VaraRam vs. warranty
Thread Starter
3rd Gear
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: Spring TX
VaraRam vs. warranty
Picked up my vette today... my first... an '04 coupe with 17k miles. It's stock except for Corsa exhaust and VR intake.... and a blast to drive. But honestly, doesn't matter to me if it's 350 hp or 342 or 365 or whatever. It's plenty fast and just plain fun. The exhaust has a nice mellow sound... no issues. The VR has the foam filter and I'd rather have max filtering even if lower hp, plus I'm concerned the VR could create a warranty issue in the unlikely event of some engine problem. So the second question is; if I go back to stock filter assembly what years will fit it, eg, are all C5's the same or are there different versions? (I'll pick up an OEM assembly second hand) I know from reading threads just now that I can purchase a K&N pleated filter for the VR and I'm considering that, but want to understand the issues / options above. Thanks!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 993
Likes: 0
From: PA
No doubt you will hear many different opinions, but I have the same setup, stock with Corsa and Vararam B2. I would suggest you leave it as is.
There is a different airbox for different years, and the Z06 air box is good. The only differences in the OEM is the location of the sensors and wire harnesses.
You could try the K&N filter if the Vararam filter needs to be replaced, but the filters are designed to be cleaned and reused.
There is a different airbox for different years, and the Z06 air box is good. The only differences in the OEM is the location of the sensors and wire harnesses.
You could try the K&N filter if the Vararam filter needs to be replaced, but the filters are designed to be cleaned and reused.
Thread Starter
3rd Gear
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: Spring TX
Many thanks Silver98. Anybody got an opinion about the warranty? I suspect a manufacturer rep would suggest the air cleaner was the cause of any type of engine failure. Any experience out there? My son had aftermarket wheels/tires on his Grand Am when auto transmission went out at 44k miles. Pontiac (GM) said it was the aftermarket tires. After two weeks of haggling and a lot of math to prove the tire OD was within the error bar for normal wear on the stock tires they agreed to pay 50%. Actually rather generous since all I had was the lapsed 36/36 factory warranty... but I was put off by the immediate presumption that the tire size was the cause of trans failure. Suggests that any mods you make will result in similar presumption.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 6,276
Likes: 227
From: Farmington CT
Cruise-In VII Veteran
return to stock if going to the dealer for major warr. repair; i would go to the extent of installing stock exhaust and cam if i could get a new warr. motor--w/ most mechanical items, the more you repeat the process the easier and quicker it is; now for some actuall warr. exper., a local forum member just had his pcm replaced by gm under the emiss 8/80 warr. w/ the vararam installed, it gets better--the car was falling flat around 2500rpm, the tech changed the fuel filter, pcm, ck'd the coils/injectors and wiring; i pulled the VARARAM w/ the ORIGINAL VERSION foam filter and it had fallen apart and was clogged w/ dirt and debris, ran the car w/out the filter for a test and ran great
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 4,275
Likes: 4
From: Vancouver WA
Vararam is suppose to be coming out with a new "K&N Style" air filter here soon. But from I have been told, the K&N filters doesn't fit correctly and you have to do some mod to use it. Check with Vararam in a couple of weeks, maybe they will have tht new filter out then.
