lean code issues anyway. I only put about 40-50 miles on my car since install of the vararam then putting it away for the winter but have had no codes yet and plan on a tune this coming spring
Steve
Steve
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,084
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From: Huntington Beach California
Hey Zee buy a honeycomb maf screen from halltech there like $60.00 shipped. From what i read the lean codes are from turbulent air and the screen smooths the air out, there are guys on here that did not tune the car just installed the screen and the codes went away, plus they say a tune will not resolve the lean code issues anyway. I only put about 40-50 miles on my car since install of the vararam then putting it away for the winter but have had no codes yet and plan on a tune this coming spring
Steve
Steve
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 164
Likes: 1
From: Las vegas Nevada
Hey Zee buy a honeycomb maf screen from halltech there like $60.00 shipped. From what i read the lean codes are from turbulent air and the screen smooths the air out, there are guys on here that did not tune the car just installed the screen and the codes went away, plus they say a tune will not resolve the lean code issues anyway. I only put about 40-50 miles on my car since install of the vararam then putting it away for the winter but have had no codes yet and plan on a tune this coming spring
Steve
Steve
This did not work on my car but on others it has apparently worked. From what I've read some cars are just more sensative than others and some will have lean codes while others won't. I tried putting my MAF in the original position, up by the throttle and even clocking it different directions to attempt to get a better reading and cleaned it as well. I also have the maf screen from halltech. My car sees lean codes depending on weather conditions and type of driving, codes are noticed more in warmer climate. Sometimes I can drive 200 + miles without the light coming on, other times it comes on 5 miles after having it off. I would personally NOT spend the $60 on the screen again and also wait to install the intake until you are ready to have it tuned. My other c5 ( non zo6 ) also has a vararam with no issues.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 787
Likes: 1
From: New Baltimore Michigan
This did not work on my car but on others it has apparently worked. From what I've read some cars are just more sensative than others and some will have lean codes while others won't. I tried putting my MAF in the original position, up by the throttle and even clocking it different directions to attempt to get a better reading and cleaned it as well. I also have the maf screen from halltech. My car sees lean codes depending on weather conditions and type of driving, codes are noticed more in warmer climate. Sometimes I can drive 200 + miles without the light coming on, other times it comes on 5 miles after having it off. I would personally NOT spend the $60 on the screen again and also wait to install the intake until you are ready to have it tuned. My other c5 ( non zo6 ) also has a vararam with no issues.
Steve
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,203
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From: Staten Island NY
Took me about 4 hours including shortening the MAF cable. Taking down all the under car panels and putting them back is time consuming.
Last edited by warren s; Jan 9, 2011 at 10:14 PM.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 2,127
Likes: 33
From: Easley/Anderson South Carolina
mine would not install like that. 
I took it for a good long drive yesterday finally. (no rain, weather was 45-50) The car doesnt run as well as it had. I also noticed that every once and awhile, I will get a decel pop in the exhaust, like a back fire but not as loud.
I took it for a good long drive yesterday finally. (no rain, weather was 45-50) The car doesnt run as well as it had. I also noticed that every once and awhile, I will get a decel pop in the exhaust, like a back fire but not as loud.
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 164
Likes: 1
From: Las vegas Nevada
mine would not install like that.
I took it for a good long drive yesterday finally. (no rain, weather was 45-50) The car doesnt run as well as it had. I also noticed that every once and awhile, I will get a decel pop in the exhaust, like a back fire but not as loud.
I took it for a good long drive yesterday finally. (no rain, weather was 45-50) The car doesnt run as well as it had. I also noticed that every once and awhile, I will get a decel pop in the exhaust, like a back fire but not as loud.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 9,526
Likes: 12
From: Los Angeles California
I feel your pain. Took 3.5 hours for me. 1 hour was just being able to get to the damn screws. I have small hands and I STILL had a hard time getting to them because I don't have a 1" extension fitting for my ratchet. (That would have made the job 10x easier.)
But it's worth it in the end. My dad's going to buy one very soon. I'm not looking forward to installing it, but I'm going to end up doing it. LOL
But it's worth it in the end. My dad's going to buy one very soon. I'm not looking forward to installing it, but I'm going to end up doing it. LOL
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,084
Likes: 0
From: Huntington Beach California
I feel your pain. Took 3.5 hours for me. 1 hour was just being able to get to the damn screws. I have small hands and I STILL had a hard time getting to them because I don't have a 1" extension fitting for my ratchet. (That would have made the job 10x easier.)
But it's worth it in the end. My dad's going to buy one very soon. I'm not looking forward to installing it, but I'm going to end up doing it. LOL
But it's worth it in the end. My dad's going to buy one very soon. I'm not looking forward to installing it, but I'm going to end up doing it. LOL
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 2,127
Likes: 33
From: Easley/Anderson South Carolina
hahaha the only check engine light I get is when the Z is doing its no start BS (see prior thread) No performance CEL's as of yet. And I cant drive it right now to put a few days on the intake install, I got about 6 inches of snow on my driveway.