I am not trying to knock the Vararam, but there is no way you are going to gain 30hp from just an intake alone as they advertise..unless you get a dyno tune and some other mods. From everything I have read, the V-ram does it's best work at 50mph+.

Good luck on your decision

 

Thats what I thought.............. Just looking for some facts. I guess getting called out does not sit well, huh?

 

While I personally wouldn't call the filter "lousy", it is flimsy. That's the trade-off I think. The flimsy filter lets lots of air in, but also could potentially let dust particles in.

You can run the flimsy race filter for track days, and put in a more substantial K&N for the street.

 

[QUOTE=FrankTank] From everything I have read, the V-ram does it's best work at 50mph+.QUOTE]

This is one of the areas of concern. I plan to autocross. Which in most cases your not above 50mph for long. Its mostly first gear speeds.

I have a 68'RoadRunner with a built 440 runnig 3.91 gears. So, i have a car to fast in a stright line. I would like to go fast and turn left now!

With that being said, is this still that intake for me?

Thanks again for your guys help. Its great to hear everyone opinion. Good or bad.

 

My definition of a lousy filter is one that doesn't do a good job of filtering. I agree with you. And I don't think many guys change the filter after the race.

Bob

 

I like my Vararam. I noticed much improved 1/4 mile times after putting it in. (Of course other factors probably influenced my 1/4 mile times too.) Also, when I took my 3 year old filter out yesterday, it was kinda falling apart. I called Vararam, and they're sending me a new filter for only the cost of shipping it. I've been very impressed with their customer service.

 

Bob sorry to jump on the beat you up bus but..... You obviously don't have any idea about the VARARAM do you? 1st you will NOT get anything near the same gains from a Blackwing or a decent filter! 2nd The Vararam 2B comes with an off-road filter, flimsy is a better description not lousy! 3rd It is not anymore dangerous than a stock system, you can hydrolock the C5 just as easily with the factory setup. I have personally seen this many times. I have not yet heard of a vararam equipped(sp) car hydrolocking from driving in the rain, I drive in freaking MONSOONS here in Florida with no problems. 4th Vararam may claim COLD AIR as most of the aftermarket units do. This includes Haltech, and Breathless. My opinion is the MFG. spins the info to sound better for advertising purposes, by cold air they mean we are not sucking the HOT AIR from in the engine compartment. I have personally run the Breathless unit for 2 years, IMHO the Vararam gives much better results. Feel free to check my signature, my car 2001 coupe A4 with boltons. If you have no real world expierence with these products PLEASE DO NOT ATTEMPT to answer posted questions.
Bob

 

Cajundude,

Great Web Site...I hope mine will turn out half as good. You may be a hero to all those guys wanting to install the Vararam. They say it's extremely difficult to install...your pics and install procedure might save me some time as well. I ordered the Vararam and it's on it's way. I have to tell you, from all the hype, I was concerned about the install, but you prove it's possible. What kind of ramp could you drive up on to do the under car work? I haven't found one that my vette would drive on to because of the low profile.

 

90 droptop, I would be very interested in hearing the specifics of your Blackwing to Vararam back to back comparison. Which Vararam filter did you use? Was it done the same day at the same track etc? Change in ET and MPH? Did you by any chance check the A/F ratio on the top end? A back to back comparison with cold hard numbers would be good stuff! I’ve been trying to figure out a way to do this without having to buy and install a Vararam just to test a theory.

I ask because I currently use a Blackwing and would certainly step up to a Vararam if I KNEW that I would gain 3MPH and drop a 1/10th or two. That’s a huge improvement for a minimal investment.

 

Bob, I'll express my opinion anytime I feel like it. Now that that's out of the way, you're right on the hydroloc. An engine can hydroloc from being flooded with gasoline. Remember I said one teaspoon full.

Also please note I didn't say anything about driving in the rain. I specifically stated puddles of water.

I also said it was a lousy filter. I said if you put a DECENT filter on it it would perform the same as any other system.

I had one and wouldn't put it on my car. Any filter that doesn't protect the engine is lousy. You want to call it flimsy, go ahead. You want to tell me it's flimsy, I'll tell you it's a piece of sh-t.

If you're going to complain about what I said, please stick to what I said and not your interpretation of.

Bob

 

MGorman, EB20003 is going to have some time slip data soon reference a black wing and vararam. I believe he will be using WX corrected ETs and mph at the same track. If I remember correctly he was going to be running the vararam setup mid April.

 

Great! I’d be very interested in seeing his results.

Thanks

 

Bob sorry I had no idea you have used this fine product and are talking from your personal experience. Please accept my apology.

 

I have the Vararam. It makes a noticeable difference.

