Vararam Question
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
From: San Antonio TX
Vararam Question
I am considering the purchase of the Vararm for my '04 C5. I won'y normally drive in the rain, but it can always happen. Is there an issue of pulling water into the induction system. Looked at the Vararam website did not see any mention of concern........Thanks
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 7,826
Likes: 221
From: Hillsboro OR
I have one on my 03 and I live in the Pacific Northwest. 
It can rain here. 
It will be just fine if you do not drive through very deep water (i.e. submerge the nose). I have driven in pouring a$$ rain on a poorly draining freeway and got sprayed huge by semi-trucks that I passed. It scared the crap out of me but the car ran fine. 
I am no longer nervous about driving in the rain. Install the VaraRam and enjoy it.
It can rain here. It will be just fine if you do not drive through very deep water (i.e. submerge the nose). I have driven in pouring a$$ rain on a poorly draining freeway and got sprayed huge by semi-trucks that I passed. It scared the crap out of me but the car ran fine. I am no longer nervous about driving in the rain. Install the VaraRam and enjoy it.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 4,188
Likes: 1
From: Chino California
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
While I can't speak for Texas weather, I know in SoCal a common question people have is water induction -> hydrolock. The way I look at is unless you are driving through a river, water isn't going anywhere near vital components, no matter what kind of air scoop you are running. I even ran a cowl induction hood on my Camaro and in the worst rain storms CA has ever seen, no water was sucked in. It's just a fear people have.
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
From: Livingston NJ
Vararam
I went through the same concerns before I had mine installed. It is one of the best mods for the price. What I did before the installation was that I had the drain holes drilled about twice the size that the are originally. Shouldn't take anything away from the airflow, but it makes me feel a little better if I get caught in the rain.
Vararam took me from a 13.3/105.5 quarter mile to 12.94/108.8. I'm pleased with this improvement.
Vararam took me from a 13.3/105.5 quarter mile to 12.94/108.8. I'm pleased with this improvement.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 16,795
Likes: 62
From: Lake Havasu City, AZ
I have a vararam B2, i have had it two years and covered about 15K miles. Included in that was an hour drive from Bowling Green home in a torrential downpour that had many cars stopped on the side of the highway.
As long as you don't drive in standing water deep enoght to be above the fog lights... you will be fine...
here is a link to a thread in the archives
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...lock+hydrolock
and a link to a poll on the topic also from the archives ...
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...hlight=Vararam
As long as you don't drive in standing water deep enoght to be above the fog lights... you will be fine...
here is a link to a thread in the archives
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...lock+hydrolock
and a link to a poll on the topic also from the archives ...
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...hlight=Vararam
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 8,003
Likes: 249
From: Tampa Fl
St. Jude Donor '12-'13-'14
I have had the vararam installed on my car for four years. It was one of my first modification.
My car is not a daily driver but I have been caught in the rain a couple times. I drove 3 hours at highway speeds in pouring rain, and nothing happened to my car.
Another time was a two hour trip, and nothing happened to my car.
If you drive through a puddle higher that your fog lights ( which is 12 inches ), you should expect trouble. If you have a black wing and drive through a puddle about 16 inches high, expect trouble. If you have a stock air bridge and drive throught a puddle about 20 inches high, expect trouble.
So, it's all relative.
the main thing I dont like about vararam is they get $70.00 for a air filter.
My car is not a daily driver but I have been caught in the rain a couple times. I drove 3 hours at highway speeds in pouring rain, and nothing happened to my car.
Another time was a two hour trip, and nothing happened to my car.
If you drive through a puddle higher that your fog lights ( which is 12 inches ), you should expect trouble. If you have a black wing and drive through a puddle about 16 inches high, expect trouble. If you have a stock air bridge and drive throught a puddle about 20 inches high, expect trouble.
So, it's all relative.
the main thing I dont like about vararam is they get $70.00 for a air filter.
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Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
I too have the VARARAM on my 02 ZO6! I have driven in some really bad rain storms and the standing water on the roads was bad!
The water was deep enough to significantly effect handling! I even had a couple of MAF related DTC indicating that rain water was being ingested in the engine. It was never enough to cause any problems. I cleared the DTC's and kept driving.
On the other hand, you should know your limitations just like "phils C5 vette" stated. Last years drive back from Carslile PA (we were driving the 06 C6 coupe) (stock air box). It rained so dog gone hard that the roads in NY City were FLOODED! In some places the water was 6-8" deep. I drove through some very deep places (slowly, very slowly). If I would have been driving the ZO6,,,,I would have decided to pull over and wait it out! Oh,,by the way,,,the stock air filters did get wet and caused the car to run crappy until the dried out.
If you don't submerge the front of your car, you will be fine. Even if you ingest a small amount of water, you will be fine. Just stay out of the deep stuff.
BC
I have driven in some really bad rain storms and the standing water on the roads was bad! The water was deep enough to significantly effect handling! I even had a couple of MAF related DTC indicating that rain water was being ingested in the engine. It was never enough to cause any problems. I cleared the DTC's and kept driving.On the other hand, you should know your limitations just like "phils C5 vette" stated. Last years drive back from Carslile PA (we were driving the 06 C6 coupe) (stock air box). It rained so dog gone hard that the roads in NY City were FLOODED! In some places the water was 6-8" deep. I drove through some very deep places (slowly, very slowly). If I would have been driving the ZO6,,,,I would have decided to pull over and wait it out!
Oh,,by the way,,,the stock air filters did get wet and caused the car to run crappy until the dried out. If you don't submerge the front of your car, you will be fine. Even if you ingest a small amount of water, you will be fine. Just stay out of the deep stuff.
BC
Last edited by Bill Curlee; Mar 26, 2007 at 05:13 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 8,003
Likes: 249
From: Tampa Fl
St. Jude Donor '12-'13-'14
you got it bill !
I guess if worse came to worse, you can always stop before the standing water and uncouple the top of the air intake that would seperate the system and make the intake about a foot higher.
I guess if worse came to worse, you can always stop before the standing water and uncouple the top of the air intake that would seperate the system and make the intake about a foot higher.