Vararam road test....hehehe
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 2,074
Likes: 1,158
From: Pasadena Texas
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,109
Likes: 0
From: Morgantown WV
I have a vararam, ported TB, and Bullets and I "think" i feel a big difference but most likely its in my head. Now if I add headers/tune, I should be approx 50 whp over stock. Then I will feel the difference. PS. - Your car is probably running a little worse than it did before the vararam. It can take 100-250 miles for your PCM to adjust for a CAI. Anyway you look at it, you picked the best CAI if you are going for performance IMO. The sh*tty quality was not a factor for me. My hood is always closed if not in my garage. Just to be safe, I put tape around mine to avoid any possible debris coming in where the plastic pieces meet.
Navigator
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
Hi my friend i also have corvette Ls3 and Vararam is the best air intake fro ls3 it gave you 40 hp more with HP tuning first when i add Vararam i'm racing with Porsche turbo + evo9 turbo + CLS 63 AMG + M5 with chip all these car and more i just bit him with intake and now i add Kooks Headers + X-pipe + corsa Cut back it give me with tuning 60 hp more
so 40 + 60 + 430 = 530 HP
believe me this what hapen in my ls3
so 40 + 60 + 430 = 530 HP
believe me this what hapen in my ls3
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,052
Likes: 14
It does make it louder for sure. With the Summit MAF, Ported TB, spacer and enlarged Vararam snout with the smooth couplers you can hear it sucking air at idle at the front of the car, it took me a few days to realize what the faint air noise was. Blasts from 85-140 were really fun this weekend. 
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 4,206
Likes: 6
From: Makena, Maui & NM
Hi my friend i also have corvette Ls3 and Vararam is the best air intake fro ls3 it gave you 40 hp more with HP tuning first when i add Vararam i'm racing with Porsche turbo + evo9 turbo + CLS 63 AMG + M5 with chip all these car and more i just bit him with intake and now i add Kooks Headers + X-pipe + corsa Cut back it give me with tuning 60 hp more
so 40 + 60 + 430 = 530 HP
believe me this what hapen in my ls3
so 40 + 60 + 430 = 530 HP
believe me this what hapen in my ls3
Say, how do you know you got 530HP at the flywheel? Let me guess, you put it on the dyno, right? 
Its either that or the nitrous 150 shot he is inhaling!
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained
Joe Kucinski
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette
Verdad Gallardo
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,106
Likes: 0
From: Austin TX
Hi my friend i also have corvette Ls3 and Vararam is the best air intake fro ls3 it gave you 40 hp more with HP tuning first when i add Vararam i'm racing with Porsche turbo + evo9 turbo + CLS 63 AMG + M5 with chip all these car and more i just bit him with intake and now i add Kooks Headers + X-pipe + corsa Cut back it give me with tuning 60 hp more
so 40 + 60 + 430 = 530 HP
believe me this what hapen in my ls3
so 40 + 60 + 430 = 530 HP
believe me this what hapen in my ls3
Now that's funny.. 100hp gain from headers and a cai..
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,027
Likes: 0
From: The Lost Borough, NYC
Hi my friend i also have corvette Ls3 and Vararam is the best air intake fro ls3 it gave you 40 hp more with HP tuning first when i add Vararam i'm racing with Porsche turbo + evo9 turbo + CLS 63 AMG + M5 with chip all these car and more i just bit him with intake and now i add Kooks Headers + X-pipe + corsa Cut back it give me with tuning 60 hp more
so 40 + 60 + 430 = 530 HP
believe me this what hapen in my ls3
so 40 + 60 + 430 = 530 HP
believe me this what hapen in my ls3
Racer
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 330
Likes: 0
From: Hemet Calif
This discussion does it for me. I was going to install one but hey if we are debating whether one can feel the difference or not to me its not worth changing the stock set up.
Great post and thanks for saving me the $$!
I might do headers someday.
Great post and thanks for saving me the $$!
