~ B E S T Air Intake ~
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 2,397
Likes: 332
From: Minnesota
You guys are spending 50K on a car and you care about the price of the intake?
I agree, in design the Vararam could be the best at injesting cold air. however, I have not seen any data to prove that Vararam is faster than another intake in a controlled setting. ET time on different days are useless. Show me data from an accelerometer that the vararam is better than say a Honker... I call
For me, I'll be getting the Honker as it is designed by Callaway - a known quantity. There have been zero complaints against the design, fit and finish, and operation of the Honker. In contrast, there have been complaints time and time again against the fit and finish, installation, and most importantly operation of the Vararam. In some rare cases, the filter in the Vararam fit so poorly that large particles were getting past the filter and into the motor.
Let's see, save 100-150 bucks on an intake or spend a bit more for piece of mind on a 50K+ dollar car. That's a no brainer.
I agree, in design the Vararam could be the best at injesting cold air. however, I have not seen any data to prove that Vararam is faster than another intake in a controlled setting. ET time on different days are useless. Show me data from an accelerometer that the vararam is better than say a Honker... I call
For me, I'll be getting the Honker as it is designed by Callaway - a known quantity. There have been zero complaints against the design, fit and finish, and operation of the Honker. In contrast, there have been complaints time and time again against the fit and finish, installation, and most importantly operation of the Vararam. In some rare cases, the filter in the Vararam fit so poorly that large particles were getting past the filter and into the motor.
Let's see, save 100-150 bucks on an intake or spend a bit more for piece of mind on a 50K+ dollar car. That's a no brainer.
Last edited by bob53; Feb 26, 2008 at 01:59 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2000
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From: Austin, TX
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 27,254
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From: Short Hills, NJ
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 27,254
Likes: 136
From: Short Hills, NJ
You're right. I'd trapped over 2.46mph faster versus stock after the Vararam install in worse air but at the same track. Yes I'd had some programming done as well but TM removal only contributes so much to max trap speed.
I did have the opened shroud mod with opened up air boxes and high flow filters (a set up very similar to a 'K&N with opened shroud' mod) just prior to adding the Vararam as well and did see a slight improvement (.93mph) over stock but that was also in slightly better air over my Vararam testing.
The Vararam still beat that set up by 1.53mph, a HUGE difference when you're using trap speed as a power indicator and looking to take out a lot of the variable.
I won't even get into the almost 2/10ths improvement in ET that I achieved with the Vararam.
That's a valid point, much like in that 'Z06 manifold versus long tubes' thread...yes one set up yields lower gains over another but it also costs less, can't argue with the concept of saving some money even if it means obtaining slightly worse results.
I did have the opened shroud mod with opened up air boxes and high flow filters (a set up very similar to a 'K&N with opened shroud' mod) just prior to adding the Vararam as well and did see a slight improvement (.93mph) over stock but that was also in slightly better air over my Vararam testing.
The Vararam still beat that set up by 1.53mph, a HUGE difference when you're using trap speed as a power indicator and looking to take out a lot of the variable.
I won't even get into the almost 2/10ths improvement in ET that I achieved with the Vararam.
Anyway, my point is that the K&N with the open shroud is a very viable contender with the vararam...and many write it off due to the hype surrounding the vararam (I'm not saying that it does or doesn't live up to the hype). It can be had cheaper, is a much easier install, and does perform....so it should be kept as an option for people, and I let them know it 
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 11,331
Likes: 18
From: Missouri City Texas
You're right. I'd trapped over 2.46mph faster versus stock after the Vararam install in worse air but at the same track. Yes I'd had some programming done as well but TM removal only contributes so much to max trap speed.
I did have the opened shroud mod with opened up air boxes and high flow filters (a set up very similar to a 'K&N with opened shroud' mod) just prior to adding the Vararam as well and did see a slight improvement (.93mph) over stock but that was also in slightly better air over my Vararam testing.
The Vararam still beat that set up by 1.53mph, a HUGE difference when you're using trap speed as a power indicator and looking to take out a lot of the variable.
I won't even get into the almost 2/10ths improvement in ET that I achieved with the Vararam.
I did have the opened shroud mod with opened up air boxes and high flow filters (a set up very similar to a 'K&N with opened shroud' mod) just prior to adding the Vararam as well and did see a slight improvement (.93mph) over stock but that was also in slightly better air over my Vararam testing.
The Vararam still beat that set up by 1.53mph, a HUGE difference when you're using trap speed as a power indicator and looking to take out a lot of the variable.
I won't even get into the almost 2/10ths improvement in ET that I achieved with the Vararam.
With the k&n and tune I picked up .43 in et (12.74 to 12.31) and 3.8mph (113.0 to 116.8) in nearly identical DA. (prior day was in the mid 70s and this day was high 60s...both days 65% humidity and both days near mid 30.xx pressure) Shroud was open for runs prior and shroud was open for runs with the tune and K&N.
The next time I'm at the track I will take the tune off and run the stock tune and see what I run with JUST the K&N intake vs what I ran before. Hopefully that can be this weekend if it doesnt rain.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 11,733
Likes: 15
From: SC
Comparing MPH takes out a lot of the variable.
I'm not going to add a vararam for several reasons.
