zblackz06

Guys, I have been talking to my tuner who says switching from my Vararam snakecharmerr cai to a Callaway honker will net me some hp gains so i figured I would ask the masses to see which way to go.
1). Stay with the Vararam
2).Get the Callaway
3).Get a Halltech
I have Ahp stage 4 heads,ported msd,Ahp 116 cam,Vararam, working on headers.
Thanks for all your input.

95rtturbo

I doubt you will see much of a difference (if any), but if you are confident in your tuner, go for it.

RedZ4me

Wouldn't bother switching at all BUT if you really want to, MF103 Halltech

HOXXOH

It sounds more like it will net him some profit gains. The headers will make a difference, but you won't find more HP with a different CAI.

jayyyw

More than a few sources claim that the vararam is notorious for lower dyno numbers. I wouldn't be surprised if you picked up 10-15whp by switching to a better designed intake. What I would be more concerned about is if the car is any faster after the switch.

I'm debating on doing this very thing. I felt like my car was faster on the older Halltech intake. I am using the vararam right now but want to switch back to a Halltech or Ram Air SS intake.

If you do decide to go through with it, please post your results.

zblackz06

Then I wonder if the Callaway would be better over the Halltech or vice versa?

jayyyw

Its hard to say. Not a lot of people swap intakes around. They usually buy one and stick with it.

I tried testing a 4" intake with a velocity stack and no filter. I picked up 15ft lbs on the dyno over the Halltech intake but I had lots of surging on the highway. So there are gains to be had over certain intakes. Just have to find the right one.

MTPZ06

Vararam is great for the 1/4 drag guys...it's been proven to be effective. It's also been proven to be plagued with fit & finish issues, poor filtration from leaks/gaps, etc. Not to mention you lose some of the high-pressure effects of your radiator shroud because it needs to be cut up to fit the Vararam, without sealing it up. No way I'd run it on a street car.

Cant go wrong with either Callaway or Halltech. Neither of them are ingesting hot under-hood air. That's the key...IAT's will pull timing/power from the car because its breathing hot air.

I ran the Callaway Honker on my C5Z, and it flat out worked. Superior quality and fitment as compared to the Vararam...hands down. Only reason I don't have one on my C6Z is because I'm still running the factory tune, and the C6Z MAF is prone to turbulence. Callaway sells a diffuser to mitigate this, but if you've seen it..you'd say, why bother? With a tune, which you'll clearly need with your mod list, you'll be just fine.

I chose the Halltech MF103, but it is compatible with the Stock tune. No dyno results, but a definite seat of the pants improvement was noticeable. Halltech is the go-to CAI for Katech. Why...because they say they make more power than any other unit they've tested on their builds.

Schred86

i had a calloway, and then switched to a halltech, My tuner and I did some street logging and he said the halltech was flowing more than the calloway. main reason for me switching was the accodrian style coupler going into the throttle body. I couldn't find a regular coupler to fit so i just ditched the whole thing.

SPDKLZ1

I ended up with the Callaway after much research and when I arrived with it at DRM this spring they told me it was their preferred CAI. Is their an issue with the accordion coupler?

MTPZ06

No...aesthetically it's not my favorite look, but it can theoretically create some (small amount) turbulence. Does that translate to a loss of performance...probably not. I haven't measured, but there's probably a smooth silicone coupler or reducer out there that might work.

http://www.siliconeintakes.com/intake-pipe-reducer

jayyyw

Now, what are the benefits with going for the MF108 versus the MF103 in the Halltech intake. This is another decision I am stuck with, if I do decide to go Halltech.

zblackz06

I was wondering about the Halltech 103 vs. 108, isn't one for the stock throttle body and the other for the nw 102? also I think one needs to be tuned while the other does not.

MTPZ06

^ I think Jim Hall came on here and said that the main benefit of the 103 is it requires no tuning. If you plan to tune and you're doing a H/C/I/102 NW build, the 108 is for you.

jayyyw

I found this:

zblackz06

So then for a build under 550rwhp the 103 would be fine but getting info higher horsepower builds you may want to look into the 108.

MTPZ06

Here's one of the Jim Hall posts I recalled... https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...post1591672942

DOUG @ ECS

Correct.

HOXXOH

I'm getting the impression that numbers are important to you. Dyno pulls are one method to determine power and drag strip timeslips are the other method. The difference is whether the car is moving or not. Both ways give you a number and they don't always have a direct relationship. Until you decide the method you prefer, don't change the CAI.

SweetZO6

I went with the K&N Carbon CAI for my ZR1. I bought it primarily because it is less restrictive then the OEM, smoother air flow to the TB, high quality MAF and CCV confections are exactly where they are suppose to be, significantly lighter then OEM unit and it looks great and fits perfect. It’s pricy but IMO worth it.

Ed