Vortex vs Vararam
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 1,651
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From: Ocean County NJ
Vortex vs Vararam
Has anyone done a dyno comparison of the Vararam and Vortex Ram Air by Breathless Performance? Back in 2000 the Vortex was quite popular yet I never hear of anyone choosing it over the Black Wing or Vararam (except me 
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 3,011
Likes: 9
From: Dublin GA
I don't know about the Vortex, but a dyno will be of no use in evaluating the vararam. It needs to be "at speed" to measure it's benefit. Back to back 1/4 mile test (which are not practical due to the time involved in the installs) are the only way to really test them
Pro
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 632
Likes: 6
From: St. Louis Missouri
My dyno guy runs a big a$$ fan facing the car when running it on the dyno plus t smaller fans like you see drying floors with the snout pointed where it can doo the most good. I would think that would be all that was needed to compare a vararam to any other intake.
everybody gets caught up in which is 'the' best. Well they all are better than stock. I bought the car with a blackwing on it. One thing I did not like about the blackwing as it was was the fact that it wasn't set up to get cooler air. My choices were to open up the area around the fog lights, possibly open up areas in the shroud, get something like the honker or vortex or get a vararam. I found myself being drawn to the Vortex and Honker but in the end I didn't want to cut the shroud. I like the fact that it isolates the air for the radiator and the radiator only. So I bought a vararam. The thing I like best about the vararam is where it gets its air from. That's the one and only reason I got it. And I bought a set of screens to keep stray crap out.
everybody gets caught up in which is 'the' best. Well they all are better than stock. I bought the car with a blackwing on it. One thing I did not like about the blackwing as it was was the fact that it wasn't set up to get cooler air. My choices were to open up the area around the fog lights, possibly open up areas in the shroud, get something like the honker or vortex or get a vararam. I found myself being drawn to the Vortex and Honker but in the end I didn't want to cut the shroud. I like the fact that it isolates the air for the radiator and the radiator only. So I bought a vararam. The thing I like best about the vararam is where it gets its air from. That's the one and only reason I got it. And I bought a set of screens to keep stray crap out.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 1,651
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From: Ocean County NJ
Thanks for the inputs. Cutting the shroud was no biggie. When I sold my 2000 to a car dealer I pulled the Vortex out and put in a new shroud. My next C5 I also opted for the Vortex, but the Vararam wasn't out yet. They are probably comparable at speed. 
Racer
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 498
Likes: 1
From: Fontana CA
Vortex Here But mine is the OG model. I have no hump on the front of my box and the filter is different. thinking about purchasing the Hurricane from West Coast Corvette. Its similar in design of the Vortex but utilises a bigger air filter which means more surface area. It would be neat to see those 2 items tested back to back!
But mine is the OG model. I have no hump on the front of my box and the filter is different. thinking about purchasing the Hurricane from West Coast Corvette. Its similar in design of the Vortex but utilises a bigger air filter which means more surface area. It would be neat to see those 2 items tested back to back!
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 8,466
Likes: 51
St. Jude Donor '17
it was in this order
calloway honker
vararam
blackwing
k&n twin
vortex
Ill try to locate the dyno post...
The biggest gain with the calloway honker and Vararam is that they both relocate the maf I believe.
view this link regarding the honker
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...ht=vortex+dyno
dyno data below
Last edited by Got uid0; Jul 1, 2008 at 05:02 PM.
Premium Supporting Vendor
Joined: Jan 2001
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From: Central Jersey
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None of the different airboxes will show a huge difference on the Dyno. They really need to be compared at the track.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,702
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A true ram air system will show it's increase in performance from the 330' mark through the 1320' traps.There are no dyno fans that push enough air to simulate a 1/4 mile run. The Vortex Rammer has definitely improved my performance on the big end.There is no enclosed cold air system that can out perform a forced outside ambient air temperature system "period".
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
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St. Jude Donor '17
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 219
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From: Bellevue Wa
I'ver read the Vortex 'rammer' produces up to two pounds of positive boost at 60 mph. I've got one, my car came with it, but I worry the filter element lets way too much crap in due to the size of it's pores.
Surface area isn't only thing you need to measure. If the filter element won't strain green peas out of the intake then surface area is kind of moot.
Surface area isn't only thing you need to measure. If the filter element won't strain green peas out of the intake then surface area is kind of moot.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 1,651
Likes: 0
From: Ocean County NJ
