Have you ever watch a F1 grand prix under heavy like in Monaco?
F1 engine have pretty much no filter and no one ever saw an hydrolocked engine.
As someone say "stop bul****ting about hydrolock unless it happened to you"
we shoud post a poll "who have ever been hydrolocked?"
I'll be surprised if you had some yes.

 

Paging Jim Hall... paging Jim Hall....

 

So, without heads & cam, just headers and a breather you picked up 50HP. You know you're probably the only guy on the planet to do that?

Usually headers aren't good for much more than 10/15HP with a head and cam package according to my engine guy. He told me the stock manifolds are pretty good as is. So you picked up 35HP from the Varararam!

I'll be a nice guy and say congradulations. Naw, I can't do it. I don't know what you're feeling down there, but it's not 50HP.

 

We already had a yes. Where you been? Try reading the entire thread. And I already suggested a poll. You need to get some sleep and try again in the morning.

 

If you want I can email you my dyno sheet as I don't know how to post it here.
the best of the headers is the HP and torque very early in the RPM.
a lot of guys with Z when we were on track never believed that I had only headers and vararam.
I may go for cams and spring and LS1 edit soon a tuner told me that we can shoot for 500 to 515 at the crank and still be streetable!!!

 

Look guys,....

..this Vararam vs. Blackwing thing is getting really old.

This Vararam issue has already put one long time, great guy, Corvette Forum supporting vendor out of business. Forever.

Can't we just let it rest? Nothing will ever get solved, and only more poeple will get hurt.

 

Whatever are you talking about?????

Be specific please.

 

www.exit28motorsports.com

 

What happened to Jim hall with the hydrolock issue? I heard something about this from another member. Was it with a Hall-tech product?

 

Mr. Hall, back in ohhhh, I'd say, about '01 or so, was selling his "Halltech TRIC bottom breather" with a guaranteed "'will replace your motor if it ingests water (hydrolock)" warranty, on this site and others.

Well, after the first few motors hydrolocked on him, and he didn't pay up, things got a, well, let's just say, a bit nasty.

So, the point being -- if you're posting about hydrolock being a bogus issue -- ask Jim Hall.

For a while -- he was even selling "water-proof" booties off a Jet-Ski for his "new and improved" bottom suckers.

Lost track after that.

Hope this helps.

 

I don't know what you're referring to. Could you PM me? I agree, no one should be hurt by any of this. But, the guy asked for an opinion.

I also think these people have false and inaccurate statements in their advertising and should not be allowed to continue with these statements.

Bob

 

Bob -- I can't do PM, but see above.

I spoke with Tracy.

 

Yeah, I knew he was long gone out of business. But why do you say that the Vararam, the Blackwing or hydrolock issues had anything to do with it.

I always thought he just went out of business for the same reasons that so many others do. Undercapatilization.

 

I vaguely recall hearing about that. However, I always thought it was the Halltech Trap
http://images.google.com/images?hl=e...ap&btnG=Search

 

Yes -- sorry -- it is the original "Halltech TRAP."

Jimbo's been through so many iterations, it's hard to keep track.

Tracy told me that the whole Vararam thing had a lot to do with it -- undercapitalization and all.

 

How so? The Halltech and the Vararam are two different systems. Vararam is going strong. You will be hard pressed to get one now , they sell so fast.

At the Vararam site, I see Exit 28 listed in their dealer network. Along with JEGS, TByrne, MADVETS, Zip, Ecklers, Cartek, LPE, and others.

I tend to believe that Ecklers, JEGS, MADVETS, WESTCOASTVETTES, and ZIP are probably better capatilized than some of the smaller, "Mom and Pop" vendors.

I don't see what "the Vararam issue" had to do with them going out of business.

I'm sure I don't have to tell you this, considering your personal business success/ experience as you have described them on this board on occasion. But one of the keys to making it in business is staying power. You either have it or you don't.

 

Go try the Exit28 link. Go ahead. They pushed the Vararam more than the other dealers you list/edit.

They got burned by standing behind an inferior product.

I feel sorry for them. Nice couple.

 

Oh, come on EHS, I hate to sound insensitive, but the retail aftermarket parts business has to be a difficult one.

I hate to see anyone put their heart and soul in a business only to have it fail.

But I have a hard time believing that the Vararam alone caused their business failure. And if so, then how????

It is difficult if not impossible to compete against MADVETTS, Eklers, Westcoast Vettes, LAPD, LG Motorsports, LPE, and some of these big guys, carrying large inventory, and diversifying with tuning, and auto sales too.

Were I thinking of starting a business, I wouldn't even think of bumping heads with those guys.

Unless one can point specifically to how the Vararam caused that business to fail I see it as grasping at straws.

As I said before, the Vararam is flying off the shelves, and I say so because people who are interested in one are having a hard time getting it. I had to wait to get mine.

 

EB20000000....3 -- I don't want to argue, and please don't "Korreck" me.

The Griffens were a nice couple -- but Richard put way too much stock in a single product -- and he lost.

Can we just agree that all after market intakes are about the same?

Please?

 

Well, I don't want to argue either EHS, and I certainly don't want to "Korreck" you. No one deserves that.


(I wouldn't wish such a fate on anyone)

I feel bad about the Griffen's business failure. I feel bad any time anyone puts tremendous effort into a business only to have it fail.


Whatever the reasons, be they poor business decisions, expanding too rapidly, lack of diversification, undercapitalization, mismanagement, or just plain bad luck, I feel for them.

In my mind the only thing worse than a business failure is a marriage failure.

From your cryptic posts, as I interpret them, it seems that what you could be describing, without coming out and saying it, is that there may have been a financial agreement/covenant and/or a fee, for the right to carry the product.

A small vendor may have been tempted to look upon it as "the next big thing" or "a sure thing which cannot miss." A "can't miss deal" if you will. Especially considering how many C5 Vettes are made.

Looking at the design, and reading the literature, a small vendor may have been tempted to "bet the house" on such a product....... Only problem is that there are rival products. And lots of them ...which cost less, are perceived to be better made, easier to install and are felt to have less chance for hydrolock.

But a small vendor may not have taken these things into account. The dollar signs may have blinded him and may not have wanted to miss an opportunity to get in on the "ground floor."

In such a scenario, other vendors carrying the product, who had larger product lines, more capital, and wider services would be in better position to withstand the "lean" times, should they occur. Vendors without such advantages, would in effect, be putting all of their eggs in one basket.

All of the above is mere speculation on my part, and my personal opinion based upon a few words by EHS in this thread alone and nothing more. But...... the above is not copywritten and anyone here with the real facts..... is free to fill in the blanks.


Out of respect for you EHS, and the Griffens, in this thread we, you and I, shall agree that intakes..... are all "about" the same.