I did that . The problem wasn't the depth of the cut, but the width. I had to continually widen it as when I went to connect the intake to the TB, it would rock back and contact the shroud which would prevent me from getting the intake at the right angle to mate with the TB. Either way, its done now. I put my B&B Rt. 66 exhaust on last night. Took 2.5hrs from the moment I started to jack the car until I was going for a drive. Love the look and the sound and it was WAYYYYYYYYYY easier to install(self explanitory too lol)

 

I think you provided some very good feedback for Vararam during this thread. Hopefully it will lead to future improvements for their fine product.

 

Wouldn't best power be defined as gains at the track? We don't race dyno's (for those who like to use dyno's as the yardstick for performance). Nothing against Callaway, good looking CAI but the VR has set the pace from everything I've seen. I understand the quality thing though. If you don't race your car, wouldn't really matter which cai.

 

I'm of the opinion that any CAI will give you 90% of the gain as any other due to the timing being pulled as I posted above.

Even the David Farmer free CAI - flip the factory intake and cut the shroud to put the filters in the radiator cavity! It's not pretty though, that's for sure.

 

Maybe they can make it in yellow, everyone knows that adds 10% more power.
Ct..

 

Rustoleum Plastic Paint from Home Depot works wonders at $3 per can!

I painted my FRC's with it a year ago and it's really held up well.

 

Callaway here. No offense taken. But I'd just like to ask: why do you believe that the Callaway CAI system is not as good, power-wise? I'm curious to find out where this perception comes from. Have you spoken to anyone that has replaced one brand with the other?
Thanks.

 

 

My friend switched from a Breathless (similar to yours) to a Vararam on his C5.

Results? No discernable performance difference. Both are very high quality parts in my opinion. Just different ways to skin a cat.

 

Your dyno numbers and testing that you posted show very good numbers. Scientific in that all variables are known as well. Yet when I search the net for performance increase at the track...I'll I'm concerned with....one name pops up consistently and thats VR. I went from stock to Halltech, no gains as the track. Halltech to VR, similar weather, big gains. Not scientific by any means but it is what it is. The other issue that seems to pop up with VR is quality or lack thereof. Maybe a same day shootout is in order, VR vs Callaway.

 

Do some cat-skinning methods remove more skin than others?

Not knocking the Breathless system, but it's much different than the Callaway Honker CAI for C5's.

First, the Honker is the only intake system to completely eliminate the C5's "air bridge". This allows a smooth air path all the way from the filter element to the MAF sensor, significantly reducing turbulence in the air duct. Less turbulence means more laminar flow and less airflow restriction.

Next, the Callaway design relocates, or "close-couples", the C5's MAF sensor adjacent to the throttle body, as Chevrolet designed into the stock C6 intake system. This is a side benefit of eliminating the air bridge and, while difficult to quantify, seems to improve throttle response.

Third, Callaway uses a large flat panel filter instead of a conical filter in order to maximize the cross-sectional area of the air duct at the clean side of the filter and reduce restriction at this point.

Breathless Vortex -


Callaway Honker -




exploded view of C6 Honker (similar to C5 except for round C6 shape at outlet vs oval C5 shape) -

 

He asked you, why do you believe that the Callaway CAI system is not as good, power-wise?

 

This is just my .02 But i think it has alot to do with mouth on the vararam. Vararam forces air in and Callaway sucks air in. I understand they both suck air in but Vararam has something to direct the air and Callaway lets the car direct the air. Also there are a ton of results at the track with the Vararam and i really don`t hear to many with the Callaway. Callaway builds great cars and i am not knocking them at all,again this is just my .02 as i know Callaway cars are amazing.

 

This is great as far as I a concerned. I love seing the manufacturers get into discussions like this. I only wish more manufacturers of CAI's would step up. I stand at the ready to purchase one but am waiting to see where this discussion leads. Thanks to all for their input. Larry

 

Gains as the track, as I stated in the paragraph above. Of course it could be not many run the Callaway so their gains aren't quite as out there as the VR. I looked at the cai after having my Halltech for a year. From the net to magazine articles and one name stood out in terms of performance and thats all I cared about. That name was Vararam.

