Vararam Vs Vortex Ram Air.....?
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 24,652
Likes: 298
From: NJ
St. Jude Donor '05-'08
Maybe one day, someone will volunteer their car, the vendors a few units, and there can be a back to back test and shoot out. That's the only way you'll ever truly know which one provides the "most" gains in a particular application.
In the end, maybe we can all agree that any CAI is better than no CAI, and which ever one fits your budget, your asthetics and your purpose...cut the shroud, bolt it on and get out there and drive the pants off the car, and may the winner be kind enough to buy a cold one for the loser....and no matter which one you choose, remember the vendors that come here to give us info and great service...they spend time in these threads instead of doing something else and they do deserve our support.
In the end, maybe we can all agree that any CAI is better than no CAI, and which ever one fits your budget, your asthetics and your purpose...cut the shroud, bolt it on and get out there and drive the pants off the car, and may the winner be kind enough to buy a cold one for the loser....and no matter which one you choose, remember the vendors that come here to give us info and great service...they spend time in these threads instead of doing something else and they do deserve our support.
to do a good test you need the same car and same driver at the track, but then things like track prep and weather start to come into play during a full day of testing.
I agree with you Craigster that any CAI is better than the stock ones. I would even go one step further and state that any CAI that pulls air from outside the engine bay is better than one that is in the engine bay.
The question though is how much better? My guess is that they will all be somewhat close especially on cars that are not modified that much.
BUT as stated the only way to find out is to go to the track and test them. SOTP doesn't cut it in my book. Yeah your car "feels" faster that is great, but at the end of the 1/4 mile if it is not faster than who cares (or in my case at the end of a lap around WGI).
Last edited by Wicked Weasel; Nov 12, 2007 at 08:29 AM.
Former Vendor
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 11,792
Likes: 255
From: Ossining New York
St. Jude Donor '07-'08-'09-'10-'12-'13-'14
Good point...but.....
to do a good test you need the same car and same driver at the track, but then things like track prep and weather start to come into play during a full day of testing.
I agree with you Craigster that any CAI is better than the stock ones. I would even go one step further and state that any CAI that pulls air from outside the engine bay is better than one that is in the engine bay.
The question though is how much better? My guess is that they will all be somewhat close especially on cars that are not modified that much.
BUT as stated the only way to find out is to go to the track and test them. SOTP doesn't cut it in my book. Yeah your car "feels" faster that is great, but at the end of the 1/4 mile if it is not faster than who cares (or in my case at the end of a lap around WGI).
Good Point.....but, this isn't gonna be a dyno shootout.... It's gonna have to be a 1/4 mile shootout comparing ET and MPH.... Unfortunately, unless the vehicles (and drivers) selected for the test can be VERY consistent, then the results will be hard to guage.
Chuck CoW
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 24,652
Likes: 298
From: NJ
St. Jude Donor '05-'08
Good Point.....but, this isn't gonna be a dyno shootout.... It's gonna have to be a 1/4 mile shootout comparing ET and MPH.... Unfortunately, unless the vehicles (and drivers) selected for the test can be VERY consistent, then the results will be hard to guage.
Chuck CoW
Chuck CoW
100%. What I would like to see is maybe 5 drivers over the course of different days. Say 20 runs with one CAI and 20 runs with another CAI. Then we can get some sort fo trend. We would also need to measure DA and take into consideration track prep. Then of course there is clutch wear, tire wear, the driver getting better with each pass, blah blah blah blah....
Maybe this is the reason no one has done it
Advanced
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 88
Likes: 0
100%. What I would like to see is maybe 5 drivers over the course of different days. Say 20 runs with one CAI and 20 runs with another CAI. Then we can get some sort fo trend. We would also need to measure DA and take into consideration track prep. Then of course there is clutch wear, tire wear, the driver getting better with each pass, blah blah blah blah....
Maybe this is the reason no one has done it
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 24,652
Likes: 298
From: NJ
St. Jude Donor '05-'08
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 4,157
Likes: 37
From: North Carolina
St. Jude Donor '07-'08-'09-'11-'12
What a great chance to come together and eliminate some of the animosity and negative feelings that sometimes arise from these technical excahnges. We could have a day at a track somewhere, invite everyone, charge a small gate fee, and let the funds cover the driver and testing expenses (like gas, whatever). If there is any money left over, we donate it to St Judes or whatever. It would be a mini Carlisle...Ive never seen anyone argue there, it's too much fun....and when vendors, tuners, and owners get together face to face, we all realize more intently what we're looking for, and it keeps this thing of ours going much more strongly.