I might do headers someday.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,106
Likes: 0
From: Austin TX
JR
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 11,733
Likes: 15
From: SC
I've since ordered an Airaid intake and will be putting the Vararam up for sale next week, after the scare I had last summer I just don't feel confident if I get caught in a severe storm again. That said the Vararam is the best performing intake you can buy, hopefully the airaid using the existing cut in the shroud will at least run cooler then a fully enclosed top breather.......while giving me a few extra inches of ground clearance. (All it took was ankle deep water, I know, I was standing in it pushing the car to a drier part of the street)
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,083
Likes: 3
From: Buena Park CA
It's true you won't feel anything puttering around town 45 MPH or slower, but if you're already on the freeway cruising at about 70+, then hit it, your Vette will romp up to 140 in nothing flat!
Yea, the instructions and pictures were made from a 9-year old, but the performance it gives is definately worth it.
Yea, the instructions and pictures were made from a 9-year old, but the performance it gives is definately worth it.
Racer
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 335
Likes: 40
From: TX
I took my Wifes 08 to LG and had them install a Vararam and tune the car. Went from 384 & 381 to 394 & 394. Gained 10 rwhp from the tune plus the Vararam. The car definately feels stronger than 10 rwhp on the highway.
On my 01 We added the Vararam as well as a bigger cam and better heads. Gained about 30 rwhp. Track tested it and gained 4 mph. I dont think the Vararam helped as much as they claimed on it.
On my 01 We added the Vararam as well as a bigger cam and better heads. Gained about 30 rwhp. Track tested it and gained 4 mph. I dont think the Vararam helped as much as they claimed on it.
Navigator
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
430 hp is stock power
Vararam with hp tuning in ls3 enigen is 40 hp
Kooks headers 3 inch 1.7/8 with hp tuning ( corsa Xtrem cut back 13-15 HP) = 60
the ls3 engin 6.2 with this proformans give you like that power but 530 not in the dyno
the dyno gives you around over 422
Vararam with hp tuning in ls3 enigen is 40 hp
Kooks headers 3 inch 1.7/8 with hp tuning ( corsa Xtrem cut back 13-15 HP) = 60
the ls3 engin 6.2 with this proformans give you like that power but 530 not in the dyno
the dyno gives you around over 422
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 170
Likes: 2
From: Tampa Florida
Race Director
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 13,298
Likes: 14
From: Somers NY
A few years ago I took my '04 to a very busy local tuner to install a Vararam.A couple of hours later he called and said my car was ready.I immediately took off on a test drive and thought OMG this is awesome.The sound and the power improved.Then my cell phone rang and it was the tuner telling me that they made a mistake and my Vararam was still in the shop uninstalled.When they finally installed the Vararam I felt no difference so I passed on installing it on my '05.Not worth the $ in my opinion.
I use the Tried & Tested "TRUE" method.. TEST AT THE TRACK
My C6 ran 12.57 @ 112 Bone stock... I added a Vararam & Cartek tune only.. and it ran 12.11@ 115 mph just the intake & tune and it picked up .4 tenths..
SOP is for ricers, and 16 yrs old who are easily influenced by "Sound"
Take a bone stock Honda, add a coffee Can muffler and you too will be saying "WOW I FEEL THE DIFFERENCE!" BS you "Hear" the difference!!
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,221
Likes: 899
From: CA
2017 C5 of the Year Finalist
St. Jude Donor '08
Hi my friend i also have corvette Ls3 and Vararam is the best air intake fro ls3 it gave you 40 hp more with HP tuning first when i add Vararam i'm racing with Porsche turbo + evo9 turbo + CLS 63 AMG + M5 with chip all these car and more i just bit him with intake and now i add Kooks Headers + X-pipe + corsa Cut back it give me with tuning 60 hp more
so 40 + 60 + 430 = 530 HP
believe me this what hapen in my ls3
so 40 + 60 + 430 = 530 HP
believe me this what hapen in my ls3
JB
P.S. Vararam kicks butt!!!!