Has anyone done any before and after drag strip tests on the Vararam intake? On a car like our 2005, they claim a gain of .25 of a second reduction in ET. That is a LOT for just and air intake. Advertising and reality seem to not always jive.
Vararam Performance Claims
- Thread starter Keith Tedford
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williame3590
Power User
I have read and heard that they are simply the best Keith. I have no personal proof.
Bill
Bill
No seat of the pants proof either but I have read other people's first hand account of ~10 rwhp increase and ~10 rwtq. with the gains in the quarter that you suggest.
I have before and after dynos done--problem is I also installed headers and high flow cats. Result was 30 rwhp with the combo. I don't think 8-10 would be unreasonable from thenVararam side of that equation.
Have the dyno sheet posted somewhere here......
Have the dyno sheet posted somewhere here......
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- #5
Thanks for the replies. Just having it on the engine will keep people guessing a little as to what
else has been done. Nothing, but I don't have to tell them that.
else has been done. Nothing, but I don't have to tell them that.
I do have a vararam.. no dyno numbers but it definitely pulls a lot harder than stock.. above 4-4500rpm the improvement is very noticeable IMO
Is it the Snake Charmer model you are considering Keith? I bought one for my C6 but sold the car before I got it installed. I did a lot of research as well and was pretty impressed with what people had to say. It is a ram air system as oppose to just a cold air intake and people commented to me that the real gain in HP comes on after about 50 kph.... which makes perfect sense as forward motion forces (rams) the air through the intake... Thus I would expect the dyno HP increase would be less than on the road or track. Don't expect the same result when you are in reverse though.... 
Thanks for the replies. Just having it on the engine will keep people guessing a little as to what
else has been done. Nothing, but I don't have to tell them that.
Without the VR Decal applied, or the Power Duct, my vararam looks like an OE airbox to the untrained eye. Just a FYI
Any chance of you posting a pic of yours? I'd like to see this set up.
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- #10
Hmmmm.... Looking pretty sharp Keith. How long with that toothbrush does it take to get an engine compartment that clean?
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- #12
It's not quite as clean in person as it looks in the picture. The guy I bought the car from used Q-tips to clean the engine. Hasn't been that clean since. I just use some quick detailer on a cloth and that does a pretty good job on the dust that accumulates.Hmmmm.... Looking pretty sharp Keith. How long with that toothbrush does it take to get an engine compartment that clean?
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Looks pretty clean from here Keith! 
Very nicely kept Keith.
Just wondering - does anyone know if you have to cut the plastic plenum on the car for all Vararams? I have a lead on a used one but don’t really wanna cut my car up to install it? 
Just wondering - does anyone know if you have to cut the plastic plenum on the car for all Vararams? I have a lead on a used one but don’t really wanna cut my car up to install it?
Had one. If it's the Vararam ram air unit ( called the Snake Charmer), you definately have to cut the shroud for the LS3 and the LS7. Would guess the LS2 would be the same but not sure. Lots of instructions on line.
Very happy with my Snake Charmer. No dyno results but definitely pulls harder. Yes on an LS3 you do have to cut shroud.
Thanks!
Hey Jim thanks for the like.
- Thread starter
- #20
In the top picture, you have to look pretty hard to see that there has been a cut made. I'd still like to see some quarter mile before and after times with the Vararam. Over the years, I have learned to not trust the seat of the pants dyno. In 1968, I had a done up Ram Air 400 Firebird. The automatic didn't feel as strong as four speed cars that I rode in, yet it had no trouble beating these same cars. Still, for the street, we want the enjoyment of the stick shift. To us, that is half of what a musclecar is all about and my wife can shift better than most guys.