I guess it depends on what you want. The Vararam cost about $100 more. No one can dispute the fact that it makes as much HP as any other CAI. Also, no one can dispute that it gets the coldest air at the highest pressure possible, from the front of the car. So, it has the potential of making more HP that the others.

There has been lots of information posted on making boost at automotive speeds. The science does not back this up. What Vararam is claiming is they are accelerating the air through the ducts, and then bringing it to a stop at the valves. I guess they are saying the acceleration of the air in the ducts is making up for the automotive speeds. I don't know if that is possible. I do believe the Vararam is keeping the pressure close to 0 PSI. In other words, you are not pulling in vacuum in this intake. With no pressure loss the Vararam is overcoming the shortcomings of the intake system. I don’t know if you can do that with out getting the air from the front of the car like the Vararam does.

Like I said at the beginning it makes a noticeable SOTP difference and looks cool. No regrets getting it.


Take care,

 

I posted everything right here. And, for all you kiddies out there. As a added feature, Korrecks famous post...... "no such thing as cold air" is inside also.

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1018988

 

Korreck is full of ****. He never owned it or used it.

 

Bob, I have not used it. I purchased one in 2003.

I was then concerned with the filter. I also contacted Vararam about the hydroloc issue and they confirmed one teaspoon of water, however they offered covers to put over the inlet in the event of heavy rain.

I sold that baby as fast as I could. My contention is that with a good filter it will not perform any better. And I keep hearing cold air. Anything in front of the radiator will be the same or awfully close.

No hard feelings on this end. Looking forward to seeing you in Palm Beach. Buy the way, I think you've done a GREAT job down there.

Bob


Edit:

I just saw the post from Forloop. High pressure. See what I mean.

 

Thanks very much. I don’t know how I missed that thread.

It’s nice to see some cold hard numbers!

 

Korreck has no experience with the a Vararam and is in no position to offer an opinion on it.

This guy is still denying that colder air (relatively speaking) offers an advantage over warm underhood air. It seems as though he believes that when people say "cold" air they actually mean "frigid" air and this is the reason why he continues to make an utter fool of himself with the "Only way to get cold air is out of the fridge" statements .

They mean "cold" relative to underhood air.

And no, Korreck, no one is following you around. Maybe in addition to being ignorant you are paranoid as well. And I firmly believe that you read both, my and 90 Droptop's posts by not logging in under your user name. You know what we are saying and we are going to keep saying it.

As for the Vararam. There are too many people on this board to count who have gotten and continue to get good results with it. Take the top 10 quickest C5s on this board and the majority will be running some form of CAI system. And a lot of times that will be the Vararam.

VStella
90Droptop
Cajundude
Redgar
TLewis 4095
MitchC
Patches
Dr. Ron
Robz
Dragman
IMQuick
Qksilver
STEALTH 99 C5
YO-EL
Tsab

and others, have used the Vararam and gotten good results with it.

I respect the opinions of any and all of the ones on this list. Well above the opinion Korreck

 

Thats all we needed to know.

And we will continue to identify your opinion for exactly what it is. The meaningless verbal expression, gibbering and babbling of an uninformed neophyte. Whose real world experience in racing C5 Vettes is nil.

We can now make a decision on whether to listen to any "opinion" you have of the Vararam.


I added a Vararam about 400 miles ago. It was added to replace my Blackwing. I will be making my first track run April 16th. I intend to run the Vararam all this season.

I have a present best of 12.53. I preceded that with a 12.56. With the Blackwing.

Depending on DA, ie if it is near the same or near the same as my previous bests, I feel that I can better this with the Vararam. Even if it is hot and humid as hell on 4/16, and I should not best my 12.53 next week, I will still continue to evaluate the Vararam intake over the season so as to give it just as fair a shake as my Blackwing got.

I intend to do a thorough examination/comparison. I will include DA, vehicle weight when I can, tire pressure and any other data I can gather. I will be running 94 octane Sunoco. Same as I was with the Blackwing. I will be using http://www.modulardepot.com/density.php
for comparison as well.

I will make an average of my runs with the Vararam and compare it against my best with the Blackwing. This will actually make it more difficult for the Vararam.

More important than anything, I will post my timeslips.

I will not be looking at ET only. I am looking for improvement in 60ft times (I will explain why, to anyone interested) I am looking for improvement in trap speed, 1/8 mile times and speeds, 1000 ft and anything else I can compare. The forum will have a chance to review my results.

Over the last 380 some odd miles I have put on it, it has performed flawlessly. I am not a big believer in SOTP gains, but the car seems to have a little more oomph when punched from highway speeds.

I am certain that the intake is drawing in colder air thant the Blackwing did.