I am going to installit next week with a forum member...i'll let you know the difference...

 

Here is the write up that I did when I installed mine:

http://www.zbramotors.com/vararam/VaraRam.html

I've had it on for 5000 miles with no problems or codes. If I had it to do over, I would still buy the VaraRam. I would take a little different approach in the installation. I would put it in without tightening any bolts. I would start at the throttle body getting everything lined up and in place before tightening.

1st) Tighten the duct with the air bridge snapped down properly.
2nd) Close the box part around the air filter and tighten the coupler from the box to the air bridge.
3rd) Lastly tighten the bezel to front bumper bolts.

I still need to redo mine and see if I can get the box closed properly.

SOTP results are awesome. Since this is a true ram air, dyno results are worthless. This product only works by having air forced in. The car has to be moving for that to happen. A box fan in front of a car strapped to a dyno can NOT duplicate 70 mph speeds.

 

Went from a blackwing to the Vararam and picked up 3 tenths and at least 2mph in the 1/4.

Mike V

 

Nope, just removed it. Car is otherwise stock. Couldn't justify $500 plus to dyno tune the car on top of the VR for the ponies involved. Time and money better spent on brake pads, track tires & etc. Not enough bang for the bucks involved.

Steve

 

Vararam rocks. I had a K&N "zip tie mod" which is the same as a Blackwing on my H/C vette. With the Vararam I noticed a big difference at 60+ mph. There was also a crisper throttle response and I seemed to gain a little bit more torque down low.

Installation was a PITA for me, but of all the intakes the Vararam is the most integrated into the car. I had to clamp the filter on the intake scoops 3 times to figure out how to fit it so I wouldn't get leaks.

But now that it's on, it looks stock. I'm really happy with it now that it's on there.

 

I am like every one else no numbers but you sure can feel difference i have had mine 2 years no hydro lock problems two people helps with install but 60 to 125 is awesum, big difference.

 

I gained 100hp and a full second off my et with the VaraRam. No, wait, the was with the throttle body bypass.
Seriously, it's like having the secondaries kick in at 60mph. The car starts to pull a little harder. When you couple it with all those mods you are going to do down the road it is a worthwhile investment. Oh yeah, I have had it for about 1.5yrs. and have driven in the rain, hit puddles, been sprayed by oncoming trucks and no hydrolock.

It's a good mod. You won't see much gain on the dyno though, the VaraRam's strength happens at speed.

 

everyone forgot to mention the sound of air being sucked in when your standing in front of the car and someone gives it a rev. cool

 

My Vortex best mph was 120.53mph and the Vararam best is 122.99 mph

 

04 Zo6 Idle relearn and no codes. Noticable at speed can't tell much difference at low speeds or take off. 3rd, 4th and 5th feel stronger.

Lots of reasons/opinions why it won't work and lots of reasons why it will. Orville and Wilbur had this problem as well.

IMO it does not make 30 horspower, but you will feel a difference at speed, seams to pull harder. Remember you should not be able to tell much until you have driven he car some miles as the PCM is still running on the old settings and adjusts based on historical data. I think the idle relearn is what seams to be solving the issue on most 04's. I only have 200 or so mile on it so far, but no codes yet.

 

Had mine for 1 1/2 yrs and love it.

Really shines most notably on the freeway, but that's where I do most of my driving anyway.

If you are not mechanicaly inclined, pay someone to install it for you. I did mine by myself and it took about 2.5 hours.

 

[QUOTE=Six Pak

If you are not mechanicaly inclined, pay someone to install it for you. I did mine by myself and it took about 2.5 hours.

[/QUOTE]

No, I can handle most bolt on mods to include this one. The only limiting factor is time and whether its worth the down time for me to do the install work. I did it and it was properly in place.

The SES light was the item that I thought needed the dealer's attention. After all the car had, at the time, 1800 miles on it. I didn't even consider the possibility the VR could've caused it.

Their first step was to replace the MAF upon diagnosing the code and likely fault. They didn't have any prob w/the VR being there. After that "fix" resulted in the same SES light w/in 30 miles of the shop, they reported the news from GM that the only cure was to remove the VR as the MAF couldn't handle the turbulance of the added air flow. Apparently there have been other reports thru the GM tech center.

Look I don't have anything against VR. I'm sure the use of the product by so many w/o difficulty speaks for itself. (edit: Well in retrospect, I guess I don't feel that great about the $$$$ I spent!) In the case of my car it was a series of problems requiring two separate days in the dealer's shop and ultimately the third day of an immobilized car for me to remove the setup. I didn't want to continue down the same road by throwing a dyno tune on an essentially stock car. Made little sense to me.

steve

 

With Vararam, B&B Bullets and Off-Road X-Pipe with not Cats my 04 M6 Coupe went 12.87 1/4 mile with almost worn run-flats and not so perfect run here in humid Florida. You definately feel the difference. Worth every penny, I did the install myself and it wasn't easy but wasn't that bad, hydrolock is BS as I live in Miami where it rains a lot, you just have to be careful.

 

Well mine did not give me any codes at all and I removed the MAF screen upon installing the VR. Plus the sound is nice.

swoosh

 

Well, with an SES light there would be codes. Did you retrieve the codes from the computer to do a proper analysis of the problem? Ususally the problems that set codes when installing aftermarket CAI systems stem from improper sealing after the MAF. For instance a good friend of mine has had a VR on his car for about 3 yrs. with no issues. He removed the VR to clean the filter and when he put the car back together he got an SES light. I forget the code but he sussed the problem to the airbridge/coupler seal. He had over tightened the clamp and it kinked the airbridge underneath, so it couldn't be seen. You could stick your pinky in the hole. The airbridge was removed and replaced with a new one, and a less aggressive fastening technique was used to clamp it. He reset the code and the SES light went away.
BTW, the VR MAY cause more turbulence in the airflow, but it is greatly reduced by the air filter.

 

Well I checked it and the install was fine. I went over it carefully once the dealer replaced the MAF and expalined the code was related to a lean condition. I forget the code number, sorry.

I even contacted VR and they acknowledged the '04 Zs w/the '04 tune have experienced problems w/the SES light being triggered.. They even sent a new "improved" filter. It was much denser and was essentially designed to reduce the flow and smooth the turbulance.

I had the code erased and installed the filter. Same result with the code. At that point I gave it the yank.

Steve

 

Ok completely stock 2004 coupe before. Added Vararam, 3.42s and did LS1 dyno tune. Now as I understand it the gear swap probably gives you alittle lower "after" reading so between the Vararam and the tune I went from:
As you can see the car was running rich from factory

 

Very nice results from a tune on an essentially stock car. Don't have enough experience as to whether LS6 motors respond in such a favorable way.

Regards
Steve

 

I installed one on my '99 coupe about year ago. Installation is fairly simple, no problems with the fit. The air filter just plain sucks ,I plan on a K&N replacement this winter.
The overall quality of the Vararam is kinda of crude, but it works. SOTP feel is great and I picked up roughly .2 at the track.
I have driven it in heavy rain several times with no problems. I have not had the pleasure of trying standing water yet. I plan on keeping it that way.
GO FOR IT!!!!!!!!

 

I just bought a used one to install. Seems like a lot of money for a few pieces of plastic and carbon fiber so we'll see how it works next week.