Installed Vararam - Review
Thread Starter
CF Lifetime Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,553
Likes: 6
From: Westlake Village CA
That is correct different strokes......, damn right I don't want to "fix" something I just bought for my car. I hope your fix works, in my world a poorly produced design is a not a superior design. 1 or 2 hp isn't going to do anything for you in a race, if that is the only difference it will come down to skill behind the wheel. Good luck.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 3,860
Likes: 5
From: Tampa FL
I have seen them and not been impressed with the quality of the units. I have also read many posts on them expressing quality and fitment issues. When I chose a CAI for my 06 coupe I selected the LPE CAI based on the postings of users expressing satisfaction with the quality and fitment of the LPE product. When I selected a CAI for my 08 Z06 I researched the internet and forum to see if the VAraram product had been improved. Again there were many owners expressing poor opinions with respect to this product. I selected a Halltech CAI for my car. Both the LPE and the Halltech units have excellent fit and finish. There is no way I am going to put something on my car that requires duct tape and silicon seal to do the job it should have been designed to do.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 3,860
Likes: 5
From: Tampa FL
Another guy who admits he hasn't even seen one. Amazing. No we are not in agreement. Read my posts on this thread.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 5,578
Likes: 61
From: Austin TX
Bad products get bad mouthed, good products don't. There are plenty of threads on this particular product. There is no conspiracy. If you recognize the shortcomings and have the ability to repair and modify this product, then you should be ok. But people should be made aware of what they are getting into.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 5,578
Likes: 61
From: Austin TX
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 3,860
Likes: 5
From: Tampa FL
Bad products get bad mouthed, good products don't. There are plenty of threads on this particular product. There is no conspiracy. If you recognize the shortcomings and have the ability to repair and modify this product, then you should be ok. But people should be made aware of what they are getting into.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 5,578
Likes: 61
From: Austin TX
Here's the problem. You admit you've never seen one. You've read some threads full of comments by other's who haven't seen one. It's not a bad product. The only flaw on the new ones (3 yrs old or less) is the seals slide around if you don't glue them. I'll be the first to say that I don't know why Vararam hasn't fixed this. But on my C6 I consistently went 0.2 to 0.3 seconds faster in the 1/4 mile. So it must be producing more than 10 or 15 additional hp. And I never said there was a conspiracy, just a bunch of people who don't know what they're talking about.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 3,860
Likes: 5
From: Tampa FL
You just won't give it up will you. The new ones have one flaw, the seals slide. I'm not sure why I feel compelled to defend the thing. I guess due to all the piling by know-it-all's who have never even seen one.
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Thread Starter
CF Lifetime Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,553
Likes: 6
From: Westlake Village CA
[QUOTE=. I guess due to all the piling by know-it-all's who have never even seen one.[/QUOTE]
yep
I definitely think at speed it does. My butt dyno is not that sensitive. It pulls very noticeably stronger 4k rpm and up ( probably due to the faster speeds ramming air in )
yep
So it must be producing more than 10 or 15 additional hp
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 3,860
Likes: 5
From: Tampa FL
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 5,578
Likes: 61
From: Austin TX
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 3,860
Likes: 5
From: Tampa FL
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 3,860
Likes: 5
From: Tampa FL
Nice trap speed. Stock air filter does works fine and your car is obvious proof of that. When the warping started on Vararam, they thickened the top half so the thing fits so tightly together that nothing will get by so like I said, glue the seals and you're good to go.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,339
Likes: 1
From: Lake Delton (WI Dells) WI
Like I have said in the past, the issue is that there is just not enough compressive forces to keep the gasket in place on -some- installs. I took my car on a 5,000 mile road trip last summer reaching -sustained- speeds of 140mph+ and when I got home my VaraRam assembly looked like it does below, completely in tact and sealing 100%.
Below is what I did to make sure things sealed correctly. If you have nothing forcing the filter into the seals (ie, leaving it's imprint in the gasket), it is NOT sealing correctly.
The ONLY sealing surface that matters when dealing with dirt entering the engine is the air filter surface opposite of the surface shown below. I took the filter and mechanically compressed it into the gaskets on the backside of the filter. I have removed the filter in the past and I can see a VERY defined ridge of where the filter seals into the gasket. I could use my VaraRam just like this and without the lower piece attached and it would seal correctly and keep all the dirt out. The gaskets shown along the sides are mainly only there to help keep the filter snug in it's place (when not doing what I did) and are not made to keep dirt out.
Below is what I did to make sure things sealed correctly. If you have nothing forcing the filter into the seals (ie, leaving it's imprint in the gasket), it is NOT sealing correctly.
The ONLY sealing surface that matters when dealing with dirt entering the engine is the air filter surface opposite of the surface shown below. I took the filter and mechanically compressed it into the gaskets on the backside of the filter. I have removed the filter in the past and I can see a VERY defined ridge of where the filter seals into the gasket. I could use my VaraRam just like this and without the lower piece attached and it would seal correctly and keep all the dirt out. The gaskets shown along the sides are mainly only there to help keep the filter snug in it's place (when not doing what I did) and are not made to keep dirt out.
Last edited by JRHAWK9; Apr 7, 2010 at 04:28 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 2,515
Likes: 3
From: Goleta California
Once again, the OP bought an older unit and decided to use the duct tape and silicone as a precaution. I didn't use duct tape or silicone on mine and I had no problems. You say you've seen one but like the majority of guys bad mouthing Vararam on the forum you haven't had one on your car and you have no first hand experience with it. You must work for Halltech.
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 27,254
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From: Short Hills, NJ
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,790
Likes: 29
From: STL MO
St. Jude Donor '09-'10
When I took mine apart this past weekend I had 0 issues removing my tape, last time I had it apart was in Sept when I was installing my Spin ported LS2 intake & TB. My car is my DD.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 3,860
Likes: 5
From: Tampa FL
I don't work for Halltech. When I purchased a CAI for my 06 in 2006 I looked at the Vararam product. They were inferior then and many users had complaints. When I purchased a CAI for my 2008 in 2009 I research recent posts on them and the general opinion was they were better but still needed work. Other products got much better reviews on this and other forums. You are correct that I never had one in my car and I never will. That being said I made my decision based on what I saw and read. As I said previously said a good design poorly executed is a bad design. I am glad you like yours and hope it performs for you.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 393
Likes: 0
From: North Bend WA
After looking at all the true Cold Air Intakes on the market it was obvious to me that the Vararam was the most effective design. I glued all the gaskets in place and then gorilla taped the filter into the intake housing. No air or debris will reach the engine without being filtered completely. After 10,000 miles I've had no problems with the gaskets moving or any debris getting past the filter. It's not the best constructed unit but it is the most effective when it comes to making horsepower. I also own a 1000 CC sport bike that has ram air induction and the vararam system builds more pressure in the intake. So make the necessary mods to the unit and enjoy the benefits.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 2,515
Likes: 3
From: Goleta California