I just installed a Vararam intake this weekend and thought my experience was worth a post. After searching around these forums for months prior to purchasing, I prepared for the worst and was expecting something like spark plug wires on a LT1 (hours of blood and cursing). What I experienced instead was a leisurely and straight forward 2-hour job including time spent cleaning the radiator.

I did have access to their video instructions (linked below) which presents a simpler method than the PDF on their website. My theory is that many of posters who are most vocal about how "terrible" this install is are those who did it before that installation video was made and/or didn't trust "it will self align" and gave themselves a bunch of extra work trying to align it.

Regardless, I just want to say to those of you who are considering this mod but are scared away by the horror story posts in just about every Vararam thread - Go for it! It's not as bad as they say.

 

I did mine as well last year, think I spent just over an hour on it. I thought it was fairly easy and didn't have any problems at all. So one more vote for go ahead and do it, if you're thinking about it.

 

I'm more worried about the post install service codes and all the jerky acceleration and turbulence on the mass air readings :/ How's yours running?

 

I had an ECS tune done shortly after I installed mine, so I can't really comment on that. But I highly recommend the mail order tune, runs strong with that, no codes.

 

I ran a Vararam on my car for a couple of years before going supercharged. I did not find the install to be particularly difficult and I didn't have the video. I never had any codes nor experienced any driveabilty issues whatsoever. I believe the codes was more of a Z06 issue, due to the MAF not having a screen.


Phil

 

I installed the old version that puts the MAF by the TB and haven't had any issues with codes or running bad. I do have HPtuners and I did do some VE/MAF recalibration, but the ECU learned on its own before I did that (fuel trims were 13-15ish).

Phil is probably spot on with the Z06 not having a flow straightener in the MAF being the main cause.

For Z06 guys, head here before you give Haltech 50 bucks for the same thing. http://www.saxonpc.com/100mm-cells-for-100.html

 

Yea mines a 03 Z06 and I have no clue as to what I'd be doing when it comes to tuning :/

 

Good to hear, thanks!

 

Where do I purchase this tune? Is it on the forum or an aftermarket site?

 

Doug @ ECS replied to the thread, look two comments up and contact him. Great to deal with!

 

Link to our mail order tuning thread.

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...nly-149-a.html

 

I installed one on Sunday also, I guess am a little slow because it took me 3 hours but it wasn't difficult. I did have some time replacing the radiator shroud and had to beat it into submission, but I finally won that battle. Driving it now for about 50 KM there are no codes, no idle or acceleration problems.
Does it go faster?I don't really feel a huge difference but then again I have not really punched it since it was raining to beat hell here in Vancouver.

 

I purchased my Vette and it was already installed. I can't say the acceleration is jerky at all (unless of course you have a weird clutch release but that's every stick shift car). Gotta say I'm happy it was done!

 

My MAF screen had been "mushed" in a few places by the previous owner, so I ordered a new one to replace it from saxonpc. I removed my MAF screen and before replacing it, decided to do a little testing.

Sure enough with the MAF positioned next to the TB and no screen, the car ran like crap with MAF signal all over the place and lean codes. Relocated it to the stock location (by the airbox) and it was far better, but still inconsistent. Put my new saxonpc screen in and all smooth again.

So yeah, maybe the majority of complaints with issues were related to descreened mafs.

 

Fully concur. Everyone should clean the radiator every 2 years or so, and if you are doing that you're 2/3 of the way to a Vararam install.

I have noticed a very beneficial effect when running Regular (87 octane) gasoline. Since the Vararam, no problems running Regular for normal street duty (and an occasional 2-gear pull).
We see up to 50-cents/gallon price difference out here in the boonies, so I figure the Vararam will pay for itself after 25 fill-ups :-)

edit: I should add that I have also installed a 160 thermostat (runs 170 even in cold weather). I noticed the beneficial effect after installing the Vararam. Without a 160 thermostat, I could not speculate on the effect of running regular gasoline.

 

I had read here that they redesigned the product after complaints about proper fit, so installation problems should not from new, product.

But I don't believe everything I read. For instance, one poster in this thread has stated his thermostat has cooling abilities. He also enjoys selecting fuel outside of the manufacturers specifications . I would consider believing one of those statements, while the poster enjoys both realities, and he should know, since he is telling me about it,

 

I think "snotty"adds a lot to the forum discussions - don't you? Add something useful, or just STFU.

1) As I said, when driving at speed in cold weather (37 degrees), the engine never gets "colder" than 170 (and the heater works fine, BTW). Cooling happens in the radiator, but over 35mph in cold temperatures, engine operating temp is almost exclusively a function of the thermostat rating.
After having the fan settings re-programmed, hot weather driving temp is similar (never above 190 or so - the low-end fan setting I presume), but that's irrelevant to what I said in the post.

2) Several sources (including Dave Henderson of Vette Performance of NB, Texas) assured me that the Corvette is configured for all 50-state and International gasoline fuels. As a Federal requirement, the car is capable of operating just fine on 87-octane. I was assured that there are TWO timing maps always present - one for Premium and one for 87-octane. After fill up, when the controller senses incipient spark knock and the timing is pulled back more than twice, it assumes that 87 octane is present and puts that timing map into play.
In my experience, I did experience marked performance reduction at first when I could feel the timing being pulled back, but true to my information, it didn't seem to want to do it again except under fairly hard acceleration. Since installing the Vararam, I don't feel the timing being pulled back at all, using 87 octane - due to a cooler and denser intake charge, I assume.
I wouldn't want to go to the track and use 87 octane, and for sure if performance on the street was my #1 goal, I would sure fill her back up with Premium and let the controller give me back the full timing. But I and many others tend to baby our cars somewhat, and 87 Octane has worked just fine for me on the street. Less horsepower at full throttle? Surely. But "Out of Specification"? Not hardly!

 

What do I do with the Z06 screen screws? The instructions say to remove the screws and reverse the screen clips? I assume it means flip them over and let the threaded metal part pop into the screen but now do I leave the screws out so the ram tube doesn't hit?

 

Installed my Vararam B2 about 6 months ago, fairly simple and straight forward... along with the Z06 Ti exhaust upgrade... MAF in stock position... No codes... I did do the one hour ride after install to let the computer adjust to additional air flow... this was all in preparation for a Chuck Cow tune... we did the 160 degree stat and tuned the car this saturday at the NCCO show in Shawnee Oklahoma... WOW he used the modified COw Booster for the C5 throttle response and spent a LOT of time with me in the car tuning it to PERFECTION.... It's freaking AWESOME, Amazing. It's like driving a completely different car....

 

Thank you and glad to have met you!

VARARAM & CHUCK CoW Go back a long way! You can't go wrong when you got both of us on the job!

Call any time for VARARAM TUNING! 914-332-0049

I'll Show YA a trick or two...
Chuck CoW