Hi everyone,

Just wanted to see what everyone's opinion was of buying just a high performance drop in filter like this one:


vs going with the full intake unit which is usually 3 or 4x in price.


Looking to put this on a California 2008 base 6.2L Z51 with hopefully a z06 exhaust and maybe a tune.

THANK YOU!
Kevin

 

Your stock intake air filter system already outflows what the motor needs, and with the best filtration as well.

So some air filter will state that they will outflow the stock filter, but at a cost to how much crap they are allowing to pass through instead.

So to make this simple, breath in all the air you can in your lungs, and then tell me if all the air in the world that you have not breathed in, is going to help you breath in more air in the lungs instead.


Now if you are talking a cold air system that is drawing all it air in from outside the engine bay areas (instead of just from under the hood), then that will make a difference. Hence the hotter the air the motor is pulling in, the more the motor will retard the spark instead.



As for a real CAI system, the trick is finding one that is not sucking the air in from low in the front of the car, hence low enough that if you go through deep enough of a water puddle, you not sucking in water to the intake to cause the motor to hydro-lock destroy itself isntead.
Hence if Gm Did it right, they would have mounted the intake to the air filter to pull air in from the front of the windshield instead. At speed, there is a huge pressure wave back towards the hood, and this would allow the motor pull in as much cold air as it would if mounted forward (plus not run into the problem of sucking in water, since water and ran would just be flowed up and over the windshield isntead.

 

Thanks for the reply. Would you recommend the vararam CAI? I have heard good things and no one says then take in water, even in insane downpours.


Kevin

 

Have K&N on all my vehicles. Like the oil bathed air filter especially for intake sound and a chance for water ingestion. Had on my first 94 Corvette for 13 years. No problems with any of my four vehicles.
Just my 2 cents.

 

I had it on my other cars but MY 11 GS did not like it, it caused surging, I ended up putting the stock back on and selling it here on the forum for half the price I paid for it.

 

Try Attack blue filter, no surging

 

K&N is the best filter you can buy. If oiled correctly they filter 99.9% of dirt. I have one in a Z06 intake and I cut the 2 slots out of the bottom of the baffle to get cold air in to it and it sure makes a different.

 

If it flows more air it flows more dirt.

 

The dirt stays on the filter.

 

Unfortunately your statement of KN trapping 99 percent dirt is incorrect. Check out the web for comparisons. It does absolutely have the highest flow of any filter but it also has the lowest rating for filtering. The very worst score. Like some one else replied here, you cannot have both, everything is a compromise. MOST agree here the oem filter is the best compromise it can flow more than a stock LS9 needs and it has the best filtering of all OEM or after market filters.

 

The issue with the Vararam is that it is a bottom feeder, collects air low to the ground. Installment requires cutting the radiator shroud. The performance is good, but there have been reports of water ingestion with the Vararam.

I had the Halltech MF 103 air intake with Beehive Shroud. Installment was easy, no cutting. The filter was a K&N filter designed to Halltech's specifications. The filter remained in the stock location with a top shroud that helped keep hot engine temps away from entering the filter. Look at the chart Dano523 provided and you will see how much timing is pulled. It doesn't take long for the IAT's to rise sitting at a stop light.

The best gains when selecting a CAI is one that reduces engine heat from entering the engine. A simple filter swap might give you a few hp at most which you will not feel. The stock air filter is excellent, but the location is not desirable. My Silverado truck has an oem CAI that feeds cold air from the front fender, like many production vehicles.

Another option is to buy the K&N filter and purchase Halltech's Beehive shroud, separately and modify the shroud to fit the stock intake. Many have done this simple mod.

I would do the Halltech, Z06 exhaust, then tune. Simple bolt ons that will benefit future mods or benefit keeping it as is. Just my .02cts.

 

The Vararam is also "Performance Guaranteed" and comes equipped
with the Green High Performance filter. If you are not happy with the Vararam for any reason we will take it back and pay the shipping both ways! Call us at 713-477-8100

 

A CAI used to be the initial go-to mod. With the design of modern performance cars/engines, I don't buy their performance on a stock car as much anymore.

On a California-neutered LS3, I wouldn't spend the money on a CAI. Just pop the shroud, if that still works the same on an LS3 as it does on an LS2. Then get a full Z06 exhaust and a tune. If you want more, and you're not looking to go FI, N20, or stroker, get a set of gears. This would make for a very fun and reliable car without sacrificing daily drivability or spending too much money.

 

What about the Vararam,bugs,dirt,paper and etc.The K&N is designed to collect the dirt on the ribs and the air inlet is at the bottom of the ribs.At one time i was thinking about the Vararam,but i heard about how often you have to clean or replace the filter.

 

Sorry but stock is the BEST for filtration. There is a lot of research confirming this.

 

Yes,I know that! I have a cam,LTs,VMax Tb and a Dyno tune,so i need more air.

 

More air than supercharged ZR1 with 635 HP LS 9 engine? That is what GM uses, good old Donaldson that is in LS3 , and LS 7's. Sounds like your money is burning a hole in your pocket. But than it is yours and you earned it, you can do anything with it. I much rather you give it to me

 

I wouldnt touch the stock intake unless it was to go to a halltech or vararam. The stock intake is super restrictive but there are gains to be had with either of the latter.

 

If i put a stock filter in with no mods i will be at 430hp,so explain to me how the ZR1 is making 635 Hp with the same 6.2 engine as i have......I know how superchargers work.....

 

A engine is a air pump,so get all the air your can in it.