vararam cold air intake system question
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Joined: Apr 2010
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From: Miami Florida
vararam cold air intake system question
I live in Miami and I'm thinking of a new cai. I heard that the best cai is the vararam but it may suck water. It rains a lot here in miami and sometimes the roads get reasonable flooded. Should I worry?
Pro
Joined: Apr 2007
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From: Arvada CO
Yes. I lived in Sarasota and I am familiar with the torrential downpores that can occur in Florida . Flooded streets and Vararam are not a good combination. You are wise to ask the question. Do a search on 'hydrolock.' I have a Vararam, but here in Colorado, it just doesn't rain that much. When it does rain, its not the street flooding rains like Miami.
Last edited by Finster07; Jan 24, 2011 at 07:46 AM.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 11,367
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From: Edgewood Washington
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13-'14-'15
You'd have to avoid any puddles deep enough to submerge the intake, even just partially.
It rains a lot here where I live but I don't take the car swimming.
It rains a lot here where I live but I don't take the car swimming.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,730
Likes: 4
From: Delray Beach Florida
to hydro lock using the vararam, you'd have to go into a 12in deep puddle, at that point you'll have water in your cabin around your feet. Its very unlikely that you'll decided that its a good idea to go into a deep river lol.
I drive my car year round in houston,tx down and it rains A LOT, never had a problem.
I drive my car year round in houston,tx down and it rains A LOT, never had a problem.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 802
Likes: 6
From: Oro Valley AZ
12 inches puddles are not the problem. Being in the wake of another car, whether coming or going, will play havoc with you. Keep away from areas were there's high volumes of airborne water. I was riding in a friends C6 ZO6 equipped with a Vararam. As he passed a tractor trailer, it went thru a standing body of water on the highway shooting a large spray of water which the vararam sucked up and shut us down in a hearbeat! Yes, hydrolock is real.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 41,732
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From: Springfield MO
I have the Vette-Air scoop which functions the same as the Vararam as it gets it's air from just behind the grille and passes it through the shroud to the air breather. I have a 3.5" X 18" flat diffuser plate mounted between the Vette-Air discharge opening and the opening to my stock intake. Any water that might be ingested by the Vette-Air is thrown to the sides, and not directed into the air breather. I get all the benefits of the Vararam, namely cooler air from the front of the car, yet I don't have a scoop that can direct air/water directly into my air breather, and I don't have a huge housing that blocks airflow to my radiator, nor a large opening cut into my shroud that lets heat from the radiator into the area in front of the radiator. The opening cut into the shroud is at the very bottom of the shroud and is just large enough for the Vette-Air scoop to fit through. I don't get the claimed "ram Air" of the Vararam, but other's that have done tests show that measurements taken in the air breather show no greater pressure with the Vararam. And you can buy the Vette-Air scoop for $125 or less. You are on your own as for as fabricating the flat diffuser plate, but it installs using the two rearward mounting bolts of the Vette-Air.
Last edited by JoesC5; Jan 24, 2011 at 06:02 PM.
Pro
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 679
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From: TremontonUT UT
I guess I am a little slow. I am just a dumb *** retired Millwright, Maintenance Supper and hydraulic trouble shooting teacher. I know what my definition of hydraulic lock is. What is the definition of it when you are talking about cold air intakes? Thanks. Later! Frank
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Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2001
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From: Short Hills, NJ
to hydro lock using the vararam, you'd have to go into a 12in deep puddle, at that point you'll have water in your cabin around your feet. Its very unlikely that you'll decided that its a good idea to go into a deep river lol.
I drive my car year round in houston,tx down and it rains A LOT, never had a problem.
I drive my car year round in houston,tx down and it rains A LOT, never had a problem.
Generally speaking, any body of water that's going to create a problem for a Vararam equipped car will ALSO create a problem for a bone stock one as well.In a vehicle as low as a Corvette or any car for that matter, I ALWAYS avoid deep puddles (especially at high speeds) anyway because that's what simple logic and basic reasoning have taught me over the years so exercising a little caution when you drive in hurricanes and tornados can go a long way.
Pro
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 679
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From: TremontonUT UT
Thanks LS1LT1. I knew that because I have done it on two bikes. The only thing keeping water out of the engine was a sock filter right on the carb throat. I have seen it on a jeep that went under. Never saw it on a street car with a real filter system. I do believe you could saturate the filter with enough water to shut the air off. A lot of water coming into the engine compartment is a pain also. It used to blow the signal lamps out in my 04. Later! Frank 
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 923
Likes: 37
From: Green Bay Wisconsin
If you want to go fast then buy a Vararam!
If you want to drive through water then buy a boat!
Go Packers
Douglas in Green Bay
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 3,860
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From: Tampa FL
Another braindead clueless comment. I live in Tampa and drove thru many rain storms with my Vararam. The water would have to be so deep that you'd be an idiot to drive your vette thru it with or without a Vararam.
