Vararam TCR-7 CAI installed ....
 

Am I the first ?? Maybe .... :)

My Observations so far ...

Looks better than the crazy Tubing from the factory with all its accordion sleeves and muffler/silencer extensions and protrusions but pretty much any CAI cleans up the engine compartment.

Sounds cool .. can definitely hear throttle open and close. Also .. you can hear the air sucking (whistling?) through the hood as per the design .. or at least I could with Top down and radio off. With radio on you don't notice it ...

I am fairly positive that throttle response is better and it is not my imagination. Also .. it seems like Engine braking is reduced.. also pretty sure its not my imagination since my car is a manual I notice stuff like that! :)

FYI .. as you can see in pics I sanded off the logos and names on the top of the intake and then painted it black ... I like the subdued look ..

Also ... this intake requires a very precise fit under the hood ... and I did have to make some modifications via a grinder to make it fit to my liking ... but I don't mind a project so I was OK with that.

Is my car faster or have more HP ?? I have no idea really .. but I didn't buy it for HP .. I bought it for looks , sound and tts the least expensive CAI on the market right now.

Another note .. not sure what I did but I did have a check engine light at first start .. I think during testing I may have started it with the PCV hose disconnected. I used my OBDII scanner software to check it out and found Out of range error for Barometric Pressure sensor and Air Intake Temp Sensor and the only thing I unplugged for the install was the MAF sensor. I reset the Check engine light and cleared the DTC's .. Put about 25 miles on car around town and no issues.
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Here are some pics ....


https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...7f2cbf7eb8.jpg





https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...a006b1a52e.jpg

Too many worm gear clamps... and while I get they are claiming better air flow with the gap between the inner fender and the hood, it just looks unfinished I think... Other than that....

All CAI use hose clamps like that - even the factory uses them ... Wonder if anyone makes Black ones ...

Intake
 

They all have kinda unsightly clamps.Looks great though! Probably going this route. The filter gap does not look unfinished!!! I like it ! Nice job and thanks for the write up!!!

Got mine on almost. Turns out the early '16s were like the '14s, '15s with two breather hoses. They sent me the extra parts the next day including a different part that attaches to the inner fender. At first I couldn't see any difference but then I noticed the front top corner was notched out where it hits the hood hinge.

If your hood doesn't shut quite right, that's the problem.

You have a pic of the notch? My kit was missing the long single PCV hose so they also Next Day aired out the parts.

:iagree: It really is a nice piece love it sound is great, Plus the price is better than anyone out on the market. I will be keeping this one on the car... Robert

Looks good except for the excessively big/length of the clamps.


https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...40cbde226b.jpg





2 to 3 inches too long ......tin snip time!

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...f17c679f74.jpg


Is the white filter supposed to show or is it not tightened up to the fender yet?

ttt
 

^^^ I know it looks white in that pic but it really is a lite green filter yes it does show like that so it can pull air into it when the car is going down the road.:thumbs: Man to me this is a well made unit with every thing you need I like it on the car. To me what are you going to be out here if you don't like it they will take it back get it do some dyno pulls before and after and see how you like it then. They will pay for the shipping back to them cant do any better than that on a piece.. Robert

Filter
 

Have we been researching this at all???? Yes its exposed. That's the design.

Designed to pull hot air from inside the engine compartment?

Mine ( see pic) is sealed to the fender and takes in outside air from the fender opening.

Not trying to be a dick but I'm just looking at the pictures and quite can't understand what I'm seeing.


https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...2a30635e7d.jpg

Yes, black clamps are available.
http://www.suremotorsports.com/Black...mps-s/1810.htm

Pretty sure you need more than 5” diameter clamps but black does look good.

Better daytime pics.
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...4b78677d7.jpeg

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...1232bd19a.jpeg

You can raise rear up until the back is level with the top of the neoprene pad. It Looks like another.20 of an inch or so. The rear gap should be should be about .80 of an inch. It helps performance. Here is a pic of mine.VR tech
Attachment 48211076

There are some options for Black clamps. We looked into this a few yrs back . It was determined that we would have to have them coated ourselves to keep the pricing in line. After all, just because you own a Corvette doesn't mean you should have to pay a Corvette premium for everything and certainly not for BLK hose clamps. We could look into this again. I will put one of our guys on it Monday.

VR tech

Actually 5" is exactly what you need.
76-127 mm.

Love how it looks very close to OEM.

-Josh

We are glad you guys like it !
We design for performance but its nice when Performance and Looks can come together as one.

VR tech

The bottom is where the OEM needs help to breath due to the tightness to the filter.