A few months ago I bought a 2001 coupe in DBGM. I love it! It is mostly stock, but the previous owner installed a Vararam VR-B2. Looking at it from the front the fit looks terrible for a Corvette aftermarket part. Each of the air duct openings has 2 exposed silver colored nuts sticking out. The fit around the fog lights is misaligned, and clips the fog lights on the drivers side. The intake where it bolts to the new replacement duck doesnt appear to fit well at all. There is a large visible gap between the new forward most duct that surrounds the fog light and the Vararam duct. Lastly, it seems to interfere with the underhood insulation and closing the hood, as I have an imprint of the factory duct in the insulation.

Is this correct? Checking youtube videos I think it might be. Looking at the Vararam website, they conveniently omit this front view.

The way mine is installed, I am not a fan. If there is a way to make it all fit better, I would like to fix it, if not I might remove it. What is your experience? Is this the way it is?

Yeah, fit and finish isn't great on the VR-B2. If I recall correctly this sounds about right. There is a slight gap between the outside ends of the Vararam ducts and the foglight. I have the Z06 mesh screens over my duct openings so it was not really visible from the front of the car.

My Breathless Vortex aftermarket airbridge always rubbed the hood insulation even prior to the Vararam install.

It's a track proven go fast part but it's not going to help win any aesthetics contests.

I've always heard that the fitment of vararam was poor so you may need to just live with it or move on to something that has a premium fit and finish like the Callaway honker system. I have this and it's top notch

https://www.callawaycars.com/product...2004-corvette/

That's not been my experience. The power duct doesn't hit the hood insulation. It might not have been the best install. You do have to pay attention to how you install and line everything up. There is not a lot of clearance and takes a little work to get it right. I would redo the install and see.if you can get it lined up better.

I have no issues with mine, took my time doing the install, I did NOT bolt down the front duct and left it flowing.
5 years now, and three filter cleanings

I think I might try installing the Z06 mesh screens. Where did you get yours, Johnny H? Aftermarket or GM?

Hey Viennajoe, I bought mine about 18 years ago for $100 from Ecklers. Still on the car and still look good.

https://www.ecklers.com/1997-2004-co...-113321-1.html

Has anyone noticed any power gains in the varam thru the fog light ducts? It advertises 35+ hp above 40mph so techinically should pick up 3-4 mph at speed up to 100mph or thru the 1/4 mile.

Yeah the Vararam leaves a lot to be desired in fit and finish (including small gaps you need to look for and caulk up), but IMO functionally it's the best design in pulling air from outside the hot engine bay. Besides, you don't really see it so as long as it works, that's what really matters. But for the high price they charge it should be top notch fit and finish.

I think the instructions say don't bolt in the foglight surrounds but mine are. I also separated the surrounds and the ducts and bolted them back together to get the alignment right.

You have to push the throttle body into the plastic of the filter housing to get it low enough the air duct isn't against the hood.

One thing to ensure is that the filter element is sealed into the top filter housing. They go to great lengths to try and seal the filter and housing to the bottom tubes but there can be air gaps around the filter which allows air to bypass it.

I think Johnny has a non-Vara-ram airbridge. So the Vara-ram bridge may actually fit better, but I guarantee nothing!!

Peter, do you have the aftermarket Z06 foglight housings, or are they OEM?

I don't know, it was on the car when I bought it.

You are correct sir! The Vortex airbridge is not the same as the Vararam air bridge. And now it's on a shelf in the garage next to the Vararam and the Blackwing.

Hey, Johnny-Were you able to get the airbridge w/o buying the entire Vortex Rammer setup? I tried a few years ago to get the Haltech Stinger airbridge, and they wouldn't sell it separately. Told me I'd have to buy the entire setup!!

Indeed I was. It was much cheaper 20 yrs ago but it's still obtainable as a single part with couplers. Asthetically the best looking C5 performance air bridge available in my opinion.

https://www.c6performance.net/catalo...s-p-42674.html

Expensive, but a nice looking piece of engine bling!

I think I paid a little over $200 for it. But can't recall exactly. Definitely not over $300.

The duct is gerthy, made of Fiberglass and well constructed. Night and day compared to crap plastic offered by most vendors.

I'm seeing Zip has them for $299 (aka-about $320 with tax!!). Do you think this flows better than the Vara Ram duct?

I doubt there is much difference in flow rate between the two on a performance build. No impact at all on stock.

Construction quality and visually wise though there is zero comparison between them. The Vortex being of MUCH better quality.