Vararam blues
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,385
Likes: 85
From: San Diego CA.
Vararam blues
I installed a Vararam on my 19 GS. I drove to Bowling Green and all seamed well. Last week my car started sputtering. I opened the hood and discovered one of the hose clamped silicone couplers had popped off. I put it back together then discovered that there was no give to the assembly. None. The motor moves. You can’t have solid on a moving motor. I took the assembly off and discovered a warped POS. The plastic lid was totally warped and seal free and the rivets were hanging on by a thread. I replaced the rivets with nuts and bolts. I have a hump silicone coupler coming that should give it some give. I replaced the hose clamps with T bolt clamps. I spent an hour trying to make it work. Their customer service didn’t return my call. Anyone else have these problems?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,237
Likes: 288
From: San Bruno CA
I've had my VaraRam installed for a couple of years now with no issues. I did install the foam wedge a little crooked so I wanted to order a replacement wedge. I've tried calling and emailing VaraRam several times without any luck. Left messages on their business line but never heard back from them. They may make a good product but their customer service sucks!
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 3,755
Likes: 190
From: Baton Rouge LA
St. Jude Donor '14, '16
Having had mine for a couple of years, I can say that I'm not super happy with the rivet nuts pulling out of the filter assembly so easy but I just replaced with nuts and bolts and all is well.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,385
Likes: 85
From: San Diego CA.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,385
Likes: 85
From: San Diego CA.
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Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,385
Likes: 85
From: San Diego CA.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 8,672
Likes: 2,726
From: Atlanta GA
Pulling a 1.7 60ft time on street tires ... if it was going to come off because the motor was torquing over it would have come off on mine i am sure
You have 4 guys who responded to you state that they had no issues with it coming off
I would just put it back together , using the hoses that came with it , and call it a day .....
Dave
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,385
Likes: 85
From: San Diego CA.
It wasn’t just the coupler letting loose, it was the warped condition of the air box. Yours is warped like mine, except mine is worse and lets in air. I’m talking about where the snap clamp that holds the lid on is. As you're looking at the air box from the pass side, the right top corner isn’t flush. Mine started out fine. Now it’s tweeked. I thought about heating up the plastic lid to try and straighten it out. I’m also considering cutting off a small portion of the plastic tube. No matter how a adjust it, that tube is is against the throttle body and the air box side. Another part of this, is that the Vararam folks have never called me back. I just wanted to know if my warping is common? After reading these reply’s, I guess not. Lol. I’ll try the hump coupler I received yesterday. It gives give. Thanks guys....
Racer
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 485
Likes: 168
From: Gainesville, Ga.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,385
Likes: 85
From: San Diego CA.
I'm not saying you shouldn't choose the Varrarm. I'm just asking if anyone has the same experience as me. The rivets are no big deal to fix. Others have had good luck. Again, go in with your eyes open. I do like the design. Oh well.....
Safety Car
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 4,819
Likes: 347
From: Albuquerque NM
There was the same problem with their intake on the C5. Warping, poor fit leading to dirt being sucked into the engine. They touted their C7Z intake as better than sliced bread years ago. Where is it now? Nothing but hype, no product.
I'm sorry you are having this problem, but given their track record, I'm not surprised.
I'm sorry you are having this problem, but given their track record, I'm not surprised.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 8,672
Likes: 2,726
From: Atlanta GA
There was the same problem with their intake on the C5. Warping, poor fit leading to dirt being sucked into the engine. They touted their C7Z intake as better than sliced bread years ago. Where is it now? Nothing but hype, no product.
I'm sorry you are having this problem, but given their track record, I'm not surprised.
I'm sorry you are having this problem, but given their track record, I'm not surprised.
I will give you the rivet design is not the best ... but there is a reason for it , I would rather the rivet pull out and fall on the ground than have a bolt or nut get sucked into the engine .
As long as you make sure the airfilter is in place and don't force the lock shut the rivets are fine
As far as the hose coming off .. i have installed many of these using the hose that comes with it on both C6 and C7 and I have never had a hose come off
All the other CAI are just an expensive remake of the factory aircleaner system so u might as well save your money if that's the direction u think you are going. Claims of HP gains with them on ZO6 ... has nothing to do with the intake and everything to do with the restrictive stock aircleaner , if u have a blower , by a BMS air cleaner
Dave
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 3,755
Likes: 190
From: Baton Rouge LA
St. Jude Donor '14, '16
Guys there are plenty of people that have had no problem with a Vararam ... one guy makes a comment and right away its a piece of junk
I will give you the rivet design is not the best ... but there is a reason for it , I would rather the rivet pull out and fall on the ground than have a bolt or nut get sucked into the engine .
As long as you make sure the airfilter is in place and don't force the lock shut the rivets are fine
As far as the hose coming off .. i have installed many of these using the hose that comes with it on both C6 and C7 and I have never had a hose come off
All the other CAI are just an expensive remake of the factory aircleaner system so u might as well save your money if that's the direction u think you are going. Claims of HP gains with them on ZO6 ... has nothing to do with the intake and everything to do with the restrictive stock aircleaner , if u have a blower , by a BMS air cleaner
Dave
I will give you the rivet design is not the best ... but there is a reason for it , I would rather the rivet pull out and fall on the ground than have a bolt or nut get sucked into the engine .
As long as you make sure the airfilter is in place and don't force the lock shut the rivets are fine
As far as the hose coming off .. i have installed many of these using the hose that comes with it on both C6 and C7 and I have never had a hose come off
All the other CAI are just an expensive remake of the factory aircleaner system so u might as well save your money if that's the direction u think you are going. Claims of HP gains with them on ZO6 ... has nothing to do with the intake and everything to do with the restrictive stock aircleaner , if u have a blower , by a BMS air cleaner
Dave
My car does ok 😊
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 8,672
Likes: 2,726
From: Atlanta GA
Dave
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 780
Likes: 94
From: Pittsburgh PA
I’ve had mine for 2 years and no problems. Also I got great customer service. He answered my call immediately and took time and called back as well as email. Of course this was when the C7 model first came out.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,385
Likes: 85
From: San Diego CA.
Don't waste your money....especially if u have a LT1 on any other CAI other than a Vararam. I picked up .2 in the quarter mile with mine . Is it keeping the IATS lower , is it the better designed intake track. Is it the filter.. i don't know but what I can tell you is I have a fist full of A B comparison time tickets that prove its real
Dave
Dave