Air intake....which one you think?
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Pro
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 706
Likes: 1
From: Granby MA
Cruise-In I Veteran
Cruise-In II Veteran
Air intake....which one you think?
ok guys, did a search....didnt turn up to to much. I know everyone has there own tastes.....but i just wanted to get a feel for what everyone thought. Ive read stuff on K&Ns, Slp blackwings, Halltech stingers, BBKs, Honkers, vararams, Hurricanes, and vortechs. I really like the halltechs....think they look nice and give you a competitive increase number of Hps(which i know isnt EXACTLY what they advertise). Anyways, what did you guys go with? Anyone notice any whin or whisle noise when they did theres?...lol...i know i know....if i want that just throw a supercharger on...lol....Anyone wanna lend me over the 5 grand or so?..lol. I didnt really want to go down the vararam road....seems like alot of $$ to dish out just for an air intake. Im just wondering what everyone else likes and what works. So far all ive done to my C5 is put a corsa indy pro system on her. Thanks guys! Ray
Last edited by Blackout; Aug 27, 2007 at 11:25 PM.
Instructor
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 240
Likes: 0
From: Bay Area CA
I have the K&N 63 Series Performance Intake Kit on my 04 Coupe, this is what you can expect according to K & N's Dyno Chart on a 2001 Chevrolet Corvette 5.7L 6spd - 11.15HP increase...It's your Vette, Your call!!
Racer
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 431
Likes: 5
From: Chico CA
I really like the Vararam. Wasn't as expensive as a lot of the alternatives - bought it at Summit, but there are some other forum sponsors with good deals. Cajundude (if memory serves) has 'em, and has easy instructions.
One think I liked is that they look enough like GM plastic that it may slide past a smog visual inspection if they aren't Corvette savvy. The open element filters don't have as much chance, and I think Mass has about as draconian a bunch of smog laws as we do out here in the People's Republic of California (say Kahl-ee-forr-knee-ya). Still, most stuff is "49-state legal." Guess where the 50th state is?
Lots of options, and opinions. When I added it, the SOTP difference was noticeable. Faster we go, more air we get, and it's all as cool as you're gonna get here in the land of 100* summer days. No problems with the winter storms. You can add the Z06 screens to keep the bugs and birds and the odd deer part out of the filter. Took us a couple of hours to install, and most of that was figuring out how to remove the factory airbox without damaging it or the fasteners.
One think I liked is that they look enough like GM plastic that it may slide past a smog visual inspection if they aren't Corvette savvy. The open element filters don't have as much chance, and I think Mass has about as draconian a bunch of smog laws as we do out here in the People's Republic of California (say Kahl-ee-forr-knee-ya). Still, most stuff is "49-state legal." Guess where the 50th state is?
Lots of options, and opinions. When I added it, the SOTP difference was noticeable. Faster we go, more air we get, and it's all as cool as you're gonna get here in the land of 100* summer days. No problems with the winter storms. You can add the Z06 screens to keep the bugs and birds and the odd deer part out of the filter. Took us a couple of hours to install, and most of that was figuring out how to remove the factory airbox without damaging it or the fasteners.
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 61
Likes: 0
From: Ontario CA
Have the same vararam air intake on my 01 vette with the GHL catback have no complaines; Im happy with mine my brother has the hurricane intake on his 02 zo6, their both giving u around the same Hp
corvettegarage has the vararam for 349.00 look around might find it cheaper
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 4,945
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From: No Star Whackers here. Md.
St. Jude Donor '11
I hate to go down this road. People have been shot for less.
I stopped at the green filter tent at carlisle. They claim that they make all the filters for all the aftermarket guys. They also claim that the stock air box is fine. They claim it IS a cold-air intake. They make a replacement OEM filter, and claim it gives you 20 hp. They all claim to be the best. They're all liars except one; I just can't figure out which one.
I stopped at the green filter tent at carlisle. They claim that they make all the filters for all the aftermarket guys. They also claim that the stock air box is fine. They claim it IS a cold-air intake. They make a replacement OEM filter, and claim it gives you 20 hp. They all claim to be the best. They're all liars except one; I just can't figure out which one.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 2,704
Likes: 4
From: Lone Star State
Im partial to Vararam too. I installed it on my car and love it. When you put it on you can notice better throttle response. I have seen them for sale on the forum for around 290 bucks. I have heard of people having fitment issues with the Halltech system. If you plan to do the install yourself....have plenty of patience, beer, and plan on getting some bloody knuckles 
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 124,407
Likes: 288
From: .... NJ
Cruise-In VII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05 thru '19
I had the Vararam and switched to the Honker and like it a lot better. The Honker is also 50-State emissions compliant for the LS1 and the 16 hp gain is believable.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 279
Likes: 0
From: NOVA VA
About 90% of my driving is on the freeway commuting at around 80mph. Did the Vararam seem to give you better throttle response at freeway speeds over the Honker?