 

The biggest reason that has kept me from considering the VR are the forum reports (I claim no first hand experience) of the poor fit causing air to bypass the filter. For me that is a performance issue.

 

If that will be an issue for you, then by all means, go with what you want. My VR has been nearly trouble free and the gains were as advertised.

 

Thanks for your candid feedback.

With the "net" and magazine articles being excellent sources for product information, it appears that we need to do a better job of communicating. For example, here's some info regarding the Callaway CAI status on the Forum's current "1/4 Mile Performance Challenge" thread that might be interesting.

(The Callaway test car listed below in third place was a new 2008 coupe with a Honker and M/T drag radials. Otherwise, the car was completely stock. It had stock NPP exhaust, and stock gears. It was the only car in the top 10 without headers and the only one in the top 7 with a manual trans.)

Top-10 External Engine Modifications (Bolt-Ons)
11.14 @ 121.59 - Dennis50NJ - 05 Z51 A4 - CAI, CB, conv, hdrs, 3.73, tune, DR - (2225)
11.44 @ 119.11 - Theofel - 08 A6 - CAI, CB, conv, hdrs, 315, tune, DR - (2108)
11.56 @ 118.82 - MCV - 08 Z51 M6 - CAI, DR - (1852)
11.70 @ 118.54 - Z51 6spd - 08 Z51 A6 Npp - El wp, hdrs, tune - (2175)
11.76 @ 119.00 - NastyC6 - 05 Z51 A4 - CAI, conv, hdrs, 3.73, ported int/tb, tune
11.77 @ 121.58 - Red06vette - 06 Z51 A6 - CAI, CB, hdrs, ported int/tb, tune - (2179)
11.80 @ 118.62 - 8850 - 08 A6 2.73 NPP - CAI, hdrs, tune - (2012)
11.81 @ 118.76 - Joe G - 05 Z51 M6 - CAI, hdrs, 3.90, ported int, tune - (1874)
11.84 @ 121.43 - C6 DVL - 08 Z51 M6 NPP -Blistens, CAI, hdrs, tune - (2066)
11.87 @ 112.99 - Cucchiara - 05 A4 - CAI, CB, hdrs, conv, tune, DR - (839)

Lance Miller's Honker-equipped Callaway Corvette has been at the top of this list for a couple of years:

Top-10 Internal Engine Modifications -
10.76 @ 128.59 - MCV - 05 M6 - Callaway 550 package, gears, DR - (782)
10.87 @ 125.33 - Tek-Newbie - 05 A4 - CAI, CB, conv, H&C, hdrs, 3.42, intake, tune, DR
11.23 @ 123.00 - Texas Ranger - 06 M6 - CAI, CB, cam, hdrs, 4.10, udp, tune, Z06 tires - (1696)
11.41 @ 123.84 - Evilways - 06 Z51 A6 - CAI, CB, cam, hdrs, L92/L76 Combo tune - (2087)
11.47 @ 123.01 - Thesubfloor - 07 A6 - CAI, cam, 3.15, hdrs, DR - (1933)
11.49 @ 125.62 - Wa$nt me - 06 Z51 M6 - CAI, CB, cam, hdrs, intake, udp, tune - (1610)
11.50 @ 125.76 - BlownV6 - 06 A6 - CAI, CB, H&C, hdrs, tune, DR
11.52 @ 125.73 - High Roller1 - 06 Z51 A6 - CAI, CB, H&C, hdrs, udp, tune, DR - (1909)
11.53 @ 124.97 - Boiler RXC6 - 05 F55 M6 - CAI, CB, H&C, hdrs, intake, tune -(871)
11.68 @ 122.42 - RDD41 - 06 A4 - LPE 403 package - (662)

 

There are VR in that list as well, with the top guy using the VR. I understand you want to push your product but the VR is what I found during my search. I buy nothing without searching and yes I made a mistake with my rockers (bad idea) but the VR was it from what I found.

 

believe me when i say i will take that top spot when i move to that category