The infamous vararam was installed on my vette. I started at 3pm and did not finish until 11:30pm. The final 2.5 hours was with a helper, too. Most of the time was spent on the fog lights. The reason it takes so long with this thing is most of the work is done blindly in small places. The first issue is trying to figure out how to fit your hand in a place, then the tool. But this this thing is so integrated in the facia that I expected it to be a lengthy process... just not EIGHT.FIVE hours.

Fitment: The air bridge hits the hood when I close it, so I've got to call Vararam and figure that out. I'm not happy how the MAF is on the filter assembly, either.

I've got to get something to eat before I go test it out. I'll post back in a few hours.

 

So tell us, how much was it and are you happy?

 

I was think of putting vararam in mine, unsure at this point, but let
us know if it work for you.

 

a blackwing is probably <.85 hours.

 

I had a K&N "zip tie" which is equivalent to a Blackwing. That worked well since my Vette was my daily driver. But now I was choosing between the TRAP and the Vararam since they are the two best CAI intakes out there. I bought it brand new from a member on the forum with the K&N filter for $300. I'm a little pissed that it took so long to install, but again it's integrated into the facia and looks like it belongs there when the hood is up.

Well the test runs were quite fun! FYI, I just cranked my heads/cam combo Friday morning with the K&N zip tie on there. The vette learned that combo on Fri, so tonight it had to learn the vararam. I noticed immediately that throttle response was crisper. Then I did some runs from 3k RPM at 35mph or so and I noticed that I had more torque. Once I wound out 3rd starting at 65mph I noticed I had to use more muscles to hold my head straight than before. Then I started out in 3rd at 3k RPM and again it seemed like I had more torque down low and when I built up speed it pulled harder than the zip tie mod.

So I guess the final question is am I happy? Now that it's installed (plan on a full weekend!), yes I am pleased with it's performance. Honestly, I thought that I wouldn't be able to tell a difference from testing my H/C combo out with the zip tie on Fri; but it WAS a big enough difference for me to really feel the extra g's.

 

Well I guess I am sold!

 

If you ever demod your Vette later, your frustration will come back to haunt you. My son put mine in but I took it out. I wondered why he was all for me to take it out! My wrists were all scratched up trying to get the beast out and the stock parts back in.

It does work as advertised but even with a lift, a pain to put in or take out because of the tight confines.

 

wow! i can't believe how long it takes some people. took me just under 3 hours all alone. glad to hear you are happy with it.

 

Took me a touch over 2 hours doing it alone. Really was straight forward and worth the effort. Glad you got it finished now go out and enjoy.
Bob

 

About the same for me, but I had been inside a fascia many times before, with PIAA fogs and replacement fog surrounds, Z06 screens, radar detector, etc. My biggest problem was getting the two scoops to angle upwards towards each other evenly so that the center piece could be attached between them. A few spacers and everything was good I haven't run the car at the track yet, but the biggest thing I noticed after the install was the rise in the nose of the car when I stomp it to pass on the highway. That didn't happen before!

 

Varam Ram real world self install times:

- Newbie is probably going to take 4 - 5 hours.

- Experienced self modder can do it in 3 hours or less.

- A qualified mechanic can do it in 2 hours or less.

- A corvette guru can knock it out in under an hour.

Also, I had no fitment issues whatsoever and found the product to be of good quality.

 

I have been thinking about doing this one myself, and also thinking about doing the PIAA 1100x. Sounds like it would be best to do them together.

hmmm.......

 

have ram my in my vet do install in an hr now but the pictures they send are hard to read or understand performance is good

 

i helped a buddy of mind install his ram, we found out a easy way to get those fog shrouds off, we put the car on stands and took the air dam loose and removed the air dam that let air go to the brakes it was easy from there

 

You guys are funny sometimes. So I guess that puts me in the newbie category... too bad I just got through doing a heads and cam install so I guess that knocks your ranking system completely out of wack