Ok,I know this has been beat to deat, then beat some more, but after hours of reading old threads last night I was only able to narrow it down to these 2.

So that said, what do you suggest? Any reason why? I know the Blackwing will probably be easier to install than the Vara ram. For what it's worth, I'm not planning on getting the power duct, read about too many figment issues.

Appreciate the input!

 

The Vararam pulls air from the open ducts on the front bumper. GM left these ducts open to allow more airflow into the factory air intake system. Vararam adds ducts to channel that air and removed the restrictive factory box.

I had gotten into a large debate over on the Z06 forum about this, provided lots of links and data supporting why I felt the Vararam to be the better choice as far as performance increase was. But because "vararam" themselves were not a supporting member, many of my links to the data were removed, even tho many of that forum's supporting vendors sell Vararam's.

Something I dont like about other intake systems is the fact that you have to cut the radiator shroud so the filter can pull air from the radiator airflow area. I dont like that, I want as much air as possible to get into the radiator and condenser. That is one of the many reasons why I chose the Vararam.

I previously had a cone filter and smooth duct on the car before the vararam. Once I installed the vararam, I could tell a noticable difference in the preformance when at speed. Some could be contributed to the new tune, but I have no doubt that the vararam is doing what it was designed to do, and that is to cram air down the intakes mouth.

** Fitmit issues are subject to the car. No one Corvette is exactly like another. I had a difficult time installing mine, but I am happy I went thru the hassle.

 

If your goal is performance, the Vararam has the lead with a substaintial difference. This is not my opinion, it is what I can prove from tuning logs on the same vehicle that had both intakes. The Black Wing is a well made intake, but the car will go farther into vacuum at WOT with that intake compared to the Vararam, which is nothing more then a measure of restriction.
Of course the track results concure and have been posted on this forum several times. Hope that helps.

(we happen to be having a sale on these too!)

http://www.eastcoastsupercharging.co...ge=shop.browse

 

Personal choice. Didnt go with the VR because of the crappy components,fitment issues,overpriced,and that most of the time, you have to modify it to make it work. If I have to spend over $100 for whats essentially a plastic kit and have to drill,trim, and otherwise adjust it you can have it. And lets not forget that at least 80% of the people on this forum generally had a problem installing it. I think it took one guy 6 hrs. Yeah right. Ive got the Blackwing AND the VR power duct. Didnt have any problem connecting them together without modifying it and its super tight. And I also modified the radiator shroud for a cold air/ram air effect. Lower engine temps, higher performance,looks cool,saved a chunk of change. I bought a spare shroud from Bloomington Gold (used) for $40,in case I decide to go another route. The Blackwing was used ($75), and the VR duct was about $80. I get great seat of the pants performance and when Im entering the expressway, I can lightup/peel the rear tires. Cleaning the filter is also pretty easy. Im not advocating the Blackwing for anyone else but Im letting everyone know that this particular setup has worked out very well.

 

Appreciate all the very informative input, and I've been worried about the fit net issues with the VR Darryl you might have just talked me into the Blackwing, especially because I wondered how it would do hooked up to a power duct.

I should say, my Z came with a modified stock air box (Large holes cut out of it) and an amsoil filter, so I'm not even sure what kind of upgrade I can expect besides visually.

 

When I first got my Z, I had a guy in the mill at work open up my stock box,(did an excellent job,looked factory) larger than the 02-04 opening. I had a spare K&N filter(flat panel) from my former 98 Z28, and I used that. Perfect fit. I did get a great SOTP response,but after a while, I wanted something more substantial but didnt want to spend a lot of money or get caught up in the hype. As I said, this was my personal preference. After I modified my radiator shroud and installed the Blackwing, I looked for and found a spare shroud on the cheap in case I wanted to go back to the stock look for some reason. I dont doubt the VR may flow better, but to me, the cost savings, ease of installation, DIY pride, no hassle cleaning of the Blackwing was important to me. As far as the VR power duct , it is a tight fit around the MAF but it will go on there and it does fit. And it does flow better than the stock accordian duct. And the only part that had to be modified was the radiator shroud, not the aftermarket parts.

 

Yea I actually thought my air box was stock, until my buddy who is a GM tech came over and told me otherwise

 

I went from the Blackwing to the Vararam on my 01 Z06. Not sure why, but it feels like I lost throttle response with the Vararam.

 

I have a blackwing and have run cars with similar or same mods but with a VR and saw no real difference in performance at the track. Every time we ran, I had a nose on the VR car unless he or I blew the start.

 

Neither...Callaway Honker. My decision was based on excellent craftsmanship and fittiment, proven results, CARB EO#.

 

Thank you!

Actually, if there had been a more powerful air inlet, we would have simply used it, vs. building the Callaway Honker. Several key features make it better, one of the most notable, is how it relocated the MAF sensor directly in front of the throttle body. Something GM Engineers chose to do on the C6

www.callawaycars.com <<Click on the storefront to order. Thanks!