I always try to remember, we may bicker and disagree sometimes, but we are all part of the Corvette family. There is no group of auto enthusiasts more loyal or better informed about our common passion.
How many of these threads have resulted in better products, better tunes and technology, MORE FUN???
Exactly.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 2,324
Likes: 0
From: Fort Lauderdale Fl
We will be at Beach bend in April and are willing to test the Vortex on a customers car vs another system.
We still need to talk about the fit, finish and quality. The Vortex Ram Induction system has always had quality fit and finish. No plastic bridge or factory accordian coupler. Vararam DOES NOT replace the coupler from the mass air to the throttle body and wants you to use the factory accordian part. Our system DOES replace the accordian with a silicone part and provides you with a high quality one piece carbon bridge. Our system might be a little more in cost but you do get what you pay for, high quality products that produce horsepower.
Ernie
www.BreathlessPerformance.com
954-925-7725
We still need to talk about the fit, finish and quality. The Vortex Ram Induction system has always had quality fit and finish. No plastic bridge or factory accordian coupler. Vararam DOES NOT replace the coupler from the mass air to the throttle body and wants you to use the factory accordian part. Our system DOES replace the accordian with a silicone part and provides you with a high quality one piece carbon bridge. Our system might be a little more in cost but you do get what you pay for, high quality products that produce horsepower.
Ernie
www.BreathlessPerformance.com
954-925-7725
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 11,733
Likes: 15
From: SC
We will be at Beach bend in April and are willing to test the Vortex on a customers car vs another system.
We still need to talk about the fit, finish and quality. The Vortex Ram Induction system has always had quality fit and finish. No plastic bridge or factory accordian coupler. Vararam DOES NOT replace the coupler from the mass air to the throttle body and wants you to use the factory accordian part. Our system DOES replace the accordian with a silicone part and provides you with a high quality one piece carbon bridge. Our system might be a little more in cost but you do get what you pay for, high quality products that produce horsepower.
Ernie
www.BreathlessPerformance.com
954-925-7725
We still need to talk about the fit, finish and quality. The Vortex Ram Induction system has always had quality fit and finish. No plastic bridge or factory accordian coupler. Vararam DOES NOT replace the coupler from the mass air to the throttle body and wants you to use the factory accordian part. Our system DOES replace the accordian with a silicone part and provides you with a high quality one piece carbon bridge. Our system might be a little more in cost but you do get what you pay for, high quality products that produce horsepower.
Ernie
www.BreathlessPerformance.com
954-925-7725
Put it another way, you can purchase the Vararam throttle body spacer with the $ you save over the Vortex and it WILL give you measurable gains. TBS>replacement coupler.
A final note about the coupler, I'm very happy with the stock one. In fact it works very well with the factory nipple which must be routed back into the intake. With the Halltech Stinger for example, their replacement "smooth" coupler looked awkward and by design the nipple obstructed airflow. It's more for looks then anything, just like the CF bridge on the Vortex.
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Burning Brakes
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From: Seguin Texas
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 2,324
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From: Fort Lauderdale Fl
Supporting Vendor
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,773
Likes: 155
From: Houston Texas
St. Jude Donor '07-'11-'12
WOW!!! What a great thread to read from start to finish!!! Great info and great exchange of opinions!!! Thanks to all the great Vararam supporters out there- you guys are always great with your support and comments!!! You guys really "wave the flag" for us and we sure appreciate the great words and nice comments!!! Remember all Vararam units come with our PERFORMANCE GUARANTEE - "If you don't like it - If you don't love it - If it doesn't perform the way we say it will - We will gladly take the unit back and pay the shipping both ways!!" Somewhere in this thread the question was asked about where Vararam was made?? The answer - right here in the good ol USofA 
!!!! American made for the true American sports car - the Corvette!!!!!
Thanks again for this great and "lively" thread!!!!!!
Steve
!!!! American made for the true American sports car - the Corvette!!!!! Thanks again for this great and "lively" thread!!!!!!
Steve
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,105
Likes: 5
From: Las Vegas Nevada
Update: My Vararam with an AWESOME Chuck COW Tune,
one word, WOW!!!!!!!!!!
