Vararam Headache
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
From: Whittier CA
Vararam Headache
Hi guys, having some problems with my vararam (VR-SC1). This is the third time the lower gasket has shifted off of the bottom assembly. I'm worried because who knows what kind of debris can get caught in the filter or directly in the airflow.
This is the third gasket I've used (all from Vararam). The first time I tried fixing the gasket with all sorts of stuff including Gorilla Glue... no luck, it still managed to slide off..
I'm guessing the reason it slides off is because of the pressure thats applied when clamping the upper half down to get the rubber latches secured.. not really sure.. I'm gonna send Vararam a polite email to see if I can get a couple more gaskets.
Any thoughts?
This is the third gasket I've used (all from Vararam). The first time I tried fixing the gasket with all sorts of stuff including Gorilla Glue... no luck, it still managed to slide off..
I'm guessing the reason it slides off is because of the pressure thats applied when clamping the upper half down to get the rubber latches secured.. not really sure.. I'm gonna send Vararam a polite email to see if I can get a couple more gaskets.
Any thoughts?
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 11,367
Likes: 211
From: Edgewood Washington
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13-'14-'15
As long as the filter and upper gasket are in place, you don't have to worry about anything getting into the motor.
The loss of the seal on the bottom might reduce the ram-air effect slightly.
Try roughing up the the surface of the VaraRam with some sand paper where the gasket seats.
Make sure you peel off the the thin layer of adhesive that comes pre-applied to the gasket, before gluing it in place.
Given their excellent customer service, I'm sure a call to VaraRam will get you a new set of gaskets immediately.
The loss of the seal on the bottom might reduce the ram-air effect slightly.
Try roughing up the the surface of the VaraRam with some sand paper where the gasket seats.
Make sure you peel off the the thin layer of adhesive that comes pre-applied to the gasket, before gluing it in place.
Given their excellent customer service, I'm sure a call to VaraRam will get you a new set of gaskets immediately.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
From: Whittier CA
TommyV: Ya, its the Gen 2.
KnobJockey: I never thought to remove the adhesive before gluing! Good idea, thanks. And yes, I'm quite confident vararam will take care of me. I took a peak at the install instructions on their site to refresh my memory, and they do state to put the unit together before putting it in the car so it aligns better. It's just hell of a lot easier to only remove the top half when I clean the filter.
Has anyone notice that the gasket bends a little bit in the upper half? Might be a result of me muscling it into place, but found it a little odd. I'll post a pic when I get a chance.
KnobJockey: I never thought to remove the adhesive before gluing! Good idea, thanks. And yes, I'm quite confident vararam will take care of me. I took a peak at the install instructions on their site to refresh my memory, and they do state to put the unit together before putting it in the car so it aligns better. It's just hell of a lot easier to only remove the top half when I clean the filter.
Has anyone notice that the gasket bends a little bit in the upper half? Might be a result of me muscling it into place, but found it a little odd. I'll post a pic when I get a chance.
Last edited by xava182x; Sep 26, 2011 at 09:37 AM.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 14,999
Likes: 199
From: Bay Area Ca.
This is one reason I gave up on my Vararam, just to many hassles to get it to secure properly. In the end I believe I accomplished the task but I was always not fully secure in the knowledge that it was doing its job, and a pain to take off the car to check! I believe the system gives results but in the end I came to the conclusion I did not need the improvements.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,589
Likes: 5
From: Salisbury Maryland
Mine looked like that when I first pulled it apart(PO put the unit on) to clean the element.
I gingerly removed the gasket, warmed it in water so it would return to it's original shape. Then completely removed that clear film left behind, clean the surface with alcohol, then re-applied the gasket with 3M weatherstrip adhesive.
Problem solved.
I recently spoke to Vararam, thier fix is very similar. Bad design? Maybe. However, I lean toward one of the better designs available for the C6 simply because it pulls fresh, cool air while most others can suck air from within the engine bay. There is a noticeable difference in boost when the temp gets below 70 degrees or so, just as an example.
BTW - Vararam did confirm that putting a tag in front/center of the C6 grill, blocking air to the intake, does indeed affect the performance of the unit. I believe the analogy they used was the tape NASCAR uses on the front of the cars to block air.
I gingerly removed the gasket, warmed it in water so it would return to it's original shape. Then completely removed that clear film left behind, clean the surface with alcohol, then re-applied the gasket with 3M weatherstrip adhesive.
Problem solved.
I recently spoke to Vararam, thier fix is very similar. Bad design? Maybe. However, I lean toward one of the better designs available for the C6 simply because it pulls fresh, cool air while most others can suck air from within the engine bay. There is a noticeable difference in boost when the temp gets below 70 degrees or so, just as an example.
BTW - Vararam did confirm that putting a tag in front/center of the C6 grill, blocking air to the intake, does indeed affect the performance of the unit. I believe the analogy they used was the tape NASCAR uses on the front of the cars to block air.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 5,886
Likes: 1,193
From: Ft. Myers FL
The Vararam folks were excellent. I did the same thing removing the old gaskets and cleaning my filter. I do it every spring. I don't think it's a bad design though. But if they had put a 3/16" dia. groove all around the lower section. Then all you'd need is a 3/16" dia. rubber , like you use on a screen window, and then the seal would be nested and wouldn't move when the upper half clamped on it. Maybe the next generation will use that concept. It wouldn't cost any more in the mold either. 
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 857
Likes: 0
From: Pooler GA
Mine looked like that when I first pulled it apart(PO put the unit on) to clean the element.
I gingerly removed the gasket, warmed it in water so it would return to it's original shape. Then completely removed that clear film left behind, clean the surface with alcohol, then re-applied the gasket with 3M weatherstrip adhesive.
Problem solved.
I gingerly removed the gasket, warmed it in water so it would return to it's original shape. Then completely removed that clear film left behind, clean the surface with alcohol, then re-applied the gasket with 3M weatherstrip adhesive.
Problem solved.
I did something simular with 3M contact adhesive, coat each side, let get tackie and place together and let dry. lasts a long time!!!!
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