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2013 Vararam Install/ Altered Installation

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Old Apr 17, 2013 | 10:07 AM
  #21  
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Originally Posted by Sideswipe505
Mine do not require any caulking or sealing... I think a lot of people over complicate the installation to be honest.

They certainly don't require it, as long as you're OK with leaving gaps around the filter where unfiltered air can pass to the engine. It seems lots of people are OK with this but I'm not.

My car came with it so it's cheaper to just leave it on and RTV the filter then to change it out. The filter didn't seal to the upper housing.
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Old Apr 17, 2013 | 01:44 PM
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Originally Posted by Sideswipe505
Mine do not require any caulking or sealing... I think a lot of people over complicate the installation to be honest.
I for sure over complicated it. Installing that tube of silicone in the caulk gun was such a pain. Let alone snipping off the end of the tube and puncturing the seal inside! Then having to squeeze the handle and guide the tip around the perimeter filling the gap around the edge!!! Geez! WTF was I thinking.

Not knocking you, was just playin'. When I first installed the filter housing I kinda felt unsure whether it was properly sealed up. Other members suggested to seal it. When I really thought about it, it made sense to me. With it sealed in the upper housing, it's impossible for anything to get past the filter unless it goes through the filter itself. Before, it was at least a possiblity something could sneak by the outside of the filter. Unlikely, but possible. It was cheap peace of mind to seal it. Same with the screens I installed in the nose. Didn't take me much effort for the extra piece of mind that is worth a far more than the trouble in adding it.

Last edited by IRON MAIDEN; Apr 17, 2013 at 01:52 PM.
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Old Apr 22, 2013 | 08:05 AM
  #23  
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Ok guys few questions from a new to vettes guy:
I just received my Vararam with the powerduct, and I am about to start installing on my C5 2004 stock:
- I don't want to tune at all, so i don't want to move the MAF do I go for installing the intake on the stock duct?
- Can I install the VR Power Duct with MAF in same stock position? will i need to trim? if the setup is possible will the car throw check engine light resulting in a need to tune?

Thanks in advance
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Old Apr 22, 2013 | 12:22 PM
  #24  
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Originally Posted by jadoux
Ok guys few questions from a new to vettes guy:
I just received my Vararam with the powerduct, and I am about to start installing on my C5 2004 stock:
- I don't want to tune at all, so i don't want to move the MAF do I go for installing the intake on the stock duct?
- Can I install the VR Power Duct with MAF in same stock position? will i need to trim? if the setup is possible will the car throw check engine light resulting in a need to tune?

Thanks in advance
Install the VR and the Power Duct. Since the MAF will have to be moved, don't worry about codes. With the new Power Duct the MAF will have to be moved next to the throttle body for a cleaner read. That's what the power duct was designed for. You have to make sure all the parts are clamped tight.

Last edited by DARRYLZO6; Apr 22, 2013 at 12:25 PM.
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Old Apr 22, 2013 | 02:11 PM
  #25  
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I'm totally shocked here. Did either of you two bother reading this thread? Not trying to be rude, but you just posted on a thread explaining exactly how to install both the Vararam and Power duct with the MAF in the factory location. Scroll to the top and read. Look at the photos. There you go, your question is answered.

DARRYLZO6, you do not need to relocate the MAF with their duct. It was Vararam themselves that suggested I keep the MAF in the factory location. I could not relocate mine, it would not work. Period. But worked like a charm keeping the MAF in the factory location.

jadoux, please read my first post of this thread. It shows how to install the whole system and you only need to trim the 4" coupler to just over 3". Trim to fit your car. Let me know if you need any other help but if you try to install it like their instructions show...... good luck!
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Old Apr 22, 2013 | 07:08 PM
  #26  
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I would consider removing the screens, they are not helping your airflow.
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Old Apr 22, 2013 | 07:45 PM
  #27  
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Ive felt no difference since putting them in and I would rather have a little less screened air versus a bit more air and other crap sucking into the ducts clogging up the filter.
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Old Apr 22, 2013 | 07:45 PM
  #28  
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The extra piece of mind is worth it to me.
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Old Apr 22, 2013 | 07:56 PM
  #29  
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And for the record. Nascar screens their nose ducts when they race on road coases.
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Old Apr 22, 2013 | 07:58 PM
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I know its not the same but it sounded good.
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Old Apr 22, 2013 | 08:46 PM
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Originally Posted by IRON MAIDEN

jadoux, please read my first post of this thread. It shows how to install the whole system and you only need to trim the 4" coupler to just over 3". Trim to fit your car. Let me know if you need any other help but if you try to install it like their instructions show...... good luck!
Sir, not only read it, I printed it for reference during installation, my only question was about whether or not this setup will bring a risk of a check engine light without a tune.
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Old Apr 22, 2013 | 09:41 PM
  #32  
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Originally Posted by lionelhutz
They certainly don't require it, as long as you're OK with leaving gaps around the filter where unfiltered air can pass to the engine. It seems lots of people are OK with this but I'm not.