I researched CAI's for over a year.
SOTP driving is the only driving I do.
Its all about quick response & Torque for me.
I do not need to drive it 187 MPH to get the excitement I crave.
I Feel the torque through out the spectrum.
My Vette is a monster now.
May The Torque Be with you!!!
one word, WOW!!!!!!!!!!
I researched CAI's for over a year.
SOTP driving is the only driving I do.
Its all about quick response & Torque for me.
I do not need to drive it 187 MPH to get the excitement I crave.
I Feel the torque through out the spectrum.
My Vette is a monster now.
May The Torque Be with you!!!
Last edited by Guitarstar; Nov 13, 2007 at 11:52 AM.
Supporting Vendor
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,773
Likes: 155
From: Houston Texas
St. Jude Donor '07-'11-'12
I gotta tell ya..... I have personally REMOVED over 100 "other competitors" air intake systems to upgrade them to the VARARAM.
Most every customer I've done this for believed that there was an improvement over what they had previously.
If you're NOT in the market for a VARARAM...Jump on EBAY cause after I remove the "other brand intakes" I always suggest that the customer s sell them on E-bay to recoup some of their money.
I could use ANY air intake on the market for the customers at my shop.....
Bottom Line is that I will NEVER sell or install anything but a VARARAM!
It's that GOOD!
Chuck CoW
Most every customer I've done this for believed that there was an improvement over what they had previously.
If you're NOT in the market for a VARARAM...Jump on EBAY cause after I remove the "other brand intakes" I always suggest that the customer s sell them on E-bay to recoup some of their money.
I could use ANY air intake on the market for the customers at my shop.....
Bottom Line is that I will NEVER sell or install anything but a VARARAM!
It's that GOOD!
Chuck CoW
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,221
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From: CA
2017 C5 of the Year Finalist
St. Jude Donor '08
Vararam DOES NOT replace the coupler from the mass air to the throttle body and wants you to use the factory accordian part.
Ernie
www.BreathlessPerformance.com
954-925-7725
Ernie
www.BreathlessPerformance.com
954-925-7725
Here's a pic of mine after I put it on...
Click below
JB
Advanced
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 88
Likes: 0
Well I installed the Vortex last night and all I can say is WOW! What a huge difference. A buddy of mine helped me do the install because this is my first vette and this is his 2nd or 3rd I believe. He has the vararam and the only difference I would say is that the Vortex looks like 10 times better IMO. Other than that they are both great products.
Oh and we lowered it too.
Oh and we lowered it too.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 2,324
Likes: 0
From: Fort Lauderdale Fl
Sorry but there seams to be some flip floping going on. Some say there is no need to replace the factory accordian coupler. We have always replaced the coupler but it seams Vararam only does so on the new z06 and the 08 and up vette LS3 and not on the LS2.
Yes there is an advantage of reduced turbulance in replacing the factory accordian coupler with a smooth silicone part. That is why we have always replaced the couplers since the C5 systems.
Ernie
www.BreathlessPerformance.com
954-925-7725
Yes there is an advantage of reduced turbulance in replacing the factory accordian coupler with a smooth silicone part. That is why we have always replaced the couplers since the C5 systems.
Ernie
www.BreathlessPerformance.com
954-925-7725
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 2,324
Likes: 0
From: Fort Lauderdale Fl
Well I installed the Vortex last night and all I can say is WOW! What a huge difference. A buddy of mine helped me do the install because this is my first vette and this is his 2nd or 3rd I believe. He has the vararam and the only difference I would say is that the Vortex looks like 10 times better IMO. Other than that they are both great products.
Oh and we lowered it too.
Oh and we lowered it too.
Ernie
www.BreathlessPerformance.com
Advanced
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 88
Likes: 0
No cause it is really easy to cut the shroud with a utility knife. We provide a template to mark the shroud. If you were to replace the shroud it would take you an extra 2 hours.
If you ever want to go back to stock buy a new one from GM for about 50.00 in which you probably never will.
As far as installing it takes us about 20 min
Ernie
www.BreathlessPerformance.com
954-925-7725
If you ever want to go back to stock buy a new one from GM for about 50.00 in which you probably never will.
As far as installing it takes us about 20 min
Ernie
www.BreathlessPerformance.com
954-925-7725