Vararam on C5
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Joined: May 2020
Posts: 55
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Vararam on C5
Just started installing a vararam on my C5 and so far I think my 11 yr old could've designed a better fitting system than this pos.... Maybe it'll be better next time around (got rained out which pissed me off even more) but it seems like it doesn't fit the way it should. Anyone else have issues installing one?
Acct Suspended APR 2026 by request
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 10,367
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2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
C5 of Year Winner (performance mods) 2019
yes, the build quality sucks but they do work... when I had one I took the extra time to silicone the perimeters to keep air from escaping before getting to the throttle body and I also sealed the air filter into the upper housing to prevent dirt and other crap from getting sucked in accidentally
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Advanced
Joined: May 2020
Posts: 55
Likes: 3
Etc
So far the fitment to the front clip is what doesn't seem right.. the vararam shroud that mounts behind the fog light area doesn't even cover the whole opening.. there's a gap on the outside end like it should be longer.. looks like **** and seems like it'll be loose and rattle around. Gonna have to figure out some of my own additional mounts plus agreed will need to seal it up so it doesn't leak everywhere. Also the way the filter box fits onto the ducts seems halfassed at best... hope it makes a difference in performance because it's a pain in the ***
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jan 2021
Posts: 23
Likes: 9
From: Manahawkin NJ
Just came in
My Vararam just came in but has fixture for fogs and I have a Z06. Are they all like this? Should I close the hole up? The purchase had no options to choose with or without fogs. Any info would help thanks guys
Last edited by DadbodBolt-Ons; Jan 14, 2021 at 05:51 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 4,509
Likes: 240
From: Coconut Creek FL
Worst fitting POS I’ve ever bought. The struggles to get the fog ligh housing it comes with remotely close to lining up on my Z06- you have to reverse the screen mounting bolts as they hang down and interfere with fittmemt. So by the time you run these bolt up from the bottom (pointy side up) and let the rams just sit loose, the next fun part is the part that lays on the shroud. Once you get it all together, and mount the air bridge, it is next to impossible to clip closed because of the off angles and over all crappy way it presses the plastic shroud down. After a few hours of fighting it, I just pulled it all off and bought an AirRaid setup. You can literally put your entire forearm in the air bridge of the AirRaid, and it fit perfectly.
vararam may net you some on the 1/4, but the quality and way it fits is not worth the cost.
vararam may net you some on the 1/4, but the quality and way it fits is not worth the cost.
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Heel & Toe
Joined: Jan 2021
Posts: 23
Likes: 9
From: Manahawkin NJ
Worst fitting POS I’ve ever bought. The struggles to get the fog ligh housing it comes with remotely close to lining up on my Z06- you have to reverse the screen mounting bolts as they hang down and interfere with fittmemt. So by the time you run these bolt up from the bottom (pointy side up) and let the rams just sit loose, the next fun part is the part that lays on the shroud. Once you get it all together, and mount the air bridge, it is next to impossible to clip closed because of the off angles and over all crappy way it presses the plastic shroud down. After a few hours of fighting it, I just pulled it all off and bought an AirRaid setup. You can literally put your entire forearm in the air bridge of the AirRaid, and it fit perfectly.
vararam may net you some on the 1/4, but the quality and way it fits is not worth the cost.
vararam may net you some on the 1/4, but the quality and way it fits is not worth the cost.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 1,028
Likes: 377
From: SW Ohio
My lower part is not affixed either. It floats behind the screens - no rattles or fitment issues. This seems to be a critical thing to neglect when installing this overpriced yet functional POS.
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jan 2021
Posts: 23
Likes: 9
From: Manahawkin NJ
i put the screws in, did some ripping around. Seems to be good to go lol. No noises or any issues
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 2,502
Likes: 187
From: California
If u have every piece and used rivets about 5 per side there really shouldn’t be any issue and fits fine ...things may get irritating putting it on but keep trucking until it’s right ....
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 4,509
Likes: 240
From: Coconut Creek FL
When installing mine, I spoke to the owner/designer of the vararam thru a relay of technical support. The screws for the fog light housings are not supposed to be used, it’s all supposed to be “close fit” and the assembly itself once assembled, is supposed to just hold itself in by the design and pressure exerted through the closeness of the parts.
He told me that this was done for some crash regulation meaning in a front end collision, nothing is preventing the car from crumpling as it was designed. Don’t know how much truth went into that conversation, I’m not a car engineer, but I explained to him my dilemma, and he said that the elongated holes in various parts were done that way to allow for the down tubes and fog light back covers to “self align” once pressed into place.
🤷🏻♂️
He told me that this was done for some crash regulation meaning in a front end collision, nothing is preventing the car from crumpling as it was designed. Don’t know how much truth went into that conversation, I’m not a car engineer, but I explained to him my dilemma, and he said that the elongated holes in various parts were done that way to allow for the down tubes and fog light back covers to “self align” once pressed into place.
🤷🏻♂️
Last edited by byte_me; Jan 16, 2021 at 10:19 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 2,502
Likes: 187
From: California
I bought my car with it already on but I know taking the rivets out was hell when I changed my set up missing paint now off my bumper where the drill end was just ripping it away as I drilled out the rivets ...must have been someone didn’t trust the floating idea so much or they just wanted to make it hell for the next person either or wasn’t the easiest thing to get off using rivets but it was most secure that’s for sure ......if I had to do this job I would have actually removed the headlights and whatever bottom pieces to have more then enough room to works at ease from the top ....
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Joined: Apr 2020
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I bought my car with it already on but I know taking the rivets out was hell when I changed my set up missing paint now off my bumper where the drill end was just ripping it away as I drilled out the rivets ...must have been someone didn’t trust the floating idea so much or they just wanted to make it hell for the next person either or wasn’t the easiest thing to get off using rivets but it was most secure that’s for sure ......if I had to do this job I would have actually removed the headlights and whatever bottom pieces to have more then enough room to works at ease from the top ....
Last edited by 2003_Coupe; Jan 16, 2021 at 01:49 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 2,502
Likes: 187
From: California
Indeed ....but in the end the system is worth it and the hassle felt vanishes soon after u feel the different and u somewhere tell your self it wasn’t that bad after all....