Anyone ever hear of or use the Vararam air intake for c5's?
I just saw the ad today and it makes claims of 35 BHP ? anyone try it yet or hear anything about it?

 

too new...I don't know of anyone running this setup yet and for $500 they can keep it, imho...

there are a few people running a similiar setup they did themselves :cheers:

 

Their website says it will be complete on Sep 18th, this Tuesday, perhaps dyno sheets etc.. will be available at that time.

That much gain on a stock head cam car is not achievable, IMHO. I'd like to be wrong, but, I don't think so. There must be other factors for those reported gains.

www.vararam.com

Shows:

Registrant:
Ledford, Patrick (VARARAM-DOM)
8111 Pontiac Dr.
Brookshire, TX 77469
US

Domain Name: VARARAM.COM

Administrative Contact, Billing Contact:
Ledford, Patrick (PL10039) carbre@pdq.net
8111 Pontiac Dr.
Brookshire, TX 77469
US


Record last updated on 14-Sep-2001.
Record expires on 12-Jun-2002.
Record created on 12-Jun-2001.
Database last updated on 15-Sep-2001 06:56:00 EDT.


RG



[Modified by RG in Dallas, 9:56 AM 9/17/2001]

 

Looks cool. I like my Haltech but that looks just as neat!

 

not $500 worth of neat for me :eek:

 

Vararam is a new air filter designer and maker in Houston, TX. There claim in Corvette Quarterly is up to 35 hp gain, with an asterisk

I talked to Patrick, the owner, this morning about there new set up and possible distribution of his product.

Few items of note:

2-3 weeks on production.

Pricing is $499 minus 10% for retail orders from clubs or groups like this getting more than 5 units. Dealer pricing to be determined. We are NOT a delaer of this item at this time. I'd like to see some consistent results before we step up and he hasn't approved me as one anyway as I didn't ask for it. We would like to offer all products that WORK, so, we will see how this goes.

I bring this info to folks that want to know what this thing is about.

Install: I asked how long it would take a Vette owner to install, a guy, or girl, that changes their own oil...he said about 2 hours. He recommends a dealer doing it which will probbaly charge the customer 2 hours and do it in an hour and a half or a little more.

If the car has fog lights, then they can be kept. Of course Z06 owners can use their screens for even better air flow he said.

The filter is a K&N panel TYPE unit...not the same one that replaces the current panel filter, but, one that is made in the UK. He said the filter was less than 1/2" thick.

It is made of 1/8" ABS hi temp plastic, he said.

He said Vararam has been building engines for Winston Cup cars for the last 5-6 years and has learned from restrictor plate racing.

The 35 hp, with an asterisk claim, came from track testing. He did say there was a ram air effect. He did make the comment that he gets a '2 to 1' boost of 600 cfm air' from both sides. Folks can debate that issue, I'm sure

His plan is to post customer testimonials about the product on his website. He did tell me he had a customer recently gained 4 tenths and 4 mph at the track on a 98 convertible with no other mods.

I am telling you this from what he told me over the phone as I made notes. I wanted to get the straight scoop from the 'horses mouth' and let the people here on this Forum and others figure if it fits there budget and expectations. You can call BS or you can take a wait and see attitude or you can purchase the other offerings out there. This is just a new kid on the block, so to speak.

I told him of this web site he was familiar with it. I told him that potential buyers will scrutinize his offering as is done with all others and he said that's fine with him, he hopes to hear from you.

Thanks for listening.

RG

 

Does it require the original Air box? Or is it a complete replacement? Sounds pretty cool. I love my Vortex but this is worth looking at if I can squeeze a few more ponies.

 

chuckster,

I don't really like the design of the Vararam system at all. The C5 can only take in too much air before it gets bogged down anyways. Too much air is not a good thing.

For that much $$$, I will stick to the Halltech systems.

They look high tech and perform well enough to feel the SOTP difference over stock!!

Shawn

 

Charlie,

Not sure about the stock box pice 100%, from the pice on their site, the intro screen, I can't tell.

The Blackwings and Vortex are a great bang for the buck mod already, so, we'll see if these guys can get more power to the car.

As has been stated, you can only get so much air to the stock head/cam package anyway. Claims of one cold air kit making more power than the others have been debated here for 2 years. I don't see a real difference other than price.

I was at the bookstore last night and saw Vette magazine for this month with an add for the Vararam. Claims were that on a stock, 6 spd, 98 C5, a 1/4 mile time of 13.08 and trap of109. The Vararam unit proclaimed 12.66 at 112. While achievable, I'd think only guys like SW get those numbers on an airboxed, LS1 C5, I wouldn't

We'll see how Vararam proves to all of us what their product can do.

RG


[Modified by RG in Dallas, 12:54 PM 9/18/2001]

 

A-Ha! A 98 C5!!! I would like to see the same comparison on a 2001 LS1 where the stock airbox is better.

Still, to deny that ram air does not help is foolish, as probably above 100 mph, the ram air effect is striking... I noted on my 98 that with a proflow, the best gains were realized above 100 mph - as it was much much faster to 150 when compared to the stock airbox.

That said, this is a nead intake system and I think it will work...

-Bob

 

I saw the ad in "Vette" also. The system looks neat, and sorta looks like a one piece deal. I like the vent intakes. But that price....they'll have to have some of our CF people verify the performance before I'd be willing to cough up that kind of money. :seeya

 

A cam change will give you 30 - 35 HP..An intake? :crazy: Not likely, but show us some legit numbers....

 

Just to clarify:

I am not certain of what this new intake will do. We will wait and see what real world results can be accomplished before we offer it to anyone. We don't ant to sell things that don't work or hype claims that, in the end, turn out to be untrue. There is enough of that in this hobby as it is.

RG

 

That price????? It's mice nuts compared to the Halltec Tric. Were talking $700 for that. $500 for even 20hp is a Grand Slam. Especially if it's a neat and clean install like that one. If if performs the way they say... I may replace my Vortex :D

 

Thanks for the info RG, the true results will be interesting to see. :yesnod: :flag

 

You could just build one yourself using a vortex..

http://vghost01.virtualgiant.com/bpa...te/Vortex_Mod/

 

I like your design, but a question:

Did you completely seal off the rest of the intake? If not then you cannot ever pressurize the airbox and get the true ram air effect... Getting an extra 1-2 psi above normal is key...

Still, nice design, I am in the process of building a simialr unit from scratch...

I'll post mine as soon as it is done (hopefully soon)...

-Bob