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Best cold air intake...
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 439
Likes: 1
Best cold air intake...
I dialy drive my LS2 C6 and live in a very hot climate (Gulf area) and will probably never see hyrdo-lock. I've heard great results about the Vararam, Callaway Honker and Volant. Which one would be most suitable, performance wise, for my hot climate?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 5,253
Likes: 50
From: Sandy Eggo Calif.
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12, '16
The Vararam has a ram air effect where the other two are just cold air. You might want to consider a 160 degree t-stat and a tune. The LS2 starts to pull timing when the coolant gets above 212 degrees.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 6,798
Likes: 25
From: Pine Bluff Arkansas
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-‘19-'20-'21
From what I read(?) the LS2 might could use a better intake system.
There's several ways to go about getting cold air to your motor. Some are not very expensive. You can simply open the shroud a little and get air to your intake. You can install a Vette-Air. You can install a KB Beehive to keep the engine heat from the filter, or several other different combinations.
I first installed a Vette-Air to get cool air to my intake, while retaining my stock filter, but after going full thottle once my car surged. 'C5 Joe' installed a baffle to stop this problem. I chose to go the KB II and Beehive route, which I have no complaints about. Now....if it actually did anything?.....I don't know.
There's a dozen different ways to do a CAI. Do a 'search' and you can read a few hours about different combinations, and people's opinions. But, I warning you....after you read all there is about CAI's....you will still be comfussed.
Do some research.....and good luck.
P.S. You can spend about the same amount on a street tune, and do a lot more.
Larry
There's several ways to go about getting cold air to your motor. Some are not very expensive. You can simply open the shroud a little and get air to your intake. You can install a Vette-Air. You can install a KB Beehive to keep the engine heat from the filter, or several other different combinations.
I first installed a Vette-Air to get cool air to my intake, while retaining my stock filter, but after going full thottle once my car surged. 'C5 Joe' installed a baffle to stop this problem. I chose to go the KB II and Beehive route, which I have no complaints about. Now....if it actually did anything?.....I don't know.
There's a dozen different ways to do a CAI. Do a 'search' and you can read a few hours about different combinations, and people's opinions. But, I warning you....after you read all there is about CAI's....you will still be comfussed.
Do some research.....and good luck.
P.S. You can spend about the same amount on a street tune, and do a lot more.
Larry
Last edited by lebvette; Dec 3, 2010 at 01:01 PM.
Former Vendor
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 17,337
Likes: 39
From: Birmingham, AL www.hinsonsupercars.com 205-909-9402
If you're looking for the best performance, I would recommend the Vararam.
http://hinsonsupercars.com/s-736-intakes.aspx
Seth
http://hinsonsupercars.com/s-736-intakes.aspx
Seth
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Brett Foote
Team Owner
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 21,136
Likes: 212
From: Long Island New York
I had the LPE CAI on mine until I did a Vortech S/C. I sold it for fair price to a member here. The LPE works well, looks like factory OEM and doesnt have all the complaints like crappy poor quality with gaps, not fitting issues(members use duct tape to hold the seal) and falling apart like the vararam.
Former Vendor
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 6,125
Likes: 739
From: Callaway Cars - Old Lyme, Connecticut
Consider the superior build quality of the Callaway Honker over any other intake and the choice is clear - Callaway
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 5,253
Likes: 50
From: Sandy Eggo Calif.
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12, '16
The new Vararam units are better quality.(than the old one) They require a little more maintenance, but IMHO provide the most performance gain.
Last edited by TommyV; Dec 3, 2010 at 01:33 PM.
As would I...track results don't lie. 
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,424
Likes: 21
From: Placitas New Mexico
From what I read(?) the LS2 might could use a better intake system.
There's several ways to go about getting cold air to your motor. Some are not very expensive. You can simply open the shroud a little and get air to your intake. You can install a Vette-Air. You can install a KB Beehive to keep the engine heat from the filter, or several other different combinations.
I first installed a Vette-Air to get cool air to my intake, while retaining my stock filter, but after going full thottle once my car surged. 'C5 Joe' installed a baffle to stop this problem. I chose to go the KB II and Beehive route, which I have no complaints about. Now....if it actually did anything?.....I don't know.
