Cold Air Induction
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,060
Likes: 85
From: Richmond VA Everyone should have a VetteGuard
Cold Air Induction
I'm thinking of replacing my stock air box with either a Vararam VRB2 or the Blackwing. I'm kind of leaning towards the BW maybe for its simple install but looking for feedback, any one have either, and/or an option? Looks like there's no retune with an install on either, you need another (bellows) part of the BW vs. the all intact Vararam, but I don't know??
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 171
Likes: 0
From: Saginaw Michigan
I went from a dual cone air intake to the vararam.... night and day in comparison... it took about 2 hours to do the install of the vararam, but worth every minute! No retune is needed, but i am going to get it tuned eventually to get the most out of it! Going from a stock air box, you will notice a huge difference!
Banned Scam/Spammer
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 50,093
Likes: 267
From: Oklahoma City
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17,'19,'22
Vararam all the way! They really do perform. I run one on my personal C5 and felt a SOTP feel with that mod alone. Adding headers and a tune really woke the car up.
We have a sale on them now for $255 shipped.
We have a sale on them now for $255 shipped.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 253
Likes: 1
From: Bossier city, Louisiana
I have the BW with an "ice box" cold air system. The Callaway Honker wasn't out yet, or I'd have gone that route. Have a good look at the filtering media for the systems your considering. You don't want to trade off good filtering for airflow, and you don't want a small filter trying to act like a big one.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 22,025
Likes: 192
From: At the beach in little Rhody
I had the Blackwing first. Very nice filter. Next I went to the Vararam. Nice setup but the filter is smallish and at the time there were sealing issues. I bought the K&N and after trimming to size siliconed it in place so it wouldn't leak. Finally, I went to the Callaway Honker. Much better quality, bigger filter and better fitting.
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Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 19,304
Likes: 85
From: San Diego CA
It is not a true CAI but opening up the fog light panels or drawing air from below the lower radiator cover makes the Blackwing or Halltech Venom a great system. The added advantage is keeping the engine bay cool - something that is impossible with most true CAI systems without further mods or a hood change. For example, a Vararam and long tube headers will cook your engine bay - not good for belts, hoses, batteries, etc. (IMO)
