I posted a thread last wednesday about opinions on which intake to buy for my C6. I thought I would post a thread about the intake I chose and my experience with the vararam.


After much thought about what intake to buy, I decided on the vararam. I was just about to purchase a new one when a used one popped up on the local socal forums with approximately 4k miles on it. I purchased it along with a throttle body spacer and precut schroud for a great price.

Now going in to this, I had done tons of research about the poor quality and fitment of the vararam. The intake I bought was in good shape and looked like it was only on the car for a few thousand miles ( In line with what owner stated ).

This was the V2 and the improved design. Right after I purchased the intake I went to home depot and bought some good glue to re attach the seal around the intake as recommended. There was the typical bowing of the upper part of the intake but it was not horrible. I removed the rubber ( foam ) lining from the upper portion and reglued it on the intake. Once it dried I put the intake together.

I noticed that the intake was still not sealing properly due to the plastic being warped. Of course I expected this after reading all the threads about it. Now it wasnt like there was a huge gap or anything but some debris MIIIIIIGHT have been able to get in. I considered using a a sealant or something to close the gap but I wanted to be able to open the intake easily and clean the filter. From the corner of my eye I noticed some red duct tape sitting on the counter and voila, I had my solution

I used the duct take all the way around where the meeting place of the upper and lower part of the intake. It put my mind at ease regarding the gap and actually looked like it sealed the intake up pretty well. The red duct tape also matched the color combo of the intake so it looked good. I am not sure how long the duct tape will hold but I will make sure to check it the first couple thousand miles. I think it will hold.

I did also get the precut shroud with the intake. After doing a lot of research I decided to cut the existing should on my own instead of swapping the shoud which I heard was a PITA. I traced out the desired shape and cut the shoud on my own. It only took about 10 minutes with a box cutter and it came out very clean.

The throttle body spacer was also attached.


My review on the intake : WOW. With the intake and throttle body spacer I noticed a HUUUGE difference in the cars responsiveness and high end pull. From 4k- redline the car pulls much much harder. I actually hit the rev limited in 2nd by mistake on the first pull after installing it. I am very pleased with the performance gains and the intake in general. Yes there was a little issue in terms of the quality of the intake but nothing that could not be fixed easily.

All in all I would reccomend the vararam to some one else but advise them to modify or improve on it slightly. ( which took 5 minutes )


Pics of vararam after modifications.

 

I would have recommended a new one since it fits so tightly together it takes some effort to assemble. But you should be fine. The tape is a good idea. They say it takes a few hundred miles if I remember right for the computer to reset for the increased flow.

 

Yeah I heard that regarding the computer resetting. Hopefully it will open up even more power once the ECU learns the changes. It already has a very noticable gain

 

Glad your happy with your decision. The Vararam works for sure.

 

I just can't help but laugh duct tape? Where is the bailing wire? Good luck with it.

 

The car pulls much, much harder, after a intake swap which at most would net maybe 8hp? Thats quite a sensitive butt dyno you got there. Love to read your review after a real 175hp jump with a S/C!
Seriously,Glad you like it.

 

I saw 14rwhp on a stingy dyno with my Honker (before a tune).

San

 

Thats an exception to the rule I think. Intakes are known for not producing appreciable increases on a dyno. Dont think Ive ever heard of a intake only with no tune making that kind of increase.

It also depends on alot of factors. We all know many of them.I had a dyno done prior to my S/C install and the # came up lower than it did the year before when headers were done. The guy forgot that they dynoed it at that time. I asked him why it was quite a bit lower and it took him a minute to come up with "well, we dont spin it up all the way, it makes it to hot to work on"
Its in a shops best interest to have nice gains.
Bottom line, I dont believe every dyno sheet I see and take it a gospel.

 

It is what it is. I didn't expect my results. I had a dyno pull before the intake (same day, same dyno) and then one before the tune. The car had headers and Z06 mufflers before the intake. The tuner has said I have the best LS2 numbers he's seen. The tune only picked up a few HP as it ran quite strong from the factory and the A/F was very close. The Corvette is almost tame compared to my new toy (ZX-10R).



San

 

Nice bike. My brother had a ZX-10 in about 92?
That thing was a beast, yours must be f'n insane. I gave up on Sport Bikes some years ago. Enjoy, be safe.

 

Thanks. Still breaking it in. This bike has my complete respect.

San

 

Well the dyno does not measure 50 degree weather being rammed into the car at 60 mph. I can feel a very very noticeable difference on the freeway at speed. Thanks

 

I have to wonder, if it requires duct tape to seal it, once it's experiencing "ram air" and starts to pressurize, how badly will it leak? It seems so flimsy it's hard to imagine it not distorting and letting air escape or worse, pass around the air filter (which has happened). I think it'd be a good track system, but I wouldn't ever use something so poorly designed and manufactured on the street. JMHO

 

Duct Tape + Vararam FTW!

This mod has a secondary advantage in that the dirt that gets by will stick to the tape.

 

Understood, I had a CAI before the S/C. Even with the ram air effect Im surprised(but happy for ya) that there was such a SOTP difference.

 

I have very sensitive pants I guess lol

Wonder how it will feel with headers cam and tune

 

I was a little sarcastic,sorry.
CAI is a building block to good HP. If you just add headers and a tune you will gain real good power. I got almost 40 ft lbs of TQ in the midrange with LG Pro longtubes and tune, and about 25 hp on top. You wont be disapointed. Adding a good cam on top of that will transform the car all together.

 

Sorry but I have to agree on this one. G'luck

 

I used clear RTV to re-seal the gasket in place, it's worked perfectly ever since.

 

Try going 60-100 on the trails in the northwoods. Talk about a death wish..............