I live in VA but will be moving back to Cali in a year or two. 50 State legal is an issue with me. I went through all that inspection crap with my Acura back when I was a teenager, I don't feel like dealing with that again in the future. If the power difference between Vararam and a 50 State legal is negligable then I'll just get a 50 State legal one and forget about it.
-Steve
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Drifting
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,713
Likes: 2
Well, that begs the question...what is it about the honker that makes you like it more than the Vararam? Sound? Throttle response?
About 90% of my driving is on the freeway commuting at around 80mph. Did the Vararam seem to give you better throttle response at freeway speeds over the Honker?
I live in VA but will be moving back to Cali in a year or two. 50 State legal is an issue with me. I went through all that inspection crap with my Acura back when I was a teenager, I don't feel like dealing with that again in the future. If the power difference between Vararam and a 50 State legal is negligable then I'll just get a 50 State legal one and forget about it.
-Steve
About 90% of my driving is on the freeway commuting at around 80mph. Did the Vararam seem to give you better throttle response at freeway speeds over the Honker?
I live in VA but will be moving back to Cali in a year or two. 50 State legal is an issue with me. I went through all that inspection crap with my Acura back when I was a teenager, I don't feel like dealing with that again in the future. If the power difference between Vararam and a 50 State legal is negligable then I'll just get a 50 State legal one and forget about it.
-Steve
1. Much higher quality and ease of installation.
2. Much better filter.
3. Much more simple removal of filter to clean.
4. Improved throttle response over the Vararam.
5. A six horsepower increase over the Vararam.
6. A .2 decrease in ET over the Vararam.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 279
Likes: 0
From: NOVA VA
I will not speak for the above guy but I switched from a Vararam to a Honker and found these improvements.
1. Much higher quality and ease of installation.
2. Much better filter.
3. Much more simple removal of filter to clean.
4. Improved throttle response over the Vararam.
5. A six horsepower increase over the Vararam.
6. A .2 decrease in ET over the Vararam.
1. Much higher quality and ease of installation.
2. Much better filter.
3. Much more simple removal of filter to clean.
4. Improved throttle response over the Vararam.
5. A six horsepower increase over the Vararam.
6. A .2 decrease in ET over the Vararam.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 124,407
Likes: 288
From: .... NJ
Cruise-In VII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05 thru '19
I will not speak for the above guy but I switched from a Vararam to a Honker and found these improvements.
1. Much higher quality and ease of installation.
2. Much better filter.
3. Much more simple removal of filter to clean.
4. Improved throttle response over the Vararam.
5. A six horsepower increase over the Vararam.
6. A .2 decrease in ET over the Vararam.
1. Much higher quality and ease of installation.
2. Much better filter.
3. Much more simple removal of filter to clean.
4. Improved throttle response over the Vararam.
5. A six horsepower increase over the Vararam.
6. A .2 decrease in ET over the Vararam.
My vararam v2 filter never sealed to my satisfaction, the foam or the k&n from vararam, the k&n fitment was a lot worse. The filter also gets dirty fast breathing from the front like that. It does improve performance, but people have had issues with CE lights and surges. You can do a search.I like that the honker moves the mass air sensor housing closer the throttle body like the Ls2 set up. Improved throttle response throughout the entire rpm range. Also it has a biger filter (green) then the varam when compared to the oem paper.
Pro
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 717
Likes: 11
From: Pleasanton CA
HONKER
ok guys, did a search....didnt turn up to to much. I know everyone has there own tastes.....but i just wanted to get a feel for what everyone thought. Ive read stuff on K&Ns, Slp blackwings, Halltech stingers, BBKs, Honkers, vararams, Hurricanes, and vortechs. I really like the halltechs....think they look nice and give you a competitive increase number of Hps(which i know isnt EXACTLY what they advertise). Anyways, what did you guys go with? Anyone notice any whin or whisle noise when they did theres?...lol...i know i know....if i want that just throw a supercharger on...lol....Anyone wanna lend me over the 5 grand or so?..lol. I didnt really want to go down the vararam road....seems like alot of $$ to dish out just for an air intake. Im just wondering what everyone else likes and what works. So far all ive done to my C5 is put a corsa indy pro system on her. Thanks guys! Ray
Drifting<br><img src="/forums/images/ranks/2k-3k.gif" border="0">
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,917
Likes: 93
From: Memphis Tn
2016 C7 of the Year Finalist
2015 C6 of the Year Finalist
Cruise-In X Veteran
St. Jude Co-Organizer
St. Jude Donor '09 thru '19
MTI True ram air!!!!! Better quality than the Vararam and bigger filter! it uses a K&N filter!!! I like it a LOT better than anything else!!!
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 706
Likes: 1
From: Granby MA
Cruise-In I Veteran
Cruise-In II Veteran
Seems like everyone here likes there HONKER....funny name....but if it works..lol....
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 9,420
Likes: 8
From: Southern New Jersey, The wet part at the bottom
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10
I think as long as it is a true CAI you are fine with whatever you chose. I chose a Honker, but I'm sure some others are just as good.
