Vararam or Airaid ????
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 12,045
Likes: 3,588
From: Central MO
Do you want the best performance, with lower quality (fit/finish), or do you want slightly less performance, with good fit/finish? That's pretty much what it boils down to. I'll give up a small amount of performance for the better fit/finish, and less likelihood for water ingestion, so I'll take the Airaid. I had a Synthamax Airaid on my 07 and never had any problems with it.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 12,045
Likes: 3,588
From: Central MO
Not necessarily true, since you can open up the bottom of the air dam and let air in. That's what I did with my 07. It's a pretty cheap, easy mod that is totally reversible. And on a daily driver car, the Vararam is pretty much wasted. That's the main reason I'm staying with the OEM intake on my GS. I will probably open up the bottom of the air dam at some point.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 888
Likes: 57
From: Upstate Nj
Not necessarily true, since you can open up the bottom of the air dam and let air in. That's what I did with my 07. It's a pretty cheap, easy mod that is totally reversible. And on a daily driver car, the Vararam is pretty much wasted. That's the main reason I'm staying with the OEM intake on my GS. I will probably open up the bottom of the air dam at some point.
Also the LS3 and ls2 factory intakes are much different in form and function.
Last edited by let er eat; Sep 15, 2015 at 08:23 AM.
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Race Director
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 12,045
Likes: 3,588
From: Central MO
I'm well aware of that; my response about my 07 was a direct reply to the OP's question since it was an LS2. Part of the reason I am not doing anything with my 12 GS is exactly because the newer LS3 GS intakes are very good as designed by GM, and the card type MAFs are more susceptible to throwing codes from turbulent airflow.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,497
Likes: 261
From: Miami Florida
I put a simple 1/8 x 1 1/4 aluminum flat bar hanger I made on which to rest the front of the filter area main body so to remove and install all I do is remove the throttle body connection and lift up the whole intake in one piece, when is time to install I just lay it on top of the hanger connect the t. body done. Anybody who needs a pix of the hanger just text and ask for it 305*457*3066 David.
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 226
Likes: 14
From: Houston TX
I just installed Vararam last week, the newest model fit together fine. No major issues whatsoever. Cutting the shroud is the worst part, but it's 60$ for a replacement so it's not a big deal to me. Z51 Oil Cooler Bracket fits fine, it's a tight squeeze but I had no trouble. Once you get everything together it becomes easier to take on and off. I have seen much worse installs from more popular manufacturers. It works, car has no drivability issues. Made the car easier to drive at low speeds (6speed manual) and it's got more grunt and power throughout the entire rpm range. Probably needs a tune, but from the first drive the effects were immediate. As the computer has relearned it's only getting better. I still don't need a dyno tune, but I might have Diablo make a custom tune after dataloging.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 14,999
Likes: 200
From: Bay Area Ca.
If going with long tubes then get the Vararam, otherwise probably a waste of $$. Put the $$ in a tune and get results you can feel.
The Vararam and headers did wake the LS3 up significantly.
Problem in California not CARB legal, hence back to stock with a tune of course.
The Vararam and headers did wake the LS3 up significantly.
Problem in California not CARB legal, hence back to stock with a tune of course.