I can compare it like that to a point...if vararam was some incredible piece then I would see incredible track times produced by these cars while I'm at the track...and I dont see it happening. They MPH very close to me and ET very close to me...telling me that the systems (atleast to some degree) are producing similar results.
Anyway, my point is that the K&N with the open shroud is a very viable contender with the vararam...and many write it off due to the hype surrounding the vararam (I'm not saying that it does or doesn't live up to the hype). It can be had cheaper, is a much easier install, and does perform....so it should be kept as an option for people, and I let them know it
I'm not going to add a vararam for several reasons.
I can compare it like that to a point...if vararam was some incredible piece then I would see incredible track times produced by these cars while I'm at the track...and I dont see it happening. They MPH very close to me and ET very close to me...telling me that the systems (atleast to some degree) are producing similar results.
Anyway, my point is that the K&N with the open shroud is a very viable contender with the vararam...and many write it off due to the hype surrounding the vararam (I'm not saying that it does or doesn't live up to the hype). It can be had cheaper, is a much easier install, and does perform....so it should be kept as an option for people, and I let them know it
I've since gone to the Vararam/CoW tune and plan on hitting the track this spring.....the Vararam will take care of any IAT issue I had on my previous trip...something that the K&N cannot control as well even with a open shroud.
Last edited by Silver05GTO; Feb 26, 2008 at 05:06 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 3,922
Likes: 4
From: Cheektowaga NY
St. Jude Donor '08
I did back to back track runs with my former setup/tune which was K&N filter/Cartek tune. I trapped a best of 112 whith a closed shroud, with the shroud open 111mph, so based on my testing I gained NOTHING from the propped shroud.....Cartek blammed my crummy MPH on heatsoak/IAT at the start of my run. DA was in the 600's.
I've since gone to the Vararam/CoW tune and plan on hitting the track this spring.....the Vararam will take care of any IAT issue I had on my previous trip...something that the K&N cannot control as well even with a open shroud.
I've since gone to the Vararam/CoW tune and plan on hitting the track this spring.....the Vararam will take care of any IAT issue I had on my previous trip...something that the K&N cannot control as well even with a open shroud.
I went from a 8.883@83.06mph to a 8.215@89.56mph with Cartek`s tune, Kooks,and a Vararam. Cartek know`s their stuff!
The way i look at it is: .2 Kooks .2 Vararam .2 Cartek tuning
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Race Director
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 11,733
Likes: 15
From: SC
I went to Cartek, had the same mods as you put on and i have the Vararam and in the 1/8 mile alone i gained .6 and 6mph from stock.
I went from a 8.883@83.06mph to a 8.215@89.56mph with Cartek`s tune, Kooks,and a Vararam. Cartek know`s their stuff!
The way i look at it is: .2 Kooks .2 Vararam .2 Cartek tuning
I went from a 8.883@83.06mph to a 8.215@89.56mph with Cartek`s tune, Kooks,and a Vararam. Cartek know`s their stuff!
The way i look at it is: .2 Kooks .2 Vararam .2 Cartek tuning
A propped shroud doesn't get you much gains just by design...your getting air blowing around the engine bay, it's not being directed into the filter area as with an enclosed system like the Vararam.....
There was a thread with hp tuners results showing just how much lower the IAT's were with a Vararam compared with stock and K&N system w/shroud mod.
Bottom line was the Vararam was better.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,029
Likes: 0
From: The best one
There was a thread with hp tuners results showing just how much lower the IAT's were with a Vararam compared with stock and K&N system w/shroud mod
But you wont hear me say anything bad about the vararam.
Last edited by 11secondGP; Feb 26, 2008 at 05:27 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 3,922
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From: Cheektowaga NY
St. Jude Donor '08
If you want to improve your times, you should really try it and see. It would be one of the best investments you can make for the track.
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 27,254
Likes: 136
From: Short Hills, NJ
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,029
Likes: 0
From: The best one
A propped shroud doesn't get you much gains just by design...your getting air blowing around the engine bay, it's not being directed into the filter area as with an enclosed system like the Vararam.....
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 4,206
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From: Makena, Maui & NM
I'm not as impressed with the vararam as everyone else is.
I've raced atleast 3 C6 vettes at the track with vararam, tune, and mufflers and I've out ET'd and out MPH'd everyone in my 07 auto with k&n, tune, and mufflers (and obviously opened shroud...because there is no reason not to).
So until a vararam car handily beats me I'll not be a believer.
The K&N looks 100% better as well and takes 5 minutes to install
I've raced atleast 3 C6 vettes at the track with vararam, tune, and mufflers and I've out ET'd and out MPH'd everyone in my 07 auto with k&n, tune, and mufflers (and obviously opened shroud...because there is no reason not to).
So until a vararam car handily beats me I'll not be a believer.
The K&N looks 100% better as well and takes 5 minutes to install
Have not tried my Xcelerator on the strip yet, but I doubt its going to be that much quicker than my propped shroud. Though am no longer worried about losing timing due to high IAT's.
Finally, I dont hold much worth to the "ram effect" to any of these CAI's. One thing that I and others found out about the "ram air effect" of the cold air intakes is there is very little of it, if any. Otherwise, one would find evidence of the manifold absolute pressure rising at speed. My own data logging runs from 60-115 mph showed its staying the same with propped shroud and Xcelerator. Some other guys with Z06's with Vararam's found the same thing.