Air intake systems

[Jim 2001]

Anyone have any problem with the vararam intake system on thier c5? Any suggestions on air intake systems would be apprieciated!!;ae

[Norm Clemmer]

I have the Black Wing system but from what I hear the Varaman system is a very good system.
Norm

[Al Betz]

I have the original VaraRam that was supplied to the Corvette Challege for testing. One of the first built. I liked it, never took it off and bought the unit from Patrick at VaraRam.

Great intake got me about 0.35 reduced ET on a bone stock 99 coupe on the EMTs. That's about 35 hp at the rear wheels. Not bad for an intake system. With the VaraRam, Z06 exhaust, and not much else the car has gone 12.74. Will run 12.95 at 0 feet DA.

[C5pilot]

I had the Blackwing on my C5. Simple install, absolutely safe, fantastic filtering, very high quality, but it's not a CAI. Now that more time and testing has passed, I'd go for the Vararam. I put one on the C6.

[OUTLAW]

I had same response as Al Betz. Never a problem same package

[Glennm27]

I had same response as Al Betz. Never a problem same package

Nick, did you also see a .35 improvement in your ET at the track?

I have a Vararam and think it's a great design. It does however do most of it's magic above 50 mph when you really start to push the air into the intakes.

It is susceptible to water problems if you ever get yourself into very heavy rain situations.. You just do NOT want to engulf the nose of the car in water (ie: deep puddles)
The Vararam takes all it's air in through the two openings where the fog lights are on a C5. If you engulf those openings in water, your LS1 is toast.....

That is just a warning. It didn't stop me from buying it but made me very conscious of how I drive the car...

[OUTLAW]

You know Glenn, I thought it was just my imagination but when I had the Vararam installed I felt that the car had more speed to it past 35-50 MPH. I noticed this on the way to the shore last year. I also noticed that the car uses more gas. Do you think its do to the Vararam? The car is definitely faster at higher speeds. I did not know about the water issue. Warning taken...

[Al Betz]

My on road 65-70 MPH on cruise gas mileage is actually better by .5 MPG on long trips back and forth to Virgina 200 Miles each way with the VaraRam. It's not a scientific test just what the on board computer indicates. Of coarse that is with the crossover pipe and Z06 exhaust too. At worst MPG is the same.

On VaraRam functionality the unit is better than stock from 0mph up. At low speeds it is probablbly a lot like any of the other low restriction intakes from 330' on the strip to the finish line it is a serious improvement. Worth about 3 - 5 MPH in the quarter mile too. Have actually run 109.7 on EMTs. Speeds with DRs are lower by 1-2 MPH. Never ran above 104 with the stock intake.

[hcvone]

Anyone have any problem with the vararam intake system on thier c5? Any suggestions on air intake systems would be apprieciated!!;ae

Had two Vararam systems, it gives the most dyno hp and SOTP performance, I dyno tested it against (2) Hall Tech units (forget their names he changed them so much) , Blackwing, K&N FIPK and the dual filter unit, and Vararam clearly provided most hp, add dyno tuning and you will have a big smile on your face. :)

[Mike Campbell]

I had the Vortex Air box & later replaced it with the Vararam after a couple of years. They both performed well and my 99 always got great gas mileage. My 99 turned well & when I first put the air box on you could really feel the difference especially above 50 mph. However, not between the Vortex or the Vararam ;bt