Ram Air or Cold Air Induction
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 157
Likes: 0
From: Austin TX
Ram Air or Cold Air Induction
Looking at a few intake systems. Wanted to get ya'lls imput on these. Also I came across a Ram Air brand that said "deep throaty sound"??!?!?!?!? Why would it make a throaty sound? Anyone have an answer to that?
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 13,550
Likes: 6
From: Now in God's Country, the Big Sky, Montana!
Cruise-In 7-8-9-10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12
You are not going to really get an intake that will change noise significantly. My vote goes for the VaraRam. It is the only proven one at the track. You will get MANY different opinions on the intake but when it comes down to it, "There can be only one". 
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 157
Likes: 0
From: Austin TX
Any special tools or other add ons needed for this system?
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 13,550
Likes: 6
From: Now in God's Country, the Big Sky, Montana!
Cruise-In 7-8-9-10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12
You are probably looking in the $150 range for someone to install or you can do it yourself. Look here under induction.
Pro
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 643
Likes: 2
From: Alexandria Northern Virginia
Cajundude's directions could not be better man. Seriously, throw the ones it comes with away and just follow his. If you have a pretty basic socket set you are good to go. Took me about three hours in my garage and I was blasting, I mean safely following all posted and observed speed signs down the road.
I don't like the workmanship on them (just could be better finished) and it tends to deflect the plastic radiator shroud (the one you'd be cutting anyway). Benefits are obvious, drawbacks are few. You can also return to stock without cutting anything at all.
Hope that helps. Honestly, I really cannot feel a power difference. Had it to the track twice but its been wet days both times. I think maybe the filter is wet and not flowing as much air as it could. Its one of those support mods you do so you get more power later. More in, more out sort of things..
Cassidy
I don't like the workmanship on them (just could be better finished) and it tends to deflect the plastic radiator shroud (the one you'd be cutting anyway). Benefits are obvious, drawbacks are few. You can also return to stock without cutting anything at all.
Hope that helps. Honestly, I really cannot feel a power difference. Had it to the track twice but its been wet days both times. I think maybe the filter is wet and not flowing as much air as it could. Its one of those support mods you do so you get more power later. More in, more out sort of things..
Cassidy
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 218
Likes: 0
From: Seaside Ca.
Funny thing...put the vararam on drove 50 miles so that the pcm could make the adjustment to the improved airflow as per instructions... jumped on it and felt a big improvement in acceleration. Then had a 3600 stall and 3.73 gears installed...tremendous response down low....battery cable was removed for this change...driving home on the freeway jumped on it to pass a car from 55 mph...something quite not right with the pull up top...disappointment....drove another hour...jumped on it again from 65 to pass...that's what i'm talking about...(big fat grin on). The pcm had to make the adjustment again to the improved airflow from the V.R. after the cable was disc. The V.R. definitely makes a big sotp improvement imho.
Last edited by bbob67; May 3, 2007 at 06:39 PM.
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Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 4,325
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From: You can't get there from here NJ
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
Cajundude's directions could not be better man. Seriously, throw the ones it comes with away and just follow his. If you have a pretty basic socket set you are good to go. Took me about three hours in my garage and I was blasting, I mean safely following all posted and observed speed signs down the road.
I don't like the workmanship on them (just could be better finished) and it tends to deflect the plastic radiator shroud (the one you'd be cutting anyway). Benefits are obvious, drawbacks are few. You can also return to stock without cutting anything at all.
Hope that helps. Honestly, I really cannot feel a power difference. Had it to the track twice but its been wet days both times. I think maybe the filter is wet and not flowing as much air as it could. Its one of those support mods you do so you get more power later. More in, more out sort of things..
Cassidy
I don't like the workmanship on them (just could be better finished) and it tends to deflect the plastic radiator shroud (the one you'd be cutting anyway). Benefits are obvious, drawbacks are few. You can also return to stock without cutting anything at all.
Hope that helps. Honestly, I really cannot feel a power difference. Had it to the track twice but its been wet days both times. I think maybe the filter is wet and not flowing as much air as it could. Its one of those support mods you do so you get more power later. More in, more out sort of things..
Cassidy
OR K&N OIL BEFORE YOU RUN THE CAR. Vararam DOESN'T tell you to do this in the instructions, and you MUST DO THIS for a C5.You will need a floor jack and stands to do this install, and count on about 3 hours to do it.There is a post about jacking up your car, and there are numerous ones about floor jacks( I got a 3ton jack with stands from Pep Boys for $99).
YOU WILL NOTICE A DEFINITE DIFFERENCE WITH THE VARARAM.It really does work. Another good choice is the Callaway Honker, but it is about $200 more.Both of these units draw air from OUTSIDE the engine compartment. Other intakes may help your car breathe better, but COLD AIR FROM OUTSIDE is the way to go.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 2,804
Likes: 358
From: Northville, MI
GM made the stock air bridge to cut down on the noise an engine made. Replace the air bridge and you will have a louder intake. Ram air inductions make measurable hp above 140 mph. What makes hp for the real world driving is cooler, more dense air. The Vararam is one popular version that alows cooler more dense air change into the intake system. They are especially effective on a stock block LS1, The other type system is a bottom breather system like the Honker, again it pulls cooler more dense air to make hp gains. While it is good on a stock displacement engine, it would be better on larger displacement engines like a 427. This is the system GM uses in the C5R and C6R racing vettes.
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 243
Likes: 0
From: Northern NJ
GM made the stock air bridge to cut down on the noise an engine made. Replace the air bridge and you will have a louder intake. Ram air inductions make measurable hp above 140 mph. What makes hp for the real world driving is cooler, more dense air. The Vararam is one popular version that alows cooler more dense air change into the intake system. They are especially effective on a stock block LS1, The other type system is a bottom breather system like the Honker, again it pulls cooler more dense air to make hp gains. While it is good on a stock displacement engine, it would be better on larger displacement engines like a 427. This is the system GM uses in the C5R and C6R racing vettes.
or the hurricane. great bottom breather, clean install!
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 90
Likes: 2
From: San Antonio Texas
I was looking at the VaraRam on their website the other day. It looks a little complicated to install. I would rather not take it somewhere to get an intake installed, (i think an intake should be a simple add on).
Any special tools or other add ons needed for this system?
Any special tools or other add ons needed for this system?
