Vararam works!
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 5,577
Likes: 3
From: Southern Maryland Maryland
Vararam works!
We've tried a couple of intakes and the vararam is still on top. We were looking back over the logs from our last drag outting and saw some interesting things. Most big H & C packages will start to lose manifold pressure at the top end of the RPM band well I can tell you its not the case with the Vararam. Our logs showed the manifold pressure MAXed out once we got to 2nd gear and up. Manifold pressure would flutter at the top of 1st and once you hit 2nd and the vehicle gets over 50mph the manifold pressure was pegged @ 101kpa. 3rd gear is the one that really shows, we usually shift @ 7800 in 3rd and manifold pressure was still pegged @ 101kpa at almost 8000 RPMs.
Phil
Phil
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 1,056
Likes: 2
From: Elgin Il
Not that I know if the vararam is any good, but I would argue your numbers are suspect.
If the max you always get is 101 kPa, your gauge doesnt seem to read accurate enough to me to say anything.
What was the Barometric pressure the days of the race? If it always says 101 kPa, then the atmospheric pressure isnt changing (it changes every day!) and your gauge doesnt see it.
Whats the difference between the barometric pressure, and the manifold pressure? I would argue that is the performance of the vararam.
If the max you always get is 101 kPa, your gauge doesnt seem to read accurate enough to me to say anything.
What was the Barometric pressure the days of the race? If it always says 101 kPa, then the atmospheric pressure isnt changing (it changes every day!) and your gauge doesnt see it.
Whats the difference between the barometric pressure, and the manifold pressure? I would argue that is the performance of the vararam.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 24,652
Likes: 298
From: NJ
St. Jude Donor '05-'08
another vararam thread.The only advantage I can see is cool air coming into your car which we will all agree is better than hot air. If you take the Blackwing, cut the radiator shroud and then add the icebox I bet the results between the 2 are close.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 7,281
Likes: 5
From: Boston
Originally Posted by Clay_Assassin
Not that I know if the vararam is any good, but I would argue your numbers are suspect.
If the max you always get is 101 kPa, your gauge doesnt seem to read accurate enough to me to say anything.
What was the Barometric pressure the days of the race? If it always says 101 kPa, then the atmospheric pressure isnt changing (it changes every day!) and your gauge doesnt see it.
Whats the difference between the barometric pressure, and the manifold pressure? I would argue that is the performance of the vararam.
If the max you always get is 101 kPa, your gauge doesnt seem to read accurate enough to me to say anything.
What was the Barometric pressure the days of the race? If it always says 101 kPa, then the atmospheric pressure isnt changing (it changes every day!) and your gauge doesnt see it.
Whats the difference between the barometric pressure, and the manifold pressure? I would argue that is the performance of the vararam.
Paul.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 8,472
Likes: 38
From: Houston TX
St. Jude Donor '11
The MAP table peaks at 105 kPa. When I log a run/dyno of my blown vette it peggs out at 104 kPa. Not sure if 101 is the "max" for the particular MAP sensor has in that car but if it pegs there I would say it is maxed. The definitive way to tell that it is doing what it says is to log a run on the same car with another intake. I believe Vararam has done this and proved what Phil is saying.
Personally I believe it outperforms the other intakes at speed but the fit and finish are enough to make me want to ssteer away from it. We installed one on my buddy's '04 Z and were disappointed.
Personally I believe it outperforms the other intakes at speed but the fit and finish are enough to make me want to ssteer away from it. We installed one on my buddy's '04 Z and were disappointed.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 1,056
Likes: 2
From: Elgin Il
Good point Dark.
I dont know what that means for sure either.
But if the vararam works, the difference between 50 mph and 100 mph should be a manifold pressure difference of around 0.7 kPa.
Since he doesnt show any decimals, and atmospheric pressure varies by at least that much. The data doesnt support any claim.
I still think the vararam is cool though.
I dont know what that means for sure either.
But if the vararam works, the difference between 50 mph and 100 mph should be a manifold pressure difference of around 0.7 kPa.
Since he doesnt show any decimals, and atmospheric pressure varies by at least that much. The data doesnt support any claim.
I still think the vararam is cool though.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 2,911
Likes: 1
From: Augusta GA
St. Jude Donor '05-'06
I ran one for 2 years, and I liked it, but pitched the old syle filter day one. My car trapped ok, and I was happy, but I changed out to another intake to try and get every bit out of my car. sighs...
My MPh are down, but I do not have a good base line to compare to. The car was trapping @ 123 in Fayetteville, in much better air with the vararam, and now 121 in not so good air. I have dropped .05 to .1 off my short time, and I am still running 11.4s:o
With soo many of them for sale now, I might buy a used one and throw it on for an good comparison. BLUFF I need every little bit I can, and for the $ and easy of the work, you can not beat the swap. More to follow...
Dave
My MPh are down, but I do not have a good base line to compare to. The car was trapping @ 123 in Fayetteville, in much better air with the vararam, and now 121 in not so good air. I have dropped .05 to .1 off my short time, and I am still running 11.4s:o
With soo many of them for sale now, I might buy a used one and throw it on for an good comparison. BLUFF I need every little bit I can, and for the $ and easy of the work, you can not beat the swap. More to follow...
Dave
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 5,577
Likes: 3
From: Southern Maryland Maryland
We've tested different intakes @ the track and before:
Intake manifold pressure would start 100kpa and taper off to 96-97kpa at the big end when the motor uses more airflow.
Since we have changed we do not get the same drop off. This is also on a 346" motor that makes more rwhp than 98% of all 346" cars out there so the air demand is definitely going to test the intake.
Intake manifold pressure would start 100kpa and taper off to 96-97kpa at the big end when the motor uses more airflow.
