Bought a vararam. Having second thoughts

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Dec 7, 2019 | 04:57 PM

#21

dbgoodwin

Safety Car

Joined: Feb 2013

Posts: 4,346

Likes: 755

From: Greensboro Nc

The people who think installing a vararam is hard are the same ones who drill holes in their car to avoid removing their intake when they do the oil pressure sender.

Its not hard, and it’s a good product. As long as you get everything lined up with no leaks it probably won’t throw any codes, but a tune is always the best option.

Dec 8, 2019 | 09:35 AM

#22

dleibman

Drifting

Joined: Feb 2018

Posts: 1,511

Likes: 385

From: Punta gorda Florida

Quote:

Originally Posted by ztheusa

All ANY of the so-called "cold" air intakes do anything but lighten your wallet.

x2 agree unless your doing other eng. mods, jmo

Dec 8, 2019 | 02:52 PM

#23

royal flush

Racer

Joined: Mar 2016

Posts: 399

Likes: 31

Quote:

Originally Posted by dleibman

x2 agree unless your doing other eng. mods, jmo

NO-NO Before Vararam motor purrs after Vararam--VAROOM VAROOM

Dec 8, 2019 | 04:02 PM

#24

STRMLNE

Melting Slicks

Joined: Oct 2002

Posts: 2,515

Likes: 441

From: Arizona

Just some simple research reveals vararam yields the highest hp increase. The people that recommend the ziptie mod typically don’t want to pay for an intake and just lie to themselves.

Dec 8, 2019 | 05:54 PM

#25

brooksy088

Thread Starter

Advanced

Joined: Nov 2014

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Likes: 2

Yea, I think I’ll keep it on order... all the post I see that are throwing “codes” are old post from 5+ years ago and any newer post aren’t having any issues. I’ll end up going with this intake, long tube headers, x pipe and exhaust Then retune this year in stage one... have a couple years performance wise this way then go supercharger eventually.

so don’t fasten then ducts is basically the “secret” from what I see.

Im mechanically inclined so I’m sure I’ll be fine installing this thing....

Dec 8, 2019 | 06:05 PM

#26

STRMLNE

Melting Slicks

Joined: Oct 2002

Posts: 2,515

Likes: 441

From: Arizona

You’re overthinking this. Bolt it on and drive the hell out of it. Everything will be ok.

Dec 8, 2019 | 06:27 PM

#27

scorpiofox69

Burning Brakes

Joined: Jun 2017

Posts: 760

Likes: 242

From: All Over The Place

install and stomp the h3ll out of it!

Last edited by scorpiofox69; Dec 8, 2019 at 06:29 PM. Reason: addl commentary

Dec 8, 2019 | 06:32 PM

#28

STRMLNE

Melting Slicks

Joined: Oct 2002

Posts: 2,515

Likes: 441

From: Arizona

All of the top tuner shops on YouTube tuner shops use vararam. It’s the standard.

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Dec 8, 2019 | 09:31 PM

#29

dskinsler83

Drifting

Joined: Apr 2019

Posts: 1,562

Likes: 324

From: Morristown, TN

Correct, dont bolt on the air ducts to the fog light areas. It will stay by itself and align by design. I had some struggles and then when I looked, I said it is the air dam bolts. Took em out and fit way better.

Dec 8, 2019 | 10:28 PM

#30

Clancy209

Burning Brakes

Joined: Sep 2013

Posts: 969

Likes: 141

From: Staten island NY

The one way to get true cool air in is to remove the plastic housing by the fog lights and install screens. C5 does not have a grill air intake is from bottom up

Dec 9, 2019 | 04:09 PM

#31

C5MSG2004Vert

Drifting

Joined: Mar 2018

Posts: 1,365

Likes: 414

From: New Jersey

Quote:

Originally Posted by brooksy088

Yea, I think I’ll keep it on order... all the post I see that are throwing “codes” are old post from 5+ years ago and any newer post aren’t having any issues. I’ll end up going with this intake, long tube headers, x pipe and exhaust Then retune this year in stage one... have a couple years performance wise this way then go supercharger eventually.
so don’t fasten then ducts is basically the “secret” from what I see.
Im mechanically inclined so I’m sure I’ll be fine installing this thing....

Not true. I nstalled a vararam just a few months ago and I am getting p0171 and p0174 on my 04 C5. The only way for me to get this to disappear is to get it tuned. I installed the vararam and power duct. When installed it per the instructions the codes almost immediately came up. I had to move the maf to the stock location, then the codes did not come up for a few days. I then used a DiabloSport Trinity to change the tune and lean out the fuel injector curve. No codes but the car was not running right. I didn't feel this was actually the right way to do it so I returned the tune to stock.

Dec 9, 2019 | 04:12 PM

#32

STRMLNE

Melting Slicks

Joined: Oct 2002

Posts: 2,515

Likes: 441

From: Arizona

Yeah. Just call a speed shop. Vararam commonly used. Commonly installed. For someone with experience.

Dec 10, 2019 | 02:55 PM

#33

scameron78

Intermediate

Joined: Feb 2017

Posts: 36

Likes: 5

Quote:

Originally Posted by namvet6869

Just installed a vararam on my 2000. It was a PIA. It took many hours, cuss words to the engineers and it still does not fit right. Right side fit pretty good but left side still does not fit right. Left fog light does not lign up with the hole, Finally just gave up on it. Thinking about installing the stock setup and burning the vararam

Yep... horrible fit because of bad engineering. I used the stock plastic duct around the fog light because it used the fastening point at the park light. I cut an opening in them to match the vararam. The vararam needed a fastening point at that location because when installed it would drop down and cover the fog light. The tunnels that run up to the air filter needed to be installed loose. I then used an aluminum "L" shape bracket and attached it to the top of the tunnel so that it basically hooks at the top of the stock plastic fog light duct. Complete PIA to install. The tunnels need to be designed with some flex in them.

Last edited by scameron78; Dec 10, 2019 at 03:46 PM.

Dec 10, 2019 | 03:37 PM

#34

STRMLNE

Melting Slicks

Joined: Oct 2002

Posts: 2,515

Likes: 441

From: Arizona

They’re easy to install if you know what you’re doing. I wouldn’t recommend it for the at home diy first timers.

Dec 10, 2019 | 04:07 PM

#35

scameron78

Intermediate

Joined: Feb 2017

Posts: 36

Likes: 5

I don't think they're hard to install; I'm the "at home diy first timer". I believe fitment could be better to help the install.

Dec 10, 2019 | 04:14 PM

#36

JayhawkCPA

Racer

Joined: Sep 2017

Posts: 459

Likes: 138

From: Dallas TX

my car has the stock "power tube" connected to the VR intake, this is supposed to help with fitment and keep it from rubbing the hood liner.

Last edited by JayhawkCPA; Dec 10, 2019 at 04:14 PM.

Dec 10, 2019 | 09:01 PM

#37

Buck2323

Advanced

Joined: Jul 2018

Posts: 79

Likes: 3

reading all the reviews on "how hard" it is to install the Vararam mentally prepared me to make the job harder than it was.
Grab 3 beers, a few wrenches and take your time....it wasn't bad at all
I actually let mine sit on the shelf for 5 months because I was dreading the so called pita install .....wish I would of just installed it when UPS dropped it off