Vararam - Worth it?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 261
Likes: 0
From: Appleton WI
Vararam - Worth it?
In reading the posts about mods you regret, it seems like most like the Vararam.
How easy?
What do you need?
Re-Tune?
Can you really tell the difference with this on?
I have a C5 Coupe 2004
How easy?
What do you need?
Re-Tune?
Can you really tell the difference with this on?
I have a C5 Coupe 2004
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 3,011
Likes: 9
From: Dublin GA
In reading the posts about mods you regret, it seems like most like the Vararam.
How easy? - Couple of hrs
What do you need? just a little patience and basic tools
Re-Tune? - No; computer will relearn
Can you really tell the difference with this on? oh yea
I have a C5 Coupe 2004
How easy? - Couple of hrs
What do you need? just a little patience and basic tools
Re-Tune? - No; computer will relearn
Can you really tell the difference with this on? oh yea
I have a C5 Coupe 2004
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 11,060
Likes: 291
From: Pasco WA
Great mod, but many have complained about the installation difficulties, and quality of the fitment. I had to tinker/tweak some little things to get it sealed, but that stuff is easy, and the results are very good.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 4,876
Likes: 1
From: Jersey Shore Exit 98
In reading the posts about mods you regret, it seems like most like the Vararam.
How easy? If your handy and have floor jacks, its a good DIY saturday job.
What do you need? floor jacks and good set of tools. (nice clean garage floor helps)
Re-Tune? Not needed, the PC will adjust by itself.
Can you really tell the difference with this on? YES & YES over stock. but other CAI's will do the same. You feel the most power when your pushing the revs.
I have a C5 Coupe 2004
How easy? If your handy and have floor jacks, its a good DIY saturday job.
What do you need? floor jacks and good set of tools. (nice clean garage floor helps)
Re-Tune? Not needed, the PC will adjust by itself.
Can you really tell the difference with this on? YES & YES over stock. but other CAI's will do the same. You feel the most power when your pushing the revs.
I have a C5 Coupe 2004
Here's a link.
http://marylandspeed.com/air-intake-...n-c-62_77.html
Last edited by Jims79; Oct 3, 2013 at 01:42 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,601
Likes: 797
From: Windsor CA
2024 C7 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 235
Likes: 0
Yes just for the fact the throttle response becomes a lot better. I timed some pulls with it on and off and the acceleration was much better. It might throw check engine codes but don't worry they will go away over time.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,073
Likes: 3
From: Asheville NC
Read this article straight from the forums on here. This was just posted yesterday and this is a cheaper way of gaining a few more horses if you want to go this route. I run the Halltech Venom CAI on my C5 Z06 and it works fine. The Vararam is awesome as well. Can't go wrong with either.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/articles/c5-intake/
https://www.corvetteforum.com/articles/c5-intake/
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 5,284
Likes: 235
From: Rockledge FL
Or listen to someone with more than 18 posts and has years of real world results with this setup. This forum is full of people with documented quicker track times with a vararam. Even the company that makes this intake says in their literature that you wont see much improvement on a dyno with the vararam system. The car must be moving. A fan is not going to pressurize the airbox the same as actually moving down the highway.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 359
Likes: 2
From: somewhere
I gained 39rwhp to the wheels with the following mods
ARH 1 3/4 long tube headers and Xpipe
Callway Honker CAI
Dyno tune
I picked the Callaway Honker over the Vararam because of build quality and easier installation. They are both bottom feeding intakes and make good power.
ARH 1 3/4 long tube headers and Xpipe
Callway Honker CAI
Dyno tune
I picked the Callaway Honker over the Vararam because of build quality and easier installation. They are both bottom feeding intakes and make good power.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 2,857
Likes: 234
From: SW Nuh Hampsha
2018 C5 of Year Finalist
Cruising
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 2,127
Likes: 33
From: Easley/Anderson South Carolina
I never liked feeding my engine from airflow that's suppose to feed the radiator. I also wanted outside air supplied to the engine. The Vararam is the only one in my opinion and preference that fit what I wanted.
I had some difficulties installing, but was expected due to reading up about them first. I would do it again in a heart beat on another Vette. I'm going turbo so I will more than likely be selling mine, with the power duct.
I had some difficulties installing, but was expected due to reading up about them first. I would do it again in a heart beat on another Vette. I'm going turbo so I will more than likely be selling mine, with the power duct.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 7,430
Likes: 4,829
From: BEST Corn-Nation
2015 C5 of the Year Winner
I had one on my '98 for a while. Liked it except for one thing. The filter was kind of a pain to get out and clean. Other then that it worked well. Even ran through some major rain with water building in the road and didn't have any issues with injestion. I removed it and installed just an open element filter for ease of cleaning. Otherwise I would still have it on.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,595
Likes: 191
From: Wilmington DE
I just got done installing mine last Sunday. Allow yourself a whole day to do this. I don't have a sensitive butt dyno like others on here. I had a flip-tie or reverse zip-tie (whatever you want to call it)that sucks up air from underneath. The difference is negligable between the two unless you drive 70mph flooring it the whole time.
The install was a pain in the *** like the others have said. I have a new OEM front bumper only a year old so I know that's not warped. The driver foglight area connection fit good. The passenger side was a nightmare. The two bolts were a good inch away from the bumper connection. My last resort was to use my knees to push in my bumper from the front while tightening the screws from underneath. Even after all that the side of the fog light is covered.
The top was a pain too the best way is to hook up everything around the throttle body,maf area(I moved the maf to the TB for better readings). Then push down on the power duct with brute force and meet up at the filter box. Good thing was no codes so far. Any questions PM as it is fresh in my head.
The install was a pain in the *** like the others have said. I have a new OEM front bumper only a year old so I know that's not warped. The driver foglight area connection fit good. The passenger side was a nightmare. The two bolts were a good inch away from the bumper connection. My last resort was to use my knees to push in my bumper from the front while tightening the screws from underneath. Even after all that the side of the fog light is covered.
The top was a pain too the best way is to hook up everything around the throttle body,maf area(I moved the maf to the TB for better readings). Then push down on the power duct with brute force and meet up at the filter box. Good thing was no codes so far. Any questions PM as it is fresh in my head.