Since we have changed we do not get the same drop off. This is also on a 346" motor that makes more rwhp than 98% of all 346" cars out there so the air demand is definitely going to test the intake.
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Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 5,577
Likes: 3
From: Southern Maryland Maryland
Originally Posted by Wicked Weasel
another vararam thread.The only advantage I can see is cool air coming into your car which we will all agree is better than hot air. If you take the Blackwing, cut the radiator shroud and then add the icebox I bet the results between the 2 are close.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 24,652
Likes: 298
From: NJ
St. Jude Donor '05-'08
Originally Posted by Phil97SVT
I doubt that, we did the same test with a K & N and the dropoff on the top end was even worse. For a bolt on or small H & C car its not much of a difference.
Believe me I am not doubting your finding. obviously you have no reason to lie about what you are finding.
Here are my thoughts:
1. At the start and probably to the 1/8 (assuming you are not sitting on the line for some time) the vararam is probably not doing anything more than any aftermarket air intake.
2. After the 1/8 the vararam is sucking in cool air while most aftermarket is sucking in the hot air from the engine. that is an advantage, but if you cut the shroud and use the ice box on the blackwing then it should be doing the exact same thing.
3. There is only so much air that can make it through the air bridge so even if the vararam can bring in more air than the black wing it would be slowed down by the air bridge.
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 158
Likes: 6
From: Edmond ok
Originally Posted by Wicked Weasel
3. There is only so much air that can make it through the air bridge so even if the vararam can bring in more air than the black wing it would be slowed down by the air bridge.
I don't think the temperature is different at speed for the other filters because the air is still in front of the engine. However I do think it is more turbulent than in front of the vararam, which might be the improvement the vararam folks are seeing.
All that being said, I plan on getting a vararam and there too many testimonials to question that it has something working for it.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,361
Likes: 0
From: Forest Hill MD
Originally Posted by Phil97SVT
We've tried a couple of intakes and the vararam is still on top. We were looking back over the logs from our last drag outting and saw some interesting things. Most big H & C packages will start to lose manifold pressure at the top end of the RPM band well I can tell you its not the case with the Vararam. Our logs showed the manifold pressure MAXed out once we got to 2nd gear and up. Manifold pressure would flutter at the top of 1st and once you hit 2nd and the vehicle gets over 50mph the manifold pressure was pegged @ 101kpa. 3rd gear is the one that really shows, we usually shift @ 7800 in 3rd and manifold pressure was still pegged @ 101kpa at almost 8000 RPMs.
Phil
Phil
I saw your other post, glad to see you are getting that car dialed in for the Fall. Good luck with it. My 447 has a vararam on it and when running the quarter mile my car loves the top end and seems to be getting plenty of air. I have trapped just under 134 in good air. It would be interesting to take some readings to see if it is running out of air or not.
Last edited by supercoupe01; Sep 11, 2006 at 04:27 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 3,558
Likes: 2
From: Cape Coral FL
Originally Posted by Wicked Weasel
3. There is only so much air that can make it through the air bridge so even if the vararam can bring in more air than the black wing it would be slowed down by the air bridge.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 17,602
Likes: 20
From: Palm City Florida
Phil, forget the naysayers... I belive you.. I have had the Vararam since they 1st came out...
It's NOT the cold air affect... It is the Velocity effect of the Vararam that is getting your MAP KPa up..
I wonder why people just wont accept that the world is Round no matter how many time it's proven..
I even posted on the Mythbusters site to PROVE it works...
It's NOT the cold air affect... It is the Velocity effect of the Vararam that is getting your MAP KPa up..
I wonder why people just wont accept that the world is Round no matter how many time it's proven..
I even posted on the Mythbusters site to PROVE it works...
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 17,602
Likes: 20
From: Palm City Florida
Originally Posted by Phil97SVT
We've tried a couple of intakes and the vararam is still on top. We were looking back over the logs from our last drag outting and saw some interesting things. Most big H & C packages will start to lose manifold pressure at the top end of the RPM band well I can tell you its not the case with the Vararam. Our logs showed the manifold pressure MAXed out once we got to 2nd gear and up. Manifold pressure would flutter at the top of 1st and once you hit 2nd and the vehicle gets over 50mph the manifold pressure was pegged @ 101kpa. 3rd gear is the one that really shows, we usually shift @ 7800 in 3rd and manifold pressure was still pegged @ 101kpa at almost 8000 RPMs.
Phil
Phil
http://community.discovery.com/eve/f...6/m/4651940838
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 5,577
Likes: 3
From: Southern Maryland Maryland
Originally Posted by chuckster
Phil, forget the naysayers... I belive you.. I have had the Vararam since they 1st came out...
It's NOT the cold air affect... It is the Velocity effect of the Vararam that is getting your MAP KPa up..
I wonder why people just wont accept that the world is Round no matter how many time it's proven..
I even posted on the Mythbusters site to PROVE it works...
It's NOT the cold air affect... It is the Velocity effect of the Vararam that is getting your MAP KPa up..
I wonder why people just wont accept that the world is Round no matter how many time it's proven..
I even posted on the Mythbusters site to PROVE it works...
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 46,766
Likes: 5
From: Boynton Beach Florida
St. Jude Donor '07-'12, '20
Phil I went from the Breathless box to the Vararam last season and everything (performance wise) is much better with the Vararam. 
I am still using the Race Filter as my car is not a daily driver, which filter are you using? Also Patrick just sent me the New and Improved lid, wow what a difference. 
Bob
I am still using the Race Filter as my car is not a daily driver, which filter are you using? Also Patrick just sent me the New and Improved lid, wow what a difference. Bob
