Air intake systems
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 6,644
Likes: 479
From: OK
Bought a used Vararam B2 from a fellow forum member... did the install myself without any instructions and found it to be pretty simple after doing and undoing a it a couple of times... put the MAF back in the factory position and did the 30 minute cruise to let the computer make air adjustments and had no codes... Vararam and Ti Exhaust cut our MPG from about 29 to about 24... after a Chuck CoW tune we are back to 31 MPG and the tune really woke the LS1 up along with the Vararam and Ti exhaust...
For whatever it's worth Chuck recommends the Vararam CIA to be used with HIS tunes.
For whatever it's worth Chuck recommends the Vararam CIA to be used with HIS tunes.
1/4 mile/AutoX
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 11,440
Likes: 2,184
From: Buffalo Texas
Vararam. It's one of the few true cold air/ram air intakes on the market. The Vararam will give you no power on a dyno. The car has to be moving. A tune with a Vararam and corsa exhaust will be sick. Whatever intake you decide, it needs to pull fresh air from out side the car not the hot radiator bay. The fastest C5's and C6's non FI cars run Vararam. Dyno #'s can lie. 1/4 times can not.
1/4 mile/AutoX
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 11,440
Likes: 2,184
From: Buffalo Texas
Yeah that's where I saw it too. In the directions it says to install them but on the video it says to leave them out. If I installed them there was no way it would fit. The problem with leaving them out is it pulls the rams away from the bumper and then they can fall down in front of the fog lamps. After I had it in I looked on their website and it showed the B2 kit having spacers for those screws but mine didn't have them even though the box said B2. Idk my $.02 is the Vararam is an awesome idea and I'm sure does its job but seems pretty chinsy for the price tag.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 3,473
Likes: 691
From: West Virginia
Just avoid standing water.......
BTW, I think the only CAI supplier providing dyno results is K&N. I think they probably give a reasonable guide to what your expectations should be. Especially as a lot of vendors use K&N filters.
BTW, I think the only CAI supplier providing dyno results is K&N. I think they probably give a reasonable guide to what your expectations should be. Especially as a lot of vendors use K&N filters.
Former Vendor
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 11,792
Likes: 255
From: Ossining New York
St. Jude Donor '07-'08-'09-'10-'12-'13-'14
The Vararam is the BEST!
Bought a used Vararam B2 from a fellow forum member... did the install myself without any instructions and found it to be pretty simple after doing and undoing a it a couple of times... put the MAF back in the factory position and did the 30 minute cruise to let the computer make air adjustments and had no codes... Vararam and Ti Exhaust cut our MPG from about 29 to about 24... after a Chuck CoW tune we are back to 31 MPG and the tune really woke the LS1 up along with the Vararam and Ti exhaust...
For whatever it's worth Chuck recommends the Vararam CIA to be used with HIS tunes.
For whatever it's worth Chuck recommends the Vararam CIA to be used with HIS tunes.
Nothing tunes or performs like it.
Chuck CoW
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 3,473
Likes: 691
From: West Virginia
What I would really like to see are dyno results for different CAI systems on the same car. Numbers are much more accurate than how it feels. Oh, and early C5's will give different results than later years.
So, data please.
So, data please.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 2,049
Likes: 316
From: USA
I had the vararam before switching to the full Airaid system. Like everyone says, the quality is very meh on the vararam, but I got it to fit just fine doing the install on my own in the garage. I had a piece break and they sent out a replacement part right away, so great support too. My biggest gripe was that at low rpm/low load and at highway type speeds (6th gear on highway), there was a slight stutter or jerkiness to the engine that we were never able to tune out. Datalogs confirmed a very "noisey" MAF signal with the vararam in comparison to stock or airaid system. I suspect having the 2 separate air streams merge just before the MAF is not an ideal design. Got the Airaid...awesome quality, nice huge dryflow filter, easy to work on/service, been happy ever since. Just my experience and 2 cents.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 755
Likes: 142
I have the Blackwing and love it, It looks stock under the hood plus I was caught in a downpour one day, got to this intersection 2 blocks away from home that had massive amounts of water and I knew I hit it deep!! my belts started squeaking , I almost freaked out thought I had water going into my engine.. I got home the belts kept squeaking but my Blackwing was bone dry ! I guess its the way that it is shaped it prevented water from entering! The next day I bought 2 new belts and loved the Blackwing even more.
Last edited by vetteguy8; Jul 7, 2015 at 11:09 PM.