Blackwing or Vararam???
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 2,804
Likes: 358
From: Northville, MI
The advantage of adding a different air intake is to increase the area of the air cleaner and/or to get cooler Air Intake Temperatures. The rest of the hype is just that, hype! The veraram provides an access to outside air and that is good. If you just add the blackwing, you increase the surface area of the incoming air, but it is still at engine air temps. This is the start of the engine running "pig rich", too much hot air. If you add the blackwing, you need to cut the radiator shroud and then seal the blackwing to the opening (basically a larger Vortex type cover). This is the best method other than going to an air extrator type hood.
This is an overly simplified explanation of the differences.
This is an overly simplified explanation of the differences.
Last edited by Gordy M; Aug 23, 2004 at 05:13 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 5,362
Likes: 3
From: Delray Beach FL
Check out the Halltech Stinger-R. One of the vendors has a GP going on with them, $199 (I think it was the Corvette Garage, check the parts section, it is listed there). It includes a filter like the Blackwing and a new air bridge.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 23,283
Likes: 906
From: Lake Elsinore, CA
I've used both with my current h/c setup. In my experience, the VaraRam provides the most gain in performance, particularly above 60 mph. But if product quality, ease of installation and maintenance are your top priorities, then it's gotta' be the Blackwing all the way (or a current equivalent). Plus, if you're bolt-on-only and need to pop the stock intake on for some warranty work, the Blackwing is 15 minutes away from stock. The VaraRam - well, the dealer will get a good look at mine if I ever had to take it in for warranty work . . . yeah, like that'll happen. 
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 4,204
Likes: 735
From: Hainesport NJ
St. Jude Donor '10
Like it was said earlier this is a; weekly question, no biggie; but remember you are comparing two different types of intakes. You would be better to compare the Blackwing with the Halltach Stinger R and then the VaraRam with the Halltech TRAP system.
I personally went with the Stinger R and then added the extra air bridge and finally converted to the TRAP system. I think this is a very good mod for the money. Cheaper and easier to install vs. the Vararam. Both promise the same results so I went with the easier option.
The vendor who has the TRAP and Stinger R is called HallTech, they have a banner ad on the side of this Forum.
Good Luck in your decision, buy what you are comfertable with. If you ask 50 people on this Forum you could get 50 different answers and they all would be the correct answer in thier minds.
If you are headed to Carlisle this weekend, there could be some deals too be had.
I personally went with the Stinger R and then added the extra air bridge and finally converted to the TRAP system. I think this is a very good mod for the money. Cheaper and easier to install vs. the Vararam. Both promise the same results so I went with the easier option.
The vendor who has the TRAP and Stinger R is called HallTech, they have a banner ad on the side of this Forum.
Good Luck in your decision, buy what you are comfertable with. If you ask 50 people on this Forum you could get 50 different answers and they all would be the correct answer in thier minds.
If you are headed to Carlisle this weekend, there could be some deals too be had.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 19,304
Likes: 85
From: San Diego CA
Originally Posted by allequipment
so how does the Haltech compare to the vararam. Haltech still hot air correct? Does anyone know the vendor who has the special?
Year/Model/Mods/RWHP/RWTQ
00/Vert/Vararam/CorsaPace/326.3/329.5
02/Coupe/Blackwing/BorlaStingers/328.1/340.5
01/Coupe/HalltechStinger-R/BorlaStingers/328.6/352.2
02/Z06/Bone Stock/361.7/347.2
The GP for the Halltech Stinger-R intake system is
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/showthread.php?t=888206
The Stinger-R, like the Blackwing, is not CAI, but my $30 cold air intake mod gives you most all of the benefits of CAI systems at a small fraction of the cost. It can be found at
http://www.corvettec5.com/Radiator%2...nst_new%20.pdf
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 2,501
Likes: 35
From: Sunshine State, USA
Senior Member
Cruise-In V Veteran
This has been beat to death on many, many threads, but what it comes down to is if you want a cold air intake or not. I think the Blackwing is the best non-cold air intake, and the Vararam is the best cold air intake. I ran a Blackwing for a long time and it worked great, but I replaced it with the Vararam and it works even better, it is just a pain to install compared to the 20 minute install of the Blackwing.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 19,304
Likes: 85
From: San Diego CA
Originally Posted by ZBRA
Click the VaraRam link in my sig....
You aren't going to see the performance gains that the VaraRam gives by looking at a dyno chart. When a car is dynoed, it is SITTING STILL!
You aren't going to see the performance gains that the VaraRam gives by looking at a dyno chart. When a car is dynoed, it is SITTING STILL!
The "Ram Air" effect is more myth than anything else, so I stand by those dyno runs as fairly accurate comparisons,
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 3,413
Likes: 278
From: NC
Originally Posted by bpirate
I need help with the pros and cons of each system. Any thoughts would be helpfull. I just got a 99frc (my first corvette) and want to start the modification process.
Issues w/ the vararam are fit and finish to be honest....some pieces don't seem to fit together as well as they could. Also, install is a tedious, but worth while process.
Some may talk trash about hydrolock w/ the vararam (water getting shot into the engine), but I haven't had or heard of any problems of this nature w/ any forum members....
Keep the mods coming....