Final Intake Debate
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 76
Likes: 0
From: Rolling Meadows IL
Final Intake Debate
Ok. I tried Installing the Vararam and after I was done, I was completely dissatisfied with the fit and finish, so I happily took it off and put it up for sale. What else is good out there without the trouble and horryfying finish?
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 22,025
Likes: 192
From: At the beach in little Rhody
I went from the Vararan to the Callaway Honker and am happy with it. I liked the Vararam as well, but the filter was kind of small and with the pollen we get around here I wanted something a little larger.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 763
Likes: 1
From: Oceanside Ca
Blackwing
Blackwing is the one and I only had to cut the vent tubing. That is the way to go as I can convert back to stock in less time that it takes to drink two Heffiewizens. Happy Trails.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 19,304
Likes: 85
From: San Diego CA
If cost is no object, get the Callaway Honker. It relocates the MAF to just in front of the throttle body - exactly where GM placed it in the C6s. If you want a great bang for the buck, check out the Halltech Stinger or SSM. Both come with a larger than stock airbridge and a smooth TB coupler. However, you should get cold air to either one (or the Blackwing, for that matter) to avoid losing 10 HP under high-heat conditions. There are at least a couple of ways to do this:
1. Open up the fog light panels (cold air mixes with hot engine bay air) or
2. Open up the lower radiator cover and use a scoop to blast cold air directly at the filter. See my sig for a link to the procedures.
1. Open up the fog light panels (cold air mixes with hot engine bay air) or
2. Open up the lower radiator cover and use a scoop to blast cold air directly at the filter. See my sig for a link to the procedures.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 783
Likes: 0
From: Phoenix Arizona
Put it back on.
Put it back on, best intake out there....... I have had mine for several years no problems...... did you drive it after your install? Takes a few miles for car to adjust to more airflow...
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hooked my Blackwing up to a Halltech air bridge and cut out the back of the fog lights for more air flow.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 6,721
Likes: 1,086
From: NE OH
St. Jude Donor '09-'10
went from stock to z06 airbox to blackwing to Honker.
1/4 mile time differences between z06 airbox and Blackwing were non-existent in my completely unscientific testing. Have not yet run w/ Honker.
1/4 mile time differences between z06 airbox and Blackwing were non-existent in my completely unscientific testing. Have not yet run w/ Honker.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 2,453
Likes: 81
From: Fishin' Pole FL
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 211
Likes: 0
From: Michigan City Indiana
You can also buy a K&N conical air filter that works exactly like a Blackwing for $45 and save yourself the ridiculous Vette tax they get for the 'wing. I don't remember the part number off hand, but I can look it up later if anyone is interested.
Former Vendor
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 18,666
Likes: 395
From: Tampa FL
St. Jude Donor '07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12'-'13-'14-'15
No intake, that I know of, has produced the proven times at the track that the Vararam has. I have had every intake on the market, some of them twice and have always come back to the VR. On the latest C5 I did not mess around, went with the vararam first time.
On my last C5 I went from 11.81@116 with a Halltech TRAP to 11.68@119 with no other mods on a cam only car. No other intake gives you the gains the VR does IMO. Now it is not a dyno intake so if you dyno race maybe get as stinger and blow the fan on it. Good luck
Cajun
On my last C5 I went from 11.81@116 with a Halltech TRAP to 11.68@119 with no other mods on a cam only car. No other intake gives you the gains the VR does IMO. Now it is not a dyno intake so if you dyno race maybe get as stinger and blow the fan on it. Good luck
Cajun
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 124,167
Likes: 278
From: .... NJ
Cruise-In VII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05 thru '19
I never ran it at the track with the vararam when I had it on, and I had it on for a about year. I ran only with a cat back and with the honker with long tubes and high flow cats. With the cat back I ran just over 14 at about 100 mph (was a hot day). With long tubes and honker I ran consistently 12.7 at about 110 mph on two different days this year and I doubt that is all do the long tubes and cats, the temps were cooler so that helped a bit. Regardless the throttle response is much better throughout the whole rpm range not just the top end, I feel a lot more confident in the sealing around the filter, the varaman got dirty a lot faster, the honker filter is still clean. No lean surging or codes and the honker is emissions compliant on the LS1. It is just better engineered and better quality.