Calling all experts and anyone with an opinion. Hi Guys. You kept me from making a major error in my exhaust selection and I thank you. I again call on the forums experience and education to recommend a good cold air intake. I probably wont do anything performance wise after this except a good tune. I realize only so much can come from just an intake exhaust and tune but I want the best combo and punch I can get for these 3 items. I finally settled on the off road version of GMs performance exhaust which is made for the Vette by Borla and equivalent to their Stinger. There is some drone but I dont care. This d--- thing really sounds great and that was my main reason for going with it. So please chime in . I am looking for a complete cold air intake with as little work to install as possible. Been hearing a lot about vararam and the snake. YOUR WITNESS. I WAIT WITH ABATED BREATH. AND AS ALWAYS, THANKS GUYS. aS i HAVE SAID: I dont make a move without consultation with this forums collective knowledge.

 

Well, I have the Vararam along with an SLP exhaust and a tune. It's loud and has a drone, but I like it, as does my wife(doesn't bother her either). It is a beast of a sports car, not a Cadillac 4 door after all. While I didn't install the Vararam myself(was installed when I bought it), I understand it's quite difficult to do properly. I can't say what's "best", as that is surely opinion, so there's mine.
Good luck!

 

Thanks for the input. That is what I am looking for.

 

This was a very interesting thread. And IMO proved a point, which point I will let you decide. But for me it sealed the deal on intakes for me till you get to a certain point then maybe.

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-c...-worth-it.html

 

Looking for the easiest intake to install isn't necessarily synonymous with the best intake. Don't sacrifice quality and performance for a slightly simpler installation. Assuming you realize the pros and cons of an after market intake, especially as a virtual stand-alone modification, I recommend the Lingenfelter high-flow intake. IMO you won't find a better one. The Callaway Honker would be my second choice.

 

You have already made up your mind to instal a cold air intake. It really doesn't matter what type you get because after you select one, spend the money and go through the effort of installing it you will convince yourself that your car is indeed faster and that is the only thing that is important. Just don't spoil the illusion by drag racing a non-modified Vette similiar to your own because then you will learn that your car is no faster whatsover, and you spent time, effort and money on a pipe dream. Life is all about illusions and not realities, so hang onto your fantasies and don't listen to the naysayers who say your chasing a pipe dream.

 

NO, my mind is not made up. It all depends on what I learn here and if I decide to do a couple more mods to get the max performance. For example, my exhaust was strictly for sound regardless of claimed performance which is why I am not disappointed as I got the sound I wanted.Thanks for the input. Its important.

 

Was a very good thread. Read it. My opinion stays the same. CAI's on a stock car with stock tune, you are going to see minimal gains and not worth the $$$ they cost.. you can decide for yourself.

If you are planning other mods in the future, and planning ot have your car tuned, then a CAI like the Vararam or callaway can be helpful.

 

No offense, but I've come to the conclusion that most people are only looking for support for a decision they have already made, and seldom change their decision even if 99 out of 100 others asked don't agree with it, they will still justify their decision because one person agreed with them. But I'm sure you are different. If you study the subject you will find the LS3 engine already has an extremely efficient intake system because the engineers spent a lot of time and effort optimizing it. Good luck trying to improve on it by simple bolt-on accessories they could have added themslves if they provided any real benefit. But their are plenty of people out their willing to take your money so you can achieve your impossible dream.

 

And I don't believe in wasting money, period. "But" I just fabbed up my own cold air using a stock air intake assembly, "maybe" can be considered a ram air too; but that does not matter it's the cold air part that matters. I picked up at least 1 and a half tenths of a second with just this mod and most importantly the car runs consistently now. I have an LS3 2010 A6 GS.

So if you want the other LS3 looking at your tail lights I would recommend a "true" cold air intake system. PS: the car seems to light the tires up a "lot" easier now even with the traction control on or could it be the colder weather now also has a little something to do with this.

OH, and a 2009 LS3 "lighter" and narrower A6 coupe was looking at my tail lights big time all the way down the 1/4 mile not that long ago!

Food for thought: due to using a OEM intake for the cold air system which is what GM calibrated the system on and just introducing cold air (like it would be at a first start-up) is why the car runs well with this mod; but with less timing pulled and denser air to make more power than the OEM setup that gets it's (hot) air from the engine compartment.

 

All Ive done so far is just cut a hole in the shroud to let cold air from the front bumper area into the intake, which should help keep the ECU from pulling timing, which is where the ram feed CAIs gain most of their gains IMO. Later when I do headers and all then I will get a CAI or do the vette scoop.

 

I have installed after market cold air systems on other cars and trucks, and most of them work well, but are costly. On my LS2 C6 I decided to experiment, I cut the shroud, trimmed back the lids on the stock air filters, got 2 K +N filters and moved the stock rain guard forward to make a better seal. My IAT's run 5 to 10 degrees cooler, with no surging or water ingestion problems. Almost any modification to the stock system usually helps as it is very conservative . IMHO.

 

My car is an 06 LS2. i ASSUME YOUR COMMENTS ALSO APPLY TO THE LS2?

 

LS2's are not noted for having a good intake from the factory, so maybe a true CAI would not be a bad idea. If you had a LS3 I would have said save your money. I did the KB II...Beehive, and a VetteAir to get cool air to the unit, and off course, a tune. The TUNE is the main thing to do. There's other, cheaper ways of getting cool to you filter, tho.
If I was going to do one single item for performance....it would be a simple street TUNE for about $300. Without a TUNE you will not feel anything with most bolt ons.

Larry

 

i have the honker....like it......but i dont think it does much in the way of hp on a stock motor...throttle response...good luck and buy used,you can save a ton of $ if you are patient and can search this forum regularly

 

Id look for something that requires a retune. If it works fine with the stock tune it probably isnt doing much.