I just installed the Vararam and no matter how much I tried to adjust things, there just didn't seem to be a positive seal between the air filter part and the front scoops. I went to Pep Boys and got some tape on insulation and installed a ring of it around the edge of the filter part, which took up the slack very nicely. I have read before that others on this forum have found the fit to be less than perfect so I thought this might help out....

With new insulation installed around perimeter of filter


The original gasket is just too thin


Note how the grey insulation fills the gap.....

 

Looks good, did you get a chance to try it out yet? What is your impression of the Vararam?

 

Good Idea, but I found a simpler method that cut my install time also..

Do not attach the front of the plenums to the bumper... Just SLIP FIT them.. This gives all the room needed to make a tight fit with the filter. Also allows the Aibridge to lay completely flat like stock.

 

I did exactly the same thing to mine with the addition of siliconing the filter to the upper half of the Vararam. I trimmed the K&N applied the silicone and used rubber bands to hold it to the curve till it set up Oh and after around 5000 miles I checked the throttle body it was as clean as a whistle. Thats gonna pi55 of the nay sayers.

 

Pretty pathetic that you have to go through all that considering the price of what is supposed to be a Primo product.......Nice job sealing things up

 

I trimmed a K&N and put it into place with silicone. I then used thicker weatherstrip to seal the gaps between the filter and the tubes. Ain't nuttin getting around this filter. I could remove the tubes to the foglights and the filter would still do its job.

 

Read post #3.. You don't have to redesign it.. and it fits perfect.. ALso speeds up the install time..

By the way, I spoke to Vararam, they said the Slip Fit install is Fine..

 

...and we still buy this and other stuff at a premium price 'cause it's for a 'vette and more horses!!!

 

For all that money one would think it would be a perfect fit out o' the box!

Enough of that how do you like it is it worth the cost ?

Can you feel the improvement over the stocker?

Thanks,Matt

 

I guess my post is invisable...I have pointed out that there is no need to "REDESIGN" the intake... I have posted in the past that you simply need to change the install procedure..


The front of the plenums dont seal anyway and are only a slip fit to begin with. Permanantly bolting it to the facia does not doing anything except make it more difficult to adjust.

This has to be Singlemost Easiest solution to the most Consistant probelm experienced by ALL installing their Vararams..

I even told Patick he needs to change the directions. This will keep the Quality Bashing to a minimum...

For the Record... ALL Vararams are made from the same molds... They are exactly the same size...

The Reason Some fit more easily than others is because of the variances in the contruction of the Vette... Blame GM!.

Just my .02cents..

 

Chuck..:
Your pic shows the intakes to be what looks like about 1" away..
Do you later fasten/secure them AFTER the install of the top pieces, or leave them like that?

 

I have said it before and I'll say it again no the Vararam doesn't fit perfect but it's close enough. So far as it's appearence what do you really see once it's installed. The fit of my body panels leaves a lot to be desired and I payed over $40,000 for that. So far as modifications for a better seal and filtering so what. What hasn't been modified to make it work better drilling holes in filter housings and shrouds, X pipes, CAGS, slotted rotors the list goes on just look at the aftermarket catalogs. I've watched and read this pi55ing match over the Vararam since it's conception do you remember Korreck? I think when somebody spends their hard earned money on something they don't want to hear somebody elses "opinion" on how shi#y it is. There's been enough written on the Vararam to know what it's all about. If you don't like it don't buy it.

 

I think what people are upset about is that you expect things to fit as they should. People who have installed the VaraRam per instructions have had sealing issues. Including myself. This is the first I've heard about the "slip fit."
Sure it works, yes you can't see it, but does that make it ok? People who have had filtering issues because of the poor fit per instructions have every right to be upset. Why isn't it mentioned in the instructions that a "slip fit" will work too? Maybe if the fit was the way it should be we wouldn't be having this discussion. And, if all cars are not equal ( and I agree they aren't ) maybe that should be in the instructions as well " slight modifications may be necessary to facilitate a good fit" ( see attachments)
If we as consumers don't bring this to the forefront, what might happen to other products we buy?? The Blackwing, Honker and other intakes don't have this problem.
Finally, you may have gaps in the panels as we all do, but the doors close and the hood closes and we didn't have to "fix it" to make it work.



Peace

 

I really like it and it made a very noticeable improvement in performance, despite being a little futzy to install. It wasn't hard, but it did take some careful attention to detail to make sure the air filter was properly sealed. Vararam recently redesigned the whole affair and it is some better, but it might come up a little short when you try to mate the filter/airbridge part to the front scoops (maybe-depending on each car's particular dimensions). If you use Chuckster's mod or just add the insulation to take up the gap it will work fine and yes, you'll really notice a definite improvement.

I think Chuckster's explanation says it all. There are variances between the different C5's dimensions that cause some of them to wind up with their front facias a little further out front than others. This causes the scoops to come up a little short when you try to mate the scoop assembly to the filter/airbridge assembly. However, in Vararam's defense, they did provide some spacers which approximate the distance which I see in Chuckster's pictures, which if used would allow you to bolt the scoops to the front facia, thereby making it stand off about 1/2 inch from the fog light opening and allowing a closer fit to the filter/airbridge assembly. This would place the scoops closer to the filter assembly so no further gasket would be necessary. However, I'm not really sure that it's even necessary to bolt them in the first place, because once you reinstall the front radiator shroud, the scoops are pretty well pinned in there and aren't likely to move much, if at all. It still gets plenty of ram air force from forward motion and would still provide an increase in air pressure to the intake manifold with the result in increased performance.

By the way, I was changing from a very low restriction K&N zip tie mod (which itself made a huge difference from the stock air box-see picture below) but the vararam clearly improved the performance, especially as the rpms go up....Definitely worth the investment imho.

 

Yeah it looks further away than it is.. It's bout 3/4" BUT.. The plastic curvature of the bumper facia goes at least 2 inches inside the plenum opening.. So the slip fit is perfect.

I do not bolt after the fact. There is nothing to be gained and it will only be a pain in the neck to clean the filter...

Trust me.. with the front disconnected from the Facia it makes it perfect.. When the rubber straps are released it allows Ducts to have room to adjust up and down. Thus giving room to remove the filter. When they are fastened.. Everything is snug, sealed and tight...

 

That's untill you go fast enough to push the intake tubes off the back of the fascia.

 

Id do blackwing if I were to do it again

 

Where the hell is that RAZZZBERY Smilie!

Bob, I had a long discussion with Patrick (Aka Mr. Vararam) Those Plenums AINT GOIN NOWHERE... not unless the radiator and shroud cave in...

 

How long have you been running like this? I have considered doing the same thing to mine. I have the 2B, but its not the latest version with the deep lip designed for the green filters. My biggest problem with the Vararam is getting the top half of the Vararam to align properly with the bottom half. Its not even a seal issue at this point because frankly, they don't line up enough to even begin to be what I consider a seal.

With the bottom not bolted down, I am assuming you have enough play be be able to pull it up nicely into the top lip?

 

d

Maybe this should be a sticky. I am going to do mine that way right now. I'll post the results shortly.