 

This is the finished product my friend. Works like a charm.

 

your speaking for a total lack of knowledge on a product that you have no hands on with? you do not have to drill or trim anything with the vararam intake system...yes its a bit more involved with installing..took me 4 or so hours..but only because i was cleaning as i went along..i have the vararam and i love it...noticed a increase in performance.mpg went up a lil ..and it just looks cool in the car as well

 

Chill out Chester. I have had experience helping a co-worker install his VR, and we did have to modify it a bit to make it fit. And both of us have had plenty of experience installing aftermarket parts. And there are other forum members who have had to modify theirs in one way or another to make it fit,such as not taking a chance on hydrolocking, so what did they do? They drilled holes at the entryway of the funnels to make sure that water doesnt get sucked up into the intake,something the VR designers didnt do. And more than a few people did DRILL holes in the funnels before installation,my friend included. The common consensus is that once its installed most people are happy with it, but also most people agree its a piece of crap. I also was offered a VR for $150 from one of my car club members, but I went with the Blackwing instead and never looked back. Not going to get into a pissin contest.

 

When I test drove the Z06 throttle response was very crisp and response was instant. Keep in mind the 2000 had 4.10's, LS6 intake, ported throttle body and the Vararam. The 01 Z just felt like it would destroy the 2000. The only mod on the Z06 was the Black Wing.

I did put the Vararam on the 01 Z06. The first thing I noticed was the sluggishness only when you were driving lets say normal . The Vararam has been on the Z06 for about three years now.


A couple weeks ago, I decided I was going to compare the Vararam to the stock air box. I drove the Z with the Vararam first, obviously, drove around town and then did a couple pulls. Felt great from mid to full throttle. Went home pulled her in the garage and removed the Vararam and reinstalled the stock 01 air box. Drove around town, throttle response was better around town. I then did a couple pulls, through 4th gear, and the results were exactly the same as the Vararam (same mph and the same feeling as if you insides were being moved around).

With the Vararam there was no seat of the pants difference for me. I actually felt a more positive seat of the pants difference with the stock air box and the Black Wing. I think the Vararam may pull to much air for a stock car. This is my second C5 with the Vararam and both felt sluggish after the install.

I would say, if you don't race just keep the stock air box.
If you're a weekend warrior or the occasional track day, Black Wing
If you race and your car is modified then I would say Vararam.

Just my opinion and I do know that opinions are like a**holes, everybody has one and they all stink.

 

I'll take it a step further.

If you don't race, yeah, keep stock air box, but use a K&N or similar filter.
If you're a weekend warrior, just pop the lid and do the flip-tie, zip-tie, with the K&N.
If you race the Vararam works well. One note though. The Z06 screens for drag racing or auto cross they're fine. On road courses they are too open. Tape off about half of the screen where the fog light openings are. They let in too much air and create lift on the nose. 1/3 to 1/2 open is more than enough to let air into the engine.

As for quality the Vararam B2 quality for fitment is better but still lacking. I didn't have to trim but did have to shuffle around the fit to get it lined up. Getting at the filter to clean is a pain. The Callaway looks like the best quality but their stuff is all horribly over-priced.

 

There must be another factor involved here. Not everyone has the same SOTP sensitivity but I noticed a definitive increase in power after installing my Vararam B2. My ETs dropped about 0.2s (which I believe is the advertised increase) and peak trap speed increased 2mph. I only had a mild cam at the time, otherwise stock. I have since installed 1.8 roller rockers, 1 7/8" headers with full 3" exhaust and have retuned the car (with HPT). My mid-range to peak power feels excellent.

It was a bit of a pain to install but compared to other mods giving similar gains, it's nothing. Quality is indeed lacking but I had no fitment issues. The powerduct is a bit tall though, my hood liner has an indentation from it now.

I had my driveway widened last year and my concrete guy had a highly modified base 2006. His car is in the mid 10s and he initially had a Vararam before increasing engine displacement. He kept the Vararam after the new engine for a short while and then changed to a more open-element style filter like the Blackwing. He gained 0.2s already in the 10s so there is a definite air flow restriction to the Vararam with more cubes.

 

I could not decide on a Vararam or Blackwing myself. I know the Vararam gives better performance at speed, but living in Fl. with all the rain we get I am worried about hydro-locking my engine if I happen to drive through a large puddle of water. It may be rare, but it does happen. So, I was looking for a good price on a Blackwing, kept missing all the used ones that came up on the forum. Ended up with a K&N from Ebay, brand new for $200. More than I wanted to spend but less than I could find either of the aformentioned systems for, and I have K&N CAI on my 99 coupe and my 08 truck, very happy with them. Just my 2 cents worth.