My car came with it so it's cheaper to just leave it on and RTV the filter then to change it out. The filter didn't seal to the upper housing.
I feel like maybe some filters that came with the Vararam fit different than others. I have a green filter, which I haven't seen in other install threads and it sealed very well, in fact it was kind of a pain to put in the housing. Maybe I'm lucky, I dunno.

Originally Posted by IRON MAIDEN
I for sure over complicated it. Installing that tube of silicone in the caulk gun was such a pain. Let alone snipping off the end of the tube and puncturing the seal inside! Then having to squeeze the handle and guide the tip around the perimeter filling the gap around the edge!!! Geez! WTF was I thinking.

Not knocking you, was just playin'. When I first installed the filter housing I kinda felt unsure whether it was properly sealed up. Other members suggested to seal it. When I really thought about it, it made sense to me. With it sealed in the upper housing, it's impossible for anything to get past the filter unless it goes through the filter itself. Before, it was at least a possiblity something could sneak by the outside of the filter. Unlikely, but possible. It was cheap peace of mind to seal it. Same with the screens I installed in the nose. Didn't take me much effort for the extra piece of mind that is worth a far more than the trouble in adding it.
I didn't out any extra screens on mine, but I can see your logic, and it can't hurt. Not like a screen is going to impede airflow.

So far, my car is running GREAT with it installed and no tune. 23mpg average and it spins in 1st and 2nd now so it picked up some (a4 car).
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Old Apr 22, 2013 | 10:20 PM
  #33  
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As long as you are OK with a 45-70% reduction in open areas in your intake ports, I see no reason not to run screens either.

http://ateam.lbl.gov/hightech/fumeho..._Fume_Hood.pdf
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Old Apr 22, 2013 | 10:24 PM
  #34  
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Originally Posted by Arnie Chamberlain
As long as you are OK with a 45-70% reduction in open areas in your intake ports, I see no reason not to run screens either.

http://ateam.lbl.gov/hightech/fumeho..._Fume_Hood.pdf
Cliff notes on article please?
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Old Apr 23, 2013 | 12:45 AM
  #35  
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Originally Posted by Sideswipe505
I feel like maybe some filters that came with the Vararam fit different than others. I have a green filter, which I haven't seen in other install threads and it sealed very well, in fact it was kind of a pain to put in the housing. Maybe I'm lucky, I dunno.
You can see the gap between the gasket and the filter. It was like that on all 4 sides of the filter. Had to jamb it in there too but it didn't seal well around the edges at all.

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Old Apr 23, 2013 | 12:59 AM
  #36  
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Originally Posted by Sideswipe505
I know that. My main point it that it's the most efficient system n

Shut up newb! I have a Volant that'll **** all over your big bad A$$ VR...
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Old Apr 23, 2013 | 01:18 AM
  #37  
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Originally Posted by chassed
Shut up newb! I have a Volant that'll **** all over your big bad A$$ VR...
With your stall headers and cam I would hope so trollololol
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To 2013 Vararam Install/ Altered Installation

Old Apr 23, 2013 | 03:01 AM
  #38  
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Originally Posted by Arnie Chamberlain
As long as you are OK with a 45-70% reduction in open areas in your intake ports, I see no reason not to run screens either.

http://ateam.lbl.gov/hightech/fumeho..._Fume_Hood.pdf
I seriously doubt that the screens I installed in the nose are keeping my motor from getting all the air it can handle. It's a stock 97' (1st year) LS1. If it does, it's such a small amount that I can't tell. The car is far better than it was before this setup so I'm not very worried about it. If I ever decide to hit the drag strip, I plan to at some point, I will pull the screens just so everyone's happy.

My thing is this, with the screens I feel piece of mind that nothing is getting sucked into the ducts. Imagine a piece of paper, plastic, leaf..... it would block flow through the filter. Far more than the screens do. What about all the pine needles and other debri that gets embedded into the condenser and radiator? That same stuff could be embedding into the filter clogging up and blocking flow. I'm sure most clean their filters long before it could ever became an issue but it wouldn't take too much crap on the filter to reduce air flow equal to what my screens do.

Last edited by IRON MAIDEN; Apr 23, 2013 at 03:07 AM.
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Old Apr 23, 2013 | 09:27 AM
  #39  
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It just doesnt make much sense to me to go through the work to add a cold air intake just to choke it off with screening.

I drove my car with a Vararam for 2 years before adding a supercharger, I never got pine needles into the filter.
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Old Apr 23, 2013 | 09:48 AM
  #40  
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Unless you drive through a forest every day in your slammed vette, I really see nothing to worry about. My old camaro had a ram air setup on it, and I never had any issues with sucking up water or debris.
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