vararam air intake system
Thread Starter
1st Gear
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
vararam air intake system
Does anyone have experience with the Vararam Air Intake system for C5's? I've had some tell me its great, others say no benfits. Is there something out there better? It sounds attractive to just bolt on some extra horsepower, but anything that easy usually doesn't produce the desired results. Any help is appreciated.
Advantage - '01 convertible, six speed with 15K miles.
Advantage - '01 convertible, six speed with 15K miles.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 993
Likes: 0
From: PA
Do a search, there is a ton of threads on this subject. FWIT, I installed the B2 on my 98 and love it. The install is pretty straight forward, and there is a seat of the pants feeling of more Hp. There is a noticable improvement >55 - 60 mph. That's the point where the dP across the front is sufficient to force more air into the manifold. Also, any thime you can cause the intake air to be cooler, (from the outside vs. inside the engine compartment) you will generate more Hp.
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 198
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by advantage
Does anyone have experience with the Vararam Air Intake system for C5's? I've had some tell me its great, others say no benfits. Is there something out there better? It sounds attractive to just bolt on some extra horsepower, but anything that easy usually doesn't produce the desired results. Any help is appreciated.
Advantage - '01 convertible, six speed with 15K miles.
Advantage - '01 convertible, six speed with 15K miles.
zip tie mod basically involves taking the cover off the air filter box
then using two zip ties to hold the air filter on
Pro
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 532
Likes: 0
From: herminston oregon
calaway
Originally Posted by advantage
Does anyone have experience with the Vararam Air Intake system for C5's? I've had some tell me its great, others say no benfits. Is there something out there better? It sounds attractive to just bolt on some extra horsepower, but anything that easy usually doesn't produce the desired results. Any help is appreciated.
Advantage - '01 convertible, six speed with 15K miles.
Advantage - '01 convertible, six speed with 15K miles.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,530
Likes: 250
From: CT
Welcome to the forum. From what I see, the Vararam still makes the most gains but there have been posts here regarding installation difficulties and overall quality, thay finally came out with a better filter element. The guys that race like the Vararam, the extra 2-3 rwhp over the others is worth it to them.
Fact is just about any of the true cold air intakes will make something like 17-20 rwhp over the stock airbox. The CAI is a good first mod, add long tube headers down the road and really see significant gains -
45-50 rwhp that you can feel.
If I was buying a CAI today I personally woyuld go with the Callaway Honker - a lot of engineering went into it and the quality is top notch.
Others I would consider:
Motorsport Technologies Inc Ram Air
Breathless Performance Vortex Rammer
Lingenfelter Hurricane (they will be releasing a new CAI similar to the Honker soon)
Just my .02. Hope this helps.
Fact is just about any of the true cold air intakes will make something like 17-20 rwhp over the stock airbox. The CAI is a good first mod, add long tube headers down the road and really see significant gains -
45-50 rwhp that you can feel.
If I was buying a CAI today I personally woyuld go with the Callaway Honker - a lot of engineering went into it and the quality is top notch.
Others I would consider:
Motorsport Technologies Inc Ram Air
Breathless Performance Vortex Rammer
Lingenfelter Hurricane (they will be releasing a new CAI similar to the Honker soon)
Just my .02. Hope this helps.
5th Gear
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
vararam
I added the vararam to my 2003 zo6 and it was a noticable!!! kick in the pants torque difference. The car was wanting to go and I could feel the difference. It takes about 30 minutes of driving for the onboard computer to adapt. I have been very pleased with mine. I thought it was a good hp upgrade for very little money. Note: Keep the washable air cleaner clean. Once it starts getting dirty you feel the loss of power.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 46,766
Likes: 5
From: Boynton Beach Florida
St. Jude Donor '07-'12, '20
If your looking for the best bang with iffy (is that a word?) 
quality get the Vararam. I use the Vararam and I switched from the Breathless Vortex and increased my trap speed by over 2mph on the 1/4 mile. If your drag racing this IMHO is the best bang for the buck. Good Luck with your decision. 
Bob
quality get the Vararam. I use the Vararam and I switched from the Breathless Vortex and increased my trap speed by over 2mph on the 1/4 mile. If your drag racing this IMHO is the best bang for the buck. Good Luck with your decision. Bob
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 159
Likes: 0
From: Phoenix Az
I asked this is another thread and did not get a response, so I guess I'll try in here. (Maybe the question is just too stupid and everyone knows the answer but me 
)
I noticed most other air intakes come with a replacement air bridge; however the VR does not, judging from the pictures. What is the reason for this? Would you get more HP if you put a different air bridge in?
)I noticed most other air intakes come with a replacement air bridge; however the VR does not, judging from the pictures. What is the reason for this? Would you get more HP if you put a different air bridge in?
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 2,804
Likes: 358
From: Northville, MI
The air bridge is just additional expense. It does not make more hp. GM has an adaptive strategy in the PCM to look for certain turbulence the bridge makes at the MAF, the bridge was designed to keep the engine quieter. While people talk about seat of pants, dyno, etc, It make no difference on an engine dyno.
When changes are made to the engine, you have several parameters in the PCM that must be updated before the long term effect of a change can be realized. Some items are only updated every ten minutes...it takes a good 40 miles minimum to see the net results.
When changes are made to the engine, you have several parameters in the PCM that must be updated before the long term effect of a change can be realized. Some items are only updated every ten minutes...it takes a good 40 miles minimum to see the net results.
c5-pewter
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 488
Likes: 0
From: Coconut Creek Florida 33066
St. Jude Donor '08
In reference to the vararam discussion, I have an additional question. With the air intakes mounted into the open cowles at the very bottom of the car, what happens if one if forced to run through a flooded road, where the water is axle deep. Would this arrangement not choke and kill the engine? Thanks for any reply!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 6,266
Likes: 156
From: Galloway Twp. NJ
Cruise-In VII Veteran
Originally Posted by c5-pewter
In reference to the vararam discussion, I have an additional question. With the air intakes mounted into the open cowles at the very bottom of the car, what happens if one if forced to run through a flooded road, where the water is axle deep. Would this arrangement not choke and kill the engine? Thanks for any reply!
then you're screwed!
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 16,795
Likes: 62
From: Lake Havasu City, AZ
As with other after market intakes ...... hydralock ...... 
A poll of actual hydralock situations on the Forum showed other intakes had more reports of this problem than the Vararam B2
BUT it is a real possibility if driving through axel deep water
A poll of actual hydralock situations on the Forum showed other intakes had more reports of this problem than the Vararam B2
BUT it is a real possibility if driving through axel deep water
