Vararam Power Wedge
07-13-2012, 07:41 AM
#21
I put the vararam snake charmer on my ls3 and drove several hundred miles, then put the throttle body spacer on. Vararam suggested this to allow the computer to adjust to one mode at a time. I did notice an improvement in throttle response when I added the spacer. In my discussions with Vararam, they explain that the spacer increases the plenum volume and that the ls3 motor thrives on this. I would interpret that as increased air drawn into a cylinder, thus more fuel metered and more power developed. Improved performance would indicate that the stock ls3 plenum doesn't provide enough volume of air to completely fill a cylinder. Guess it could also be that the increased volume with the throttle body spacer changes the resonance of the plenum and increases volumetric efficiency over some rpm range.
07-13-2012, 08:29 AM
#22
Team Owner
Only so much air can fit in the intake opening at one time. Hence why a TB size is matched to the size of the mouth on the intake.
Smooth out the airflow? Perhaps, the more distance from the TB to the intake would suggest that.
Enough to make more power? I am doubting it.
Working with a few other mods is it worth it? Perhaps, dyno sheets would be a big help.
Smooth out the airflow? Perhaps, the more distance from the TB to the intake would suggest that.
Enough to make more power? I am doubting it.
Working with a few other mods is it worth it? Perhaps, dyno sheets would be a big help.
07-14-2012, 04:29 PM
#24
Supporting Vendor
07-14-2012, 06:58 PM
#25
Burning Brakes
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07-15-2012, 03:50 PM
#26
Burning Brakes
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Link with dyno graph
http://www.vararam.com/power-wedge.html
http://www.vararam.com/power-wedge.html
07-27-2012, 02:17 AM
#27
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anyone ever follow up on this item? was curious if that over priced piece of rubber actually stood up to its claims....
anyway, AIRAID has something similar which appears better designed and functional at a cost of only $30....not 130 like the power wedge..
http://airaid.com/ProductDetail.aspx?ProductID=1001
any hands-on experience with either?
anyway, AIRAID has something similar which appears better designed and functional at a cost of only $30....not 130 like the power wedge..
http://airaid.com/ProductDetail.aspx?ProductID=1001
any hands-on experience with either?
07-27-2012, 02:39 AM
#28
Drifting
Thread Starter
anyone ever follow up on this item? was curious if that over priced piece of rubber actually stood up to its claims....
anyway, AIRAID has something similar which appears better designed and functional at a cost of only $30....not 130 like the power wedge..
http://airaid.com/ProductDetail.aspx?ProductID=1001
any hands-on experience with either?
anyway, AIRAID has something similar which appears better designed and functional at a cost of only $30....not 130 like the power wedge..
http://airaid.com/ProductDetail.aspx?ProductID=1001
any hands-on experience with either?
07-27-2012, 05:39 AM
#30
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St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15- '16-'17-‘18-‘19-'20-'21
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07-27-2012, 06:01 AM
#31
Team Owner
If you are not physically changing the amount of air the engine draws (turbo, supercharger, bore and stroke, etc) then there is really no need to do a change to the intake.
There are some intakes that advertise a 'ram air' effect. It's kinda the same thing, snake oil for the most part. They are taking advantage of converting pressure head (atmospheric pressure) to velocity head. They will have marginal increases in power if you consistently drive above 100 mph all the time.
07-27-2012, 09:16 AM
#32
Team Owner
It's snake oil for the most part, buried in a very small truth....they reduce the 'intake' pressure loss. This small pressure savings is dramatically blown up by marketing people into an overly expensive product....
If you are not physically changing the amount of air the engine draws (turbo, supercharger, bore and stroke, etc) then there is really no need to do a change to the intake.
There are some intakes that advertise a 'ram air' effect. It's kinda the same thing, snake oil for the most part. They are taking advantage of converting pressure head (atmospheric pressure) to velocity head. They will have marginal increases in power if you consistently drive above 100 mph all the time.
If you are not physically changing the amount of air the engine draws (turbo, supercharger, bore and stroke, etc) then there is really no need to do a change to the intake.
There are some intakes that advertise a 'ram air' effect. It's kinda the same thing, snake oil for the most part. They are taking advantage of converting pressure head (atmospheric pressure) to velocity head. They will have marginal increases in power if you consistently drive above 100 mph all the time.
07-27-2012, 02:50 PM
#34
Drifting
Thread Starter
I just called airraid and asked about their econoaid...http://airaid.com/econoaid.aspx...
They said the main drive behind this design is a 1-3 mpg gain in fuel efficiency as well as some better low end throttle response. Again they refund your money back if not satisfied up to 123 days...seems like $30 can't hurt for a few mpg's!
They said the main drive behind this design is a 1-3 mpg gain in fuel efficiency as well as some better low end throttle response. Again they refund your money back if not satisfied up to 123 days...seems like $30 can't hurt for a few mpg's!
07-27-2012, 02:54 PM
#35
Race Director
It's snake oil for the most part, buried in a very small truth....they reduce the 'intake' pressure loss. This small pressure savings is dramatically blown up by marketing people into an overly expensive product....
If you are not physically changing the amount of air the engine draws (turbo, supercharger, bore and stroke, etc) then there is really no need to do a change to the intake.
There are some intakes that advertise a 'ram air' effect. It's kinda the same thing, snake oil for the most part. They are taking advantage of converting pressure head (atmospheric pressure) to velocity head. They will have marginal increases in power if you consistently drive above 100 mph all the time.
If you are not physically changing the amount of air the engine draws (turbo, supercharger, bore and stroke, etc) then there is really no need to do a change to the intake.
There are some intakes that advertise a 'ram air' effect. It's kinda the same thing, snake oil for the most part. They are taking advantage of converting pressure head (atmospheric pressure) to velocity head. They will have marginal increases in power if you consistently drive above 100 mph all the time.
The only way I would even consider another one of these aftermarket intakes (had a few on my C5) is if I was going to do cam, heads, tune, etc... on an otherwise stock motor its a waste of time/money
At minimum if you stay stock and put a intake on, get a tune to gain any benefit worth the 400+ bucks most of them cost.
07-27-2012, 04:10 PM
#36
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St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15- '16-'17-‘18-‘19-'20-'21
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The only way I would even consider another one of these aftermarket intakes (had a few on my C5) is if I was going to do cam, heads, tune, etc... on an otherwise stock motor its a waste of time/money
At minimum if you stay stock and put a intake on, get a tune to gain any benefit worth the 400+ bucks most of them cost.
Then the tune really gets expensive if one still has power train warranty and GM denies the claim.
07-27-2012, 09:24 PM
#37
Naples FL
Hey Chuck of Cow, what do u think???
07-27-2012, 09:48 PM
#38
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St. Jude Donor '07-'08-'09-'10-'12-'13-'14
That sort of product DOES actually work.....
That sort of product DOES actually work..... While I have not used that exact one,
I was there at VARARAM and Patrick showed it to me...
Looks like a real cool piece that should work out really well....
I didn't realize that they were a finished product yet, but I'd love to try one out....
I'll have to give him a call.....
Chuck CoW
I was there at VARARAM and Patrick showed it to me...
Looks like a real cool piece that should work out really well....
I didn't realize that they were a finished product yet, but I'd love to try one out....
I'll have to give him a call.....
Chuck CoW
07-27-2012, 10:10 PM
#40
Team Owner
