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How do the Cold Air Intakes perform

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Old Oct 15, 2006 | 11:38 AM
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Default How do the Cold Air Intakes perform

What are people's experience with the CAI versus filter change versus stock. Any real nice gains or just something to check off on a list of to dos?
Thank you
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Old Oct 15, 2006 | 11:55 AM
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I have got chart from doing all 3 but can find the middle charts that have just K&N filters added. Anyway just adding K&N's did really do anything, maybe a 1 hp gain but that can be dyno variance because it happened on a different dyno.

I did add a Vararam intake though with a tune. HP and Torqoue up across the board. At peak up 16hp and torque 12 Ft lbs. But that is not the real story IMO. The gains don't fall off after peak and get wider.
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Old Oct 15, 2006 | 06:00 PM
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Were you able to see if it was just the tune or if the CAI was contributing to your gains?
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Old Oct 15, 2006 | 06:22 PM
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Originally Posted by chempowr
What are people's experience with the CAI versus filter change versus stock. Any real nice gains or just something to check off on a list of to dos?
Thank you
my experience has lead me too believe that a well designed cai does indeed provide noticeable gains.

i have tried a variety of filter/intake ducting mods but unfortunately i don't own my own dyno so i can't provide 'hard data' to support my pposition.

there is also conjecture that some gains will not show up on the dyno simply due to the difference in airflow, road vs. fan.

imo/experience,

simply changing the filters and using the stock airboxes/ducting provides the least improvement, if any.

replacing the filters, cutting the shroud, flipping (aiming the boxes through the shroud) and swapping (left for right) the airboxes and sealing the opening seems to provide the best homemade gains, on par with some aftermarket systems.

the k&n, halltech style provide some airflow improvements.

the callaway, lingenfelter style provide better airflow gains and modest ram-air gains.

the vararam seems to provide the most airflow and ram-air gains.
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Old Oct 15, 2006 | 07:32 PM
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Here's my Vararam install instructions and track results.

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1434941
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Old Oct 15, 2006 | 07:41 PM
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Thanks Zig and Joe G for your feedback.
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Old Oct 23, 2006 | 06:58 PM
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Default Update!! Vararam works!

Put on Vararam CAI myself and ran 0.3s faster at the 1/4. Originally I went with the CAI only on the car for about 50 miles and instruction say it needs to be on about 100-200 miles so the computer learns. I didn't believe but I didn't see the improvement until the second trip to the 1/4 where I had about 500 miles on the setup. Thanks Vararam and No I don't own stock in the company
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Old Oct 23, 2006 | 07:20 PM
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Here are my dynos from the stock motor.


342 Stock
368 Hallteach and no CAI
378 Lingenfelter CAI

The most obvious was the gains I got at mid range with the LPE CAI.

This the dyno from my 403 with the LPE CAI


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Old Oct 23, 2006 | 07:32 PM
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I think you might get the most out of a ram air setup. I installed the Vararam CAI with TB spacer. Didn't get any dyno results but I did get track results, which I think really tell the story. To sum it up, I gained about 3 tenths in the quarter. Check out one of my previos posts for time slip and other info for comparison of stock vs. Vararam.

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1524643

Hope this helps.
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Old Oct 23, 2006 | 07:36 PM
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Originally Posted by PhatPharmD
I think you might get the most out of a ram air setup. I installed the Vararam CAI with TB spacer. Didn't get any dyno results but I did get track results, which I think really tell the story. To sum it up, I gained about 3 tenths in the quarter. Check out one of my previos posts for time slip and other info for comparison of stock vs. Vararam.

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1524643

Hope this helps.
Everyone I know who has installed the VaraRam on a C6 has been very happy with the gains. Ram Air is for real.

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Old Oct 23, 2006 | 08:05 PM
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Check out post 50 of this thread...

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1526972

lowering your IAT helps a LOT! See out how much timing gets pulled.
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Old Oct 23, 2006 | 08:24 PM
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Originally Posted by Joe_G
Check out post 50 of this thread...

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1526972

lowering your IAT helps a LOT! See out how much timing gets pulled.
But where are the post with actual data showing a reduction in IAT. I was surprised how well the stock intake performs. The Halltech did seem to drop the IAT faster than stock. The only other scans I have seen for aftermarket airbridges, the IAT is higher at speed but it will decrease from peak faster than both the stock and the Halltech will.

I have asked this question in post where the manufacturers were active but I have never received a response from them.
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Old Oct 23, 2006 | 08:27 PM
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Originally Posted by midnite902
Here are my dynos from the stock motor.

342 Stock
368 Hallteach and no CAI
378 Lingenfelter CAI

The most obvious was the gains I got at mid range with the LPE CAI.

Holy cow, even with a tune, those numbers are pretty high

I've seen people get those gains with headers, but not just an intake!
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Old Oct 23, 2006 | 08:51 PM
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My Halltech netted me nothing in the 1/8th mile over stock. Maybe the 1/4 mile would shown me something but didn't get a chance to run the quarter before more mods showed up at my door.
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Old Oct 23, 2006 | 08:52 PM
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Just installed the VaraRam. I must say, what a big difference in power. I am amazed.
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Old Oct 24, 2006 | 11:58 PM
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Originally Posted by Brett Hunter
But where are the post with actual data showing a reduction in IAT. I was surprised how well the stock intake performs. The Halltech did seem to drop the IAT faster than stock. The only other scans I have seen for aftermarket airbridges, the IAT is higher at speed but it will decrease from peak faster than both the stock and the Halltech will.

I have asked this question in post where the manufacturers were active but I have never received a response from them.

Anyone? I know there are a lot of guys with logging software now.
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Old Oct 25, 2006 | 03:38 AM
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How does the Lingenfelter compare to the Vararam? Basically the same?
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Old Oct 25, 2006 | 06:35 AM
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Originally Posted by mkiv808
How does the Lingenfelter compare to the Vararam? Basically the same?
no, lpe is a bottom feeder, vararam is ram air.
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Old Oct 25, 2006 | 06:44 AM
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Originally Posted by TMyers
I have got chart from doing all 3 but can find the middle charts that have just K&N filters added. Anyway just adding K&N's did really do anything, maybe a 1 hp gain but that can be dyno variance because it happened on a different dyno.

I did add a Vararam intake though with a tune. HP and Torqoue up across the board. At peak up 16hp and torque 12 Ft lbs. But that is not the real story IMO. The gains don't fall off after peak and get wider.
Just curious. Did you add the spacer? I found out that suppose to make and additional 5 hp. I witnessed a C6 on the dyno with the VaraRam and it did not make not 1 hp. But that did not mean anything? When owner took the car for a test run, he came back with a big smile on his face. So, maybe the hp was developed from the tune which is pretty good. Thanks
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Old Oct 25, 2006 | 07:58 AM
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Originally Posted by Zig
my experience has lead me too believe that a well designed cai does indeed provide noticeable gains.

i have tried a variety of filter/intake ducting mods but unfortunately i don't own my own dyno so i can't provide 'hard data' to support my pposition.

there is also conjecture that some gains will not show up on the dyno simply due to the difference in airflow, road vs. fan.

imo/experience,

simply changing the filters and using the stock airboxes/ducting provides the least improvement, if any.

replacing the filters, cutting the shroud, flipping (aiming the boxes through the shroud) and swapping (left for right) the airboxes and sealing the opening seems to provide the best homemade gains, on par with some aftermarket systems.

the k&n, halltech style provide some airflow improvements.

the callaway, lingenfelter style provide better airflow gains and modest ram-air gains.

the vararam seems to provide the most airflow and ram-air gains.
Reply



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