I've decided to put a cold air intake on my C5 (50th AE) 6 spd.
Would appreciate everyone's opinion on which brand is the best and why? Calloway, Hurricane, other? Does it really matter much if that's the only engine mod I'm going to get?

Live close to A & A Corvettes so Andy will install it, put the car on the dyno and dyno tune it for around $1,200 (parts and labor).

Can hardly wait but want to research it a bit first so as to be a wise consumer.

Thanks everyone for your input.

 

$1200 seems high for an intake and a tune.

Everybody has their opinions about what intake is the best. I really do not think there is that much of a difference betweent he brands. I personally prefer Vararam but the Halltech Stinger I had before it was almost as good.

Check the parts section. Pick up at used Vararam for around around $200-250 and install it yourself. Installing a CAI is easy, anyone can do it.

 

i have the vararam,really like it !

 

You might want to read past (numerous) posts. Go to C5 Tech, click on search this forum (in the red banner) and use keywords "honker, vararam, halltech, blackwing, hurricane, stinger, k&n" or any other manufacturer that comes to mind. There won't be much revelation subsequent to those past posts. It's also very subjective to each owner who believes their choice was better over anything else.
You might also want to send a PM to member Patches. Mrs. Patches installed her own SLP "Blackwing" which was well documented in written instructions and multiple images. That product might cost you anywhere from $150 used to $250 new, depending on source and if you elect to buy into the requirement for the after market air bridge, silicone coupler, "ice box" cover, etc. This filter is a very popular choice.
Based on most posts on this very often asked question, the CALLAWAY "Honker" or the VARARAM seem to be very popular and considered true CAI (cold air intake) in design. Installation of either of these systems may be more than you might want to tackle if this is your first DIY project though.
Pretty much everything else are simply "cool air intake" in design by virtue that they still take in warm engine compartment air unless the owner cuts the shroud and places the filter media into the path of cool/cold air away from the engine compartment.
You can also add Z06 type ducting in the front bumper or modify your fog light shrouds for more cool/cold air intake.
From past posts, it seems that most shops charge about $350-500 for a dyno tune...so if that's still an accurate estimate, you have about $700 in the budget for an intake.

 

Being a fellow Californian, I suggest you purchase the Callaway Honker. It's the only CAI that is CARB legal in all 50 states. I have one and love it. Not sure you would really need a tune after installing it though. You may want to wait on the tune until you add a couple more bolt on mods. JMHO

 

1200 for cai and a tune. You can get a Vararam for 300.00. So 900.00 for install and a tune? For about 1200 or a little more you can get gears or headers which will really wake up the car.

 

Absolutely true, the question is how many people out there have actually run on their own cars multiple air intakes so they have a factual first person objective opinion of the different intakes?

Out of stock, vararam and honker I take the honker hands down as the superior product in every way - and you'll see that reflected in the price.


But holy jesus batman, $1,200 for an air intake and tune is freakin way expensive...

 

Mine is Vararam on 03 50th An convertible. Works great , no issue.

 

$1200 for a CAI and a tune is waaay to much $$$$

I've got a VRB2........LOVE IT

 

halltech stinger if worried about hydrolock like me

Honker if not


Put it on yourself save 800 bucks, really dont need a tune for a CAI

If you got headers then yeah get a tune

Hope this helped

 

Yes Calloway, Hurricane are 2 of the top best then vararam then blackwing, k&n twin, breathless performance

Calloway and hurricane provide the best results because they relocate the maf. The others do not.

This has been verified on dyno on a post on this forum.

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1851189 <-read

 

Bad information....

every c5 needs a tune with or with out a cai

 

actually its right on the money.

The calloway is about 600 and tunes are about 600

Andy does not rip people off noobs

 

ok, Calloway Honker retails at $490 and a good tune is going to run $450 - that's at $940, so there is $260 left for install and tax... so it's not horribly expensive - but it ain't quite cheap

 

On a stock-ish car you should pay no more than $400-$450 for a good dyno/street tune from an accomplished tuner. Any higher and you're either being ripped off or getting charged for a name.

CAI Intake, just spend $40 on either a stock replacement K&N filter or a warhead shaped K&N filter and then make your own cold-air intake honker/vortex style.

I would not spend $1200 for intake/tune. Save the other $700 bucks up towards headers or gears.

Learn from an experienced modder's mistakes (2 c5s, many mods, started out young not knowing ANYTHING about cars, including corvettes), because they add up quickly and you can spend a whole lot of $$$ for not a lot of go.

 

My Vararam was $305 shipped! z06 hellcat and I installed it in about 3 hours with a jack and stands in about three hours and six beers

You do not need a tune after the install,,just drive about 50 to 100 miles and your car's compter will adjust to the airflow increase.

 

Blackwing is the best!

 

VARARAM or a SuperCharger to pull in as much as possible

Thanks,Matt

 

If that's all you ever intend to do, I wouldn't even bother with any of it. Put the $$ towards gas for cruising

 

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