eb,if you can make out that web address up there,that;s the source i was linked to.

 

Sorry, but I beg to differ. Every Blackwing and Halltech Warhead-equipped C5 that was dynoed not too long ago produced a minimum of 10 RWHP over the stock box and filter. Granted, some C5s also had cat-backs, but everyone knows that catbacks provide little, if any gains over stock pipes if used in a non-artificially aspirated system.

And regarding drawing air from underneath, there are two advantages that are realized by creating this type of system:
1) The intake draws in most air from the path of least resistance. Since the air scoop funnels cold outside air to the bottom of the filter, that surface area is pressurized - not tremendously, but enough so that it is drawn through the filter more readily than the engine bay air.
2) The opening in the radiator shroud is large enough to supply outside air into the engine bay, immediately surrounding the filter, so the filter is not actually pulling in hot air if you have this setup. This is certainly an advantage over the Vararam, as with the latter system, heat generated from headers is not readily diffused with outside air, since the Varam channels all the outside air through the intake. Having even MORE heat in your engine bay is sure to lower the life expectancy of many plastic and rubber components.

Finally, I'd like to add that I do have reams of data from a Car Chip OBD II analyzer that clearly shows how effective my cold air mod (for $40 in materials) is in cooling off intake air. It's simple, it doesn't change the looks of the OEM front end, and it dramatically lowers intake air temperature.

 

Dave,what do you have?

 

What I said was:

"As such, it offers little in the way of actual performance increase over the stock airlid and the stock paper "filter" on the track (if so, then show me documented, non anecdotal results.)"

I am getting to a point to where I don't automatically equate improved "dyno results" necessarily with improved performance.

For example, lower gears will show no dyno improvement, but will tend to show track performance improvement.

The Vararam shows little if any dyno improvement, but does show improvement in track results.

One brand of headers out there and I won't call any names, might show a 2 or 4 horsepower edge on the dyno, but no practical performance advantage on the track.

I would have to respectfully disagree. I have seen where you have written this before. But unfortunately, and no pun intended......it doesn't hold water.

The Vararam allows just as much air under the hood in a header equipped car as that same car was getting when the fog light shrouds were fully intact.

Air still gets under your hood. If it did not then a Blackwing equipped car without a cut shroud would only run untill all the under hood air were used.


It also involves cutting the radiator shroud and installing a screen material over the resulting hole. Sure, if you want to do it, it is an advantage over just a Blackwing breathing hot underhood air.

But every case of hydrolock I have seen on this forum involved a cut radiator shroud.

 

Works for me! The poor man's Vararam...

 

I run the Halltech stinger and it works good for me. I have always been curious about the vararam though.

 

Source? Vararam uses a cheap piece of foam that most guys won't even use. And I posted test results for the K&N.

Semantics. I do agree with your statement but that doesn't mean we al have to use these terms regarding cold, intake and cat back. We do download from computer to PCM. We do go up in gear ratio.

The Blackwing is a filter or breather. What else could it be? It's the best you can use to replace the stock filter for a performance gain.

I have issued a challenge to anyone with a Vararam. Remove it from the MAF and replace with panty hose. You'll see the same performance.

 

He has a Blackwing. He also cut a window in the shroud below it. Same thing I did but he covered his opening with a screen which I didn't.

I have also built a prototype box which seals the Blackwing from drawing any engine compartment air. I still have to test this.

 

why did you build one ?there are already a few covers out there that should work.i had one when i was going to install the blackwing.one i got from team zr-1(called the icebox)the other was on ebay from a vette guy,that i believe was made by slp.

 

You want to sell me the Icebox? I just built mine to test. I had suggested this to a vendor and they asked me to prototype and test.

I may have given you incorrect info for Dave. I'm not sure what filter he is running after looking at his posts. We'll have to wait for his reply.

 

sold it a long time ago.Go to www.teamzr1.com(some form of that address,anyway)they're only like 130 bucks or 150 shipped.go quality,fiberglass construction,not a cheap piece of plastic.I was just curious about dave's filter,i can't do anything more with my setup because of the cowl hood.

 

Thanks. I think later on I'm going to add a hood. Just like the way they look. I am interested in just getting hot air out. Now get that temp checked out. Something just doesn't compute. You sure don't want to be running around with a defective gage. And, like you said it may be a non stock thermostat. Inquiring minds want to know.

 

Bob try this hood. It does not direct air in but it extracts hot air from the engine compartment. This would cause and increase airflow from your big mouth to your black wing I think.

http://www.ecklers.com/product.asp?d...ADB8QS442DB02B

 

jessum do yourself a big favor and buy a vararam. You can not modify these other systems to give the performance a vararam will give. There are a some engineer types that have posted articles about no ram air effect from auto speeds, but there are just as many if not more articles concluding that ramming the air into the system does help. I am just a retired aviator so I can not tell you who is right about ram air effect, but I can tell you vararam claims it works also out performs all other intakes. For me it comes down to the results at the track and I know personally from two different C5s I owned you will gain 3-4 tenths over the stock box in the qtr mile. EB20003 did a well run test with the vararam and the blackwing and I think gained around 3 tenths in the qtr mile over the blackwing. Hydro lock is not a concern with the vararam. It will not happen unless you are using your vette as a bass boat. The only case of hydro lock I have read on the forum happened with a bottom feeder type and the vararam is not a bottom feeder. The vararam gets it ambient air well out in front of the tires prior to any dust or water being kicked up by the car. The foam filter works fine but if you are worried buy a K & N. Remember both foam and K&N have been used on engines successfully for years.

 

Thanks Gary and good morning. I had to remove the big mouth. It was fine at the track but in every day driving it was causing surging issues. Now I have to go slam you in the next post.

 

EB did a good test? One day is a test? I think he's paying you. These are some of the dumbest statements I've seen you post.

This is from Team ZR-1:

I attended the Denver School of Engineering and took David Vizards classes on How to Build Horsepower, his testing showed it best to pick up cool air at least 18" above the track surface.
The front end is designed to better give a C/D, to help get better gas mileage and lessen front end lift so the air is not smashing into the front end but above and around it.
Look at a hood you see dust on it that just sits on top which shows the airflow is being driven above it
RAM has always been bullsh-t, even GM admits even back in late 60s and 70s hood scoops were mostly for looks.
To me any vendor claiming their air-cleaner setup is ramming only means they are ramming it up customer's azz for the prices they charge
It has nothing to do with the area of the car, there is virtually no ram air effect period. Air is essentially incompressible at subsonic speeds.

 

Jessem,

My setup is in my sig.

EB,

When you say "on the track", are you talking drag strip or track?
This is definitely not true if you have a Z06 or hole-drilled cover. Much more cold air enters the engine bay and is deflected upward, whereas the openings at the bottom of the engine bay don't help much in getting rid of the hot air that rises to the hood.
After installing my cold air mod, components in the engine bay are definitely cooler to the touch after a long run. Try touching stuff in a VR-equipped C5 after a long run - but have a burn kit handy!

 

So I suppose your engines' compression ratio of 10:1, or whatever it is, only applies when you are flying your corvette at supersonic speeds?



disconnect your ignition system and turnover the engine with a pressure gage attached to a spark plug hole. You will find compression. You love to make comments to everyone on this board about how "that's the dumbest thing I've heard anyone in tarnation say on this blasted....blah blah blah"

Stop attacking people and stop making absolute statements like "air is this... air is that... this can't happen."

You sound like the typical "know it all".

 

Conical filter from my
F-150

 

Bob called me dumb.