Hey guys im looking to buy a cold air intake for my 98 c5. As of yesterday i was ready to buy the varaam with the duct and coupler for 325. I meet up with a few guys from the northeast wolfpack and they all bashed the varaam pretty bad saying its a flimsy peice of plastic and that it sucks up alot of debris. i started looking into other sytems and from what i found these are my options:

slp blackwing
volant dual filter
vortex hurricane intake and
halltech stinger

now i know there are others out there on the market but i think these are the most common. i need your help what in your opinion is the best cold air intake i can get????

 

I have a Halltech. The only mods I have are that and a cat back with x-pipe. Can't say I noticed any difference, other than it sounds a bit better at WOT

jim

 

I really can't understand why they would say that! I have went through a few different systems and the VARARAM was the best IMHO!

I had a VARARAM on my Vette last, before I went FI and I know of a few who have the MAGGIE SuperChargers and use the VARARAM on them.

Shot if I could of used the VARARAM to connect to my ProCharger I would of

Don't count out the VARARM just becase someone says it's flimpsy, from my use and others they are an excellent piece, I would suggest that you get some of the C5 Z06 Fog Light Screens to keep any extra debris or leave from entering the duct - but remember that there is a FILTER to keep debris from ever entering the Tb or MAF

I'd get it, because you can get debris even on other applications too. Just look at them and make a decision but remember that the VARARAM is very good

Thanks,Matt

 

I have the SLP blackwing. I cant speak about the others you've listed but the blackwing is about as OEM looking as you are going to find. It has a nice blue filter and no restrictive box. Minus the 'powerducts' of the vararam I'm not sure what more you could want.

 

I regard the VaraRam sucking up water and causing engine damage to be an “Old Wives Tale” that is tough (or impossible) to squash.

If you drive in water up over the top of the license plate then the engine can certainly suck in water. The entire front area (air inlet area) of BOTH intakes would have to be COMPLETELY submerged to provide enough vacuum to pull water up into the engine.

I have run my 2000 in several downpours so heavy that it was tough to see the taillights of the car two-car lengths ahead of me. Not a hint of a problem.

One of the most memorial downpours to me occurred in 2007 – driving through very heavy rain from Lexington KY to Columbus OH returning home from the museum. This was at expressway speeds with only the taillights ahead of me for guidance. No problem.

There is a photo of a car somewhere on this C5 forum that is traveling through water to a depth half way up the front bumper. That car had a VaraRam and suffered no ill effects.

I suspect that most who promote the VaraRam causing hydrolock have never owned a VaraRam, nor do they drive their cars if they is a hint of precipitation in the air, and a few probably never owned a C5.


-

 

Yeah, and if my grandma had *****, she'd be my grandpa...

Still doesn't mean its wise to drive through high standing water with a cold air intake of that design. It's not like hydrolocking the motor on a C5 is a wives tale either....there plenty of posts concerning this issue.

 

I have this MTI CAI if you are interested. It comes with a precut shroud, filter, "power duct"(not in picture), and a filter that was used for 800 mi. I have an oil cooler so it will not work on mine. $250 shipped.

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Let me know if interested.

 

How many had bought the Vararam, installed it and found the debris? The original design (foam filter) had some issues but if the new "green filter" model, if installed properly should be no problem.

As far as hydro lock, I did a compare maybe 2 years ago (try searching Archives) and showed there is no asppreciable difference between stck, vararam, haltech etc. The Vette is a bottom feeder by nature and you must stay away from standing water.

Try comparing actual street/track performance numbers and you will see Vararam beats them hands down.

JMHO

Ed M

 

I have the VARARAM on my 02 ZO6 and C6 Coupe. NO trash, NO problems, No complaints. (NOTE) I have Zo6 screens on the Z and that limits BIG things from being injested into the openings. The C6 is located behind a grill but the openings are WIDE. No problems.

So,,yep, the VARARAM is a bit flimsy but, it fits, it works and mine has NOT broken, bent, deformed, fell off the car, etc the entire time Ive had it installed. It works PERIOD! Once its in, its in and looks great.

The VARARAM is a little more robust on the C6.

Bill

 

Never had my Vararam suck any stuff up. The quality is a bit junky but it works.

 

I have a Halltech Stinger and haven't had any problems. It is a nice simple installation.

 

Thanks for all the posts guys im still torn on which way i should go. Seems like alot of people support the varaam over the other names i threw up there so im leaning going towards that route. especially since they are on sale untill the end of today.

 

I cannot figure out why so many people have problems with the Vararam. I installed mine on my car before I became a dealer for them. It took some time to install, but I had no issues. I took it apart recently for a header install and it's still nice and clean.

If you do it right you won't have problems. This unit performs!

 

I don't believe in any oiled cloth filters. They may foul your MAF sensor and they don't filter as well as paper, AND no one has proven that they gain horsepower.

Now, your 1998 C5 can benefit from breathing improvements. Replace the air filter cover with a 2002 or later ZO6 cover, it will sound and breath better.

 

 

I have a Callaway Honker, and it works well. The poster above offering the MTI intake is offering a good deal for the OP IMO. The MTI is a clone of the Callaway Honker, and I assume the results would be similar to identical.

 

If youre going with the Halltech, forget the Stinger and go with the newer Venom. It relocates the MAF closer to the throttle body for more accurate readings and has a much larger filter.

 

The Vararam really isn't the highest quality. It works but it's certainly not perfect. I could see air gaps between the filter and the top housing. If there are air gaps then dirt can go around the filter, no way around it. I pulled the useless foam gasket out of the housing and RTV'd my filter into the housing instead so it won't let anything past the filter.

Peter

 

My filter fit and sealed nicely without any problem.

 

I have 02 coupe lLS1 cant decide A SLP blackwing with adaptor $262.00, K&N air filter $61 Plus $79 zo6 air box cover or k&n air filter$61 & cut out present air box with a dremel tool. Any suggestions what you would do. I am looking for a little sound but hp can't hurt.