Is intake worth it?
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Joined: May 2009
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From: Tulsa OK
Is intake worth it?
Do the air intakes suggested on this forum change the engine sound drastically? Vararam? K&N? etc.?
I don't plan on modding much on my vette and I already have exhaust, but I was thinking of getting intake. Should I go for it or are the results not that impressive?
I don't plan on modding much on my vette and I already have exhaust, but I was thinking of getting intake. Should I go for it or are the results not that impressive?
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From: Somers NY
I don't think they change the "SOUND" very much.. however I can tell you the difference a CAI and tune (ONLY) will make..
I bought my 05 (A4) 3.15 gears... Bone stock it ran a BEST of 12.57 @ 111 mph
All I did was add a Vararam CAI, 160 T Stat, and a "Tune" by Cartek.... & it has run a best of 12.08 @ 115 mph.. it sounds and drives exactly like the day I bought it...
I bought my 05 (A4) 3.15 gears... Bone stock it ran a BEST of 12.57 @ 111 mph
All I did was add a Vararam CAI, 160 T Stat, and a "Tune" by Cartek.... & it has run a best of 12.08 @ 115 mph.. it sounds and drives exactly like the day I bought it...
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From: Pine Bluff Arkansas
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I seems that about half the guys on this forum has an intake, but I don't think they are worth the price of 4 to 5 hundred. Although, I did have one for a few days. Such intakes as the VaraRam and similar do good by getting cool air to the motor.... not by so call ramming air. The intakes on Vettes are pretty good. You should work on getting cold air to the motor, and you do not have to buy an intake to do that. You can get cold air that will fit a stock or custom intake for $150, and you will get a lot more for your money with the cold air and the tune.
Larry
Larry
Last edited by lebvette; Jun 7, 2009 at 09:19 PM.
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From: Somers NY
Are you talking about "sound" or "performance" I think the "sound" is subjective, however to be HONEST you cant judge performance of a CAI by SOP (Seat of The Pants) you just cant feel 2 tenths of a second in a 1/4 mile!
Just like mufflers.. when I was a kid (very long ago) and had a 1951 Flat Head Ford.. I put "Glass Pack" mufflers on it and could swear it was a whole lot faster! It sure sounded faster
With my car I got time slips right down to the third digit the thousandth of a sec... I have a weather station because just air temp or Barometer change can make a big difference in your ET...
When I said my car went from 12.57 to 12.08 the weather was within 100' feet on each run...
And if you are speaking of performance, JUST a CAI alone without a tune will give you very little improvement..
Remember if your intake air is over 85 deg (I think thats it) the computer will pull timing out and slow the car down.. the Vararam pulls air from in front of the engine compartment (thus cooler) and the computer wont pull timing out .... unless the ambient temp is 90 + then no matter where the engine gets its air from it will be hot enough to cause spark retard...
Just like mufflers.. when I was a kid (very long ago) and had a 1951 Flat Head Ford.. I put "Glass Pack" mufflers on it and could swear it was a whole lot faster! It sure sounded faster
With my car I got time slips right down to the third digit the thousandth of a sec... I have a weather station because just air temp or Barometer change can make a big difference in your ET...
When I said my car went from 12.57 to 12.08 the weather was within 100' feet on each run...
And if you are speaking of performance, JUST a CAI alone without a tune will give you very little improvement..
Remember if your intake air is over 85 deg (I think thats it) the computer will pull timing out and slow the car down.. the Vararam pulls air from in front of the engine compartment (thus cooler) and the computer wont pull timing out .... unless the ambient temp is 90 + then no matter where the engine gets its air from it will be hot enough to cause spark retard...
Last edited by jpee; Jun 6, 2009 at 09:53 PM.
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From: Tucson Arizona
IMO a true bottom-feeding cold air intake is beneficial to performance but by itself you won't notice much increase in performance. I think a CAI is best thought of as but one component in your overall modification plan. Improving intake and exhaust is a good first step. Every hp counts and they all add up.
Every mod has pros and cons. The cons to a CAI might be losing part of your warranty. Another downside is the increased potential for ingesting water and potential hydro-lock. The design of the C6 makes it less susceptible to ingesting water than the C5 was but there's still a risk going through deep standing water. My LPE high-flow intake handles rainfall just fine but I avoid plowing through deep standing water at all costs.
I'm happy with my LPE intake (and what other mods I've done) but from what you said, I think you might leave well enough alone and forget the intake.
Every mod has pros and cons. The cons to a CAI might be losing part of your warranty. Another downside is the increased potential for ingesting water and potential hydro-lock. The design of the C6 makes it less susceptible to ingesting water than the C5 was but there's still a risk going through deep standing water. My LPE high-flow intake handles rainfall just fine but I avoid plowing through deep standing water at all costs.
I'm happy with my LPE intake (and what other mods I've done) but from what you said, I think you might leave well enough alone and forget the intake.
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From: Tulsa OK
from what I have read, I think I'll hold off on intake until everything else is done to the car I'd like. I agree that I won't feel a few tenths, and I do not plan on racing the car. The car is faster than I need it to be as it is and I love it.
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I've had my 2005 for 4 years now and I've yet to put an intake on. I did have a 160 stat and COW tune done at Carlisle about two years ago. They offered to put on the Vararam at the time, but I declined to to their quality issues. It appears Vararam has since made some quality changes which would put it as a top three if I would decide now.
Also....Dave Hill told me that the C6 (2005-2007 style) was designed with a fairly efficient and free flowing intake system. If the intake manufacturers could have a standardized test for hp gains across the board, this also would make me more inclined to change from the stock set up.
As far as noise goes, I put an Airraid set up on my Toyota Sequoia and it was howling. It's not there anymore. I went back to stock.
Also....Dave Hill told me that the C6 (2005-2007 style) was designed with a fairly efficient and free flowing intake system. If the intake manufacturers could have a standardized test for hp gains across the board, this also would make me more inclined to change from the stock set up.
As far as noise goes, I put an Airraid set up on my Toyota Sequoia and it was howling. It's not there anymore. I went back to stock.
