04-30-2020, 12:27 AM | #1 |
Installed Vararam Power Wedge
I recently installed the power wedge a few days ago. I have NOT put it on a dyno. There is a noticeable difference, my car is completely stock except for a wicker bill.
First thing I noticed was the throttle felt like it had a tighter response, like there is less lag. It wasn't a huge change, but it did strike me the moment I started to drive around. Second was the gas mileage. It definitely improved without a doubt. I've always drove around messing with the MPG calculator on the dash, always resetting it and seeing how it behaves on different sections of road at various speeds. It was obvious the car's mpg changed as the dash was visibly struggling to find an accurate reading, more so than before the install. I can honestly say there's an average of 1-2 mpg increase across the board. I've set the cruise to 60 mph on the highway in 6th gear and have seen 25-27mpg consistently. I've never seen these numbers before. That's on a vararam power wedge and wicker bill only 1le, which is rated at 24 highway stock (FWIW I rarely if ever saw 24 mpg). Last but not least, the fun part. The car is quicker, no way around it. The most accurate example I can give for the performance difference is this. If you've ever payed close attention to the difference a passenger makes, I would say that is as accurate of an example as I can give you. I can personally feel the slight change in accelerarion when a 150 lb passenger sits in the car. The difference the wedge made is starting with that passenger (stock) and then kicking them out (wedge installed). It's a slight difference, but that's about the level of change I would argue we are dealing with. TLDR: get the wedge it works! |
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04-30-2020, 09:15 PM | #2 | |
Drives: 2010 Chevy Camaro 2SS Join Date: Mar 2020
Location: California
Posts: 37
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04-30-2020, 10:07 PM | #3 |
Drives: 2010 CGM 2SS/RS LS3 Swapped A6 Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Spring Hill, FL
Posts: 4,619
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I have heard a ton of good stuff on these, including people totally skeptical that were happy after install. I have almost pulled the trigger multiple times, but the retune requirement for me (Vararam CAI) always holds me back. The Vararam CAI used with a Powerwedge requires tune adjustment for MAF scaling. I will wait until my next mod upgrade and have it re-tuned for this as well.
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2010 CGM Camaro 2SS LS3 Swapped A6 - GPI LS3 SS1 .647/.638, (224/237, 112 +4, 7º overlap) on CamMotion 8620 core, BTR Platinum .660" Dual Spring kit w/titanium retainers, CHE bronze trunnion upgrade, stock heads milled @ .015, Melling HV 10296 oil pump, TSP 1-7/8" long tube headers (W/Catless Off-road Pipes), Corsa Xtreme 3" Catback, GPI Ported/Rod Mod Intake, Stage 2 Ported Throttle Body, Vararam OTR CAI, Mike Norris Gen 2 catch can + GM 1LE clean side separator, 160º thermostat - Megan Racing adjustable coilovers (lowered 1.75"), MRR M017 10/11" wheels-Tuned by Ryan @ GPI
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05-01-2020, 02:06 AM | #4 | |
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05-01-2020, 02:08 AM | #5 |
05-01-2020, 07:36 AM | #6 | |
Started#gottalovethatblue
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Vararam is the cold air intake that will yield the most horsepower NA that I've read about. I'm a Roto-fab fan personally because I had their intake on my G8 and then bought one for my Camaro years ago and have been super happy with it. However, the top three cold air intakes I always recommend to people are Roto-fab, Vararam, and CAI. The only drawback with Vararam is that if/when you add a positive displacement supercharger you'll have to buy a different intake where Roto-fab and CAI you can get away with a different tube.
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05-01-2020, 07:58 AM | #7 |
Drives: 2014 2SS RS, 6 sp man Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Marlton, NJ
Posts: 461
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I installed one last year. Hard to tell if it gained anything up top but the response seemed a bit better.
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05-01-2020, 08:39 AM | #8 |
Drives: 2010 Chevy Camaro 2SS Join Date: Mar 2020
Location: California
Posts: 37
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I installed it yesterday and maybe my butt dyno isn’t calibrated correctly but I instantly began chirping the tires into 3rd with TC on and fast shifts. I’ve only had my car for month and a half, but I’ve only been able to do that in competition mode or with all the nannies off. Throttle response seems to be better and it seems to pull harder at WOT. Only mods I have are this and an SLP catback/x pipe. If you look at the mating surface of the TB and intake manifold, it makes sense as to why this product would work.
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05-01-2020, 09:16 AM | #9 |
USA-1
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Damnit, I thought after I got my GPI manifold and UDP on I'd be full-bolt ons, but now looks like I need to add the wedge in.
I really though have to call BS on their dyno sheets. They are claiming 10 hp gain at peak and 20 pounds of torque with just the wedge...seriously?
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"A Camaro in the garage is safe, but that's not what Camaros are built for..."
R2C CAI / Apex Scoop / VMAX Ported TB / Speed Engineering LTHs / X-pipe / GPI port/rod-mod intake manifold / Circle D 3200 278mm Converter / 3.91 gears / DynoSteve tuned / 1LE Shocks/Struts/Toe Links / ZL1 Rear Sway Bar / Z/28 Trailing arms / Prothane Radius Arm & Subframe Bushings / BMR UCA Bracket, Steering rack bushing / B&M Tranny Cooler / RX Catch Can / Jannetty Tranny Dipstick / 2012+ Heater Hose / 2013+ Rearview Mirror / Fuel rail flip / Drake shifter / Oil Cooler Delete |
05-01-2020, 10:38 AM | #10 | |
Drives: 2012 Camaro SS Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: New York
Posts: 1,434
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2012 Camaro 2SS/RS - CSP Custom Cam 232/240 .615/.615 113 +3, Texas speed CNC heads, FTI billet triple disc converter, K&N cai, Katech ported TB, GPI Ported/rod modded manifold, Texas speed 1 7/8 headers, HFC, Flowmaster 2 chambers with x pipe, Mishimoto CC, MSD wires, Roto fab washer relocation, tru cool 40k trans cooler, apex scoop, Pedders extreme coil overs and much more!!
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05-01-2020, 11:14 AM | #11 | |
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05-01-2020, 11:18 AM | #12 |
USA-1
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6low, talk with RDP motorsports/DynoSteve and get his tune package. You could get a tune for your current mods, then get a tune for the intake, then get a tune for longtubes...and only pay once. It's the SCT tunes for life thing he sells.
Case in point: I got a tune for my intake then a tune for the ported throttle body then a tune for longtubes then a tune for 3.91s then a tune for 3200 converter will be getting a tune for GPI's ported/rod modded intake manifold and probably a tune for the wedge if I get one I paid only once... https://www.rdpstore.com/p-6042-tune...tom-tunes.aspx
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"A Camaro in the garage is safe, but that's not what Camaros are built for..."
R2C CAI / Apex Scoop / VMAX Ported TB / Speed Engineering LTHs / X-pipe / GPI port/rod-mod intake manifold / Circle D 3200 278mm Converter / 3.91 gears / DynoSteve tuned / 1LE Shocks/Struts/Toe Links / ZL1 Rear Sway Bar / Z/28 Trailing arms / Prothane Radius Arm & Subframe Bushings / BMR UCA Bracket, Steering rack bushing / B&M Tranny Cooler