There's a dozen different ways to do a CAI. Do a 'search' and you can read a few hours about different combinations, and people's opinions. But, I warning you....after you read all there is about CAI's....you will still be comfussed.
Do some research.....and good luck.
P.S. You can spend about the same amount on a street tune, and do a lot more.
Larry
There's several ways to go about getting cold air to your motor. Some are not very expensive. You can simply open the shroud a little and get air to your intake. You can install a Vette-Air. You can install a KB Beehive to keep the engine heat from the filter, or several other different combinations.
I first installed a Vette-Air to get cool air to my intake, while retaining my stock filter, but after going full thottle once my car surged. 'C5 Joe' installed a baffle to stop this problem. I chose to go the KB II and Beehive route, which I have no complaints about. Now....if it actually did anything?.....I don't know.
There's a dozen different ways to do a CAI. Do a 'search' and you can read a few hours about different combinations, and people's opinions. But, I warning you....after you read all there is about CAI's....you will still be comfussed.
Do some research.....and good luck.
P.S. You can spend about the same amount on a street tune, and do a lot more.
Larry
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 2,626
Likes: 195
From: On the east coast we drive until we die
In all of my limited research on CAIs for the LS2, the Vararam got a 50/50 love/hate result. One thing I did find interesting though was that a lot of the opponents of the Vararam admitted it was probably the best performer.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 5,578
Likes: 61
From: Austin TX
From what I read(?) the LS2 might could use a better intake system.
There's several ways to go about getting cold air to your motor. Some are not very expensive. You can simply open the shroud a little and get air to your intake. You can install a Vette-Air. You can install a KB Beehive to keep the engine heat from the filter, or several other different combinations.
I first installed a Vette-Air to get cool air to my intake, while retaining my stock filter, but after going full thottle once my car surged. 'C5 Joe' installed a baffle to stop this problem. I chose to go the KB II and Beehive route, which I have no complaints about. Now....if it actually did anything?.....I don't know.
There's a dozen different ways to do a CAI. Do a 'search' and you can read a few hours about different combinations, and people's opinions. But, I warning you....after you read all there is about CAI's....you will still be comfussed.
Do some research.....and good luck.
P.S. You can spend about the same amount on a street tune, and do a lot more.
Larry
There's several ways to go about getting cold air to your motor. Some are not very expensive. You can simply open the shroud a little and get air to your intake. You can install a Vette-Air. You can install a KB Beehive to keep the engine heat from the filter, or several other different combinations.
I first installed a Vette-Air to get cool air to my intake, while retaining my stock filter, but after going full thottle once my car surged. 'C5 Joe' installed a baffle to stop this problem. I chose to go the KB II and Beehive route, which I have no complaints about. Now....if it actually did anything?.....I don't know.
There's a dozen different ways to do a CAI. Do a 'search' and you can read a few hours about different combinations, and people's opinions. But, I warning you....after you read all there is about CAI's....you will still be comfussed.
Do some research.....and good luck.
P.S. You can spend about the same amount on a street tune, and do a lot more.
Larry
You get a compartmentalized cold (ambient) area for the intake to breath, which is clearly the most important aspect of any of the systems.
I'm not convinced that the LS7 style intake is that big a restriction.
Last edited by AirBusPilot; Dec 3, 2010 at 04:06 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 3,639
Likes: 8
From: Jersey Strong NY/NJ
I just did a Vette air scoop with K&N Air charger and Diablo tune prior to the air scoop. I have to re due my tune but I am waiting to install a 160 stat. I think the key here is opening the shroud to get the cold air to the intake. I don't really think the K&N is making any difference. I also feel that any other brand would be the same BS. Looks looks nice under the hood 
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,319
Likes: 64
From: Lakeville, MA
St. Jude Donor '10
Cruising
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
I'm in the market for the best CAI too. Has anybody tried the Volant? It looks like it functions like a VaraRam with the bulit quality of a Honker. Least that's my hope. Doesn't seem to be very popular though. I can't find any reviews on it.
