Help choosing intake
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,796
Likes: 1
From: Annandale VA
Vararam is a very good cold air system. The air intake is centered in the grill opening, and air is ducted directly into the filter. One advantage is that no outside air flows into the engine compartment, so it stays clean. Dowside is that the shroud must be cut or swapped out, and a mounting bracket must be bolted to the car.
The Halltech Stinger is also very good, has a really huge, low restriction air filter. They offer a fresh air option that draws the air in through each side of the grille opening. However, the air is not ducted like the Vararam. I have one of these for sale if you're interested.
Other cold-air systems are the Hurricane, Calloway, and LPE systems --- I have no experience with them, but have seen favorable posts.
The Blackwing, K&N, & other systems are basically just improved filters. They won't do as much to keep the inlet air temps down, and offer no "ram air" effect. However, there are many that swear by them.
The Halltech Stinger is also very good, has a really huge, low restriction air filter. They offer a fresh air option that draws the air in through each side of the grille opening. However, the air is not ducted like the Vararam. I have one of these for sale if you're interested.
Other cold-air systems are the Hurricane, Calloway, and LPE systems --- I have no experience with them, but have seen favorable posts.
The Blackwing, K&N, & other systems are basically just improved filters. They won't do as much to keep the inlet air temps down, and offer no "ram air" effect. However, there are many that swear by them.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 3,380
Likes: 103
From: Visalia CA
the halltech does not move, even though it does not mount like the blackwing. The thing is massive and fits snug in the airbox chamber, resting slightly on the filter edge. I personally think they are all very similar, outside of the vararam. Buy whichever one you can find for the best price.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 926
Likes: 0
the halltech does not move, even though it does not mount like the blackwing. The thing is massive and fits snug in the airbox chamber, resting slightly on the filter edge. I personally think they are all very similar, outside of the vararam. Buy whichever one you can find for the best price.
Did you install the CAI option in addition to the intake?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 3,380
Likes: 103
From: Visalia CA
not yet, but I figured I can do it later if I feel the need. I like the fact that nothing needs to be cut or modified in the engine to put this on vs the vararam, and I have not seen proof that one is definitively better than the other.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 2,515
Likes: 3
From: Goleta California
I am using the LPE cold air set up. I went with LPE because Lingenfelter has been doing vettes for a long time and they make a quality product. My second choice was the Callaway CAI or the Vararam.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 926
Likes: 0
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,355
Likes: 70
From: Kansas
I have a Honker on my Z06 and C6 and they are quality pieces. Install is a bit laborious, especially on the C6, but the fit, finish, and customer service are all top notch with the Callaway unit. Plus, it draws in cool air from outside of the car.
I can't really comment on any performance gains as I haven't had a chance to put any real miles on either car since the installs (stupid weather).
Last edited by GizmoZ; Jan 4, 2007 at 01:38 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 5,474
Likes: 3
From: Bradenton, FL & Chandler AZ
St. Jude Donor '09
I will definitely post my thoughts. Tomorrow CBRF41l (fellow forum member) will be lending me his time and expertise to accomplish the installation. As I have posted many times, I am mechanically challenged.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 5,259
Likes: 16
From: Monroe Township New Jersey
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
St. Jude donor in memory of jpee '14
With regard to the install, we installed both without removing the fan shroud and placed a piece of 1/8 inch plywood in front of the condenser so that we would not damage it. I used sheet metal screws and silcone to secure my honker to the fan shroud.
Good luck
Pro
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 557
Likes: 0
St. Jude Donor '06-'07
Vararam is a very good cold air system. The air intake is centered in the grill opening, and air is ducted directly into the filter. One advantage is that no outside air flows into the engine compartment, so it stays clean. Dowside is that the shroud must be cut or swapped out, and a mounting bracket must be bolted to the car.
The Halltech Stinger is also very good, has a really huge, low restriction air filter. They offer a fresh air option that draws the air in through each side of the grille opening. However, the air is not ducted like the Vararam. I have one of these for sale if you're interested.
Other cold-air systems are the Hurricane, Calloway, and LPE systems --- I have no experience with them, but have seen favorable posts.
The Blackwing, K&N, & other systems are basically just improved filters. They won't do as much to keep the inlet air temps down, and offer no "ram air" effect. However, there are many that swear by them.
The Halltech Stinger is also very good, has a really huge, low restriction air filter. They offer a fresh air option that draws the air in through each side of the grille opening. However, the air is not ducted like the Vararam. I have one of these for sale if you're interested.
Other cold-air systems are the Hurricane, Calloway, and LPE systems --- I have no experience with them, but have seen favorable posts.
The Blackwing, K&N, & other systems are basically just improved filters. They won't do as much to keep the inlet air temps down, and offer no "ram air" effect. However, there are many that swear by them.
Is this true? I was going to buy a vararam but I didn't know I have to bolt it on.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 5,474
Likes: 3
From: Bradenton, FL & Chandler AZ
St. Jude Donor '09
The install was mostly completed by fellow forum member cbrf4i1 and my uncle both of whom more than make up for my mechanical ignorance.
Anyway, the instructions were not the greatest especially if you don't read them throughly. As a result, we removed the shroud, realized we had to measure before taking it out so replaced the shroud, measured, and again took off. Wow, that was a ****. Then had no clue about the rivet gun and could not figure out the deal with the screws as I didn't know that the rivet gun would actually cut these damn things to size. At this time, contacted fellow forum member beezeye through a PM. He immediately called us back and gave us invaluable advice. You can check out his post:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1109197
O.K. the damn thing is on and it actually turned out GREAT! You don't want to know how long it took, but again it was a well done job. Took the car for a spin and realized it was all worth it... SOTP assessment
Last edited by Oli1313; Jan 6, 2007 at 11:19 AM.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 351
Likes: 0
From: Louisville Kentucky
I am quite pleased with my Calloway Honker. I didn't measure the gains on a dyno but I could feel them. The throttle was more immediately responsive. There was a discernible increase in acceleration and the car sounded smoother after the install.
I had a shop do the install. It was the first one that they had done. I asked them to call Callaway and ask a tech how to do it. They did that. They did the install in about two hours with no problems. They were very complementary of the Honker and Callaway's verbal and written instructions.
I had a shop do the install. It was the first one that they had done. I asked them to call Callaway and ask a tech how to do it. They did that. They did the install in about two hours with no problems. They were very complementary of the Honker and Callaway's verbal and written instructions.