I've noticed that there are a lot of cold air intakes available out there. They range in price from $40 to $300. They all claim to boost HP. They all look very simillar. What is the difference between the cheapies and say a K&N?
Thanks,
Kent

 

If you live in California, skip the Vararam and consider the TRAP as being in between “very difficult” and “easy”, as the Vararam can be a royal pain to install/uninstall/reinstall for smog tests. If you live in a state that doesn't have visual inspections, then take a look at the following (grouped by cold air and non-cold air, but in no particular order) and my comments, if any:

Halltech TRAP with cold air option: This design can bring cold air in through a “Tunnelport” cutout (where the license plate would reside) that provides the shortest ram-type air path to an air filter, compared to all the rest. Its Warhead filter can only be described as "Massive". Not the easiest thing to install.

Vararam: Brings cold air in through the fog light panel area to a panel-type filter. Downside: Eliminates engine bay-cooling air that would've come in from the fog light panels (Z06 or coupe/vert with opened-up panels), so the engine bay may end up being toastier.

Vortech Rammer: Brings cold air up from in front of the radiator and into an enclosed box. Its filter is quite a bit smaller than the Halltech Warhead or Blackwing unit.

Callaway intake system: This one relocates the MAF so that it is just in front of the throttlebody. It directs cold air from underneath.

K&N FIPK: This is more of a semi-cold air system, as the cold air intake opening is more of a slit. However, it is configured similarly to the Halltech Stinger-R and is 50-states legal. $350

Warm air systems: (Easy installation)

Halltech Stinger-R: Not only contains the massive Warhead filter, but also includes a larger-than-stock airbridge and smooth throttlebody coupler. For $239.00 or less, this system represents the best bang for the buck. Fortunately, for about $40, you can add cold air induction. See my procedure at http://www.conceptualpolymer.com/corvette_c5_corner.htm

Blackwing: Includes just a large filter, but an excellent one at that. Its cost is close to that of the Stinger.

Volant Twin Cone: This system gives you more open filter surface area than any stock box does and is well suited to an engine bay that gets cold air in from the fog light panels, as the filters are more or less in the air flow path.

How good are they? My experience has shown that most will bump up RWHP by at least 10. The advantage of having cold air is that power will not be "dialed down" under normally hot underhood (and intake air) conditions. You could easily lose 10 HP with a warm air system after engine bay temps rise during slow-moving conditions. Cold air prevents this from happening.

 

Nice writeup Dave68. Very informative and should become a sticky.

 

thanks for the info

 

Thanks, EB; as the old timers say, there are many ways to skin a cat. All of the systems mentioned (and there are many more that were not mentioned) improve airflow and add HP. As Sandra mentioned, ram air really doesn't come into play at normal speeds. However, while ambient air temps within the engine bay and around the air filter does cool off at speed, I have recorded temps of up to 140 degrees F at 40 MPH. Therefore, I believe that the biggest advantage of true cold air systems occurs at speeds of 50 and below.

 

Dave is right about most of it, but please ignore the post by Sandra Bigwoode.

I gained a substancial amount of power from by Blackwing. approx 12rwhp (10 on one dyno(a Mustang), 14 on another(A Dynojet) ) Did the Vararam install and it was amazing the difference. This is where I will disagree with Dave. It got better (stronger) as the speeds increased.

Racing my Brothers 03 Cobra with the blackwing I would give up 4 cars to 130 from a 45 roll. With the Vararam it was down to 2 cars and Like I said it felt MUCH MUCH stronger especially over 100. Did not dyno it as I wanted to use that extra $80 to mod in preperation for my H/C install. I drive this car very hard, very often and with all the track times I have had with it know when something is very different and the Vararam did that for me.

These after market systems WILL give you additional power.

The Vararam, Halltech Trap, Halltech Stinger, and Blackwing are your best systems in that order.

Enjoy

 

I think if I lived in California I would just take off the top part of my Vararam and install the stock air box for the visual inspection. The hard part of the install is the intake tubes coming up from the fog light area. I think you could just leave these on and put the stock box back on and pass a visual inspection, then reinstall the top part of the Vararam intake when they are done.

 

I have vararam. its not 40hp as claimed. it did have increased power, but any aftermarket filter work. If I would do it again, Id got with blackwing and not have to worry about the rain

 

I don't know much about Cali emissions. But I have seen on the board here that they aren't even allowed to have a Blackwing installed during the emissions part of their inspection.

I don't think the stock box will fit with the Vararam ducts in place Shurite.

The reason I believe this is because during my install, I forgot to remove the two studs from the frame of the car which hold the stock airlid in place.

The Vararam ducts are right up against these studs and reinstalling the stock box at this point would be difficult if not impossible with the ducts in the way.

 

EB have you went to the track with the vararam yet? I am very curious to see if any difference over your blackwing.

 

Track opens April 16th.

 

Also EB20003 don't you think my suggestion above would work. I have not tried it so I don't want to steer anyone the wrong way but I think the stock airbox would fit on this way. What do you think?

 

See above. The studs which hold the stock airlid in place are covered by the Vararam ducts. It would be very difficult to get the stock box back in with the Vararam ducts still there.

 

On my 2 current c5's, both have VARARAM, both have passed the Ca. visual portion of the smog test. There are tons of friendly smog stations out there. There is no reason to "swap" intakes, or take one off your list because of the visual. I'll be darned if I'm going to live my life based on the rules of idiots. (CARB)

 

Many here are taking the same gamble with long tube headers as well. However, I went through with all the "try this guy in Spring Valley between 1-2PM on Thursdays" routines when I had my 68 and I grew tired of having to find a "smog-friendly" shop every time one of them got busted and went out of business. It's a risk that I just don't want to deal with anymore. Of course, I won't mention the expensive "tips" that were common back then.

The Vararam is a good system (provided all leaks from ill-fitting components are taken care of), but for far less money, a CA resident can get an easily swappable system, add the cold air mod, and end up with 99% of the power gain and none of the hassle of trying to find a "look-the-other-way" shop.

 

Get the Vararam. You'll be happy

 

Not sure about all the math above could be right I guess, regardless it would in my experience have little to do with actual performance gains. I can tell you from personal experience you will on average gain close to three tenths in the qtr mile ET with the vararam. I keep very detailed wx and time slip data and I know this for a fact. I have not used any other CAI so I can not speak for them. I would not let Bigwoode's post influence you on whether or not to buy a CAI if it is performance gains you are looking for. I don't mind putting some money in someone's pocket if I get close to the performance they promise. I do not worry about HP gains or dyno runs I just go to the track twice a week and run for fun.

 

NOPE... wont happen.. I agree. Air intake systems are WAY overated.

 

You're wasting your breath. People that have paid for and installed these units will argue their validity till the day they die. They are not interested the laws of physics or the math. Ram air and cold air.

 

Odd statement coming from a man who has installed a Blackwing on his own car.
Or is there some "validity" in the Blackwing?

He must have been looking for a performance increase by doing so. I wonder what scientific evidence he relied upon to determine if it gave any improvement over the factory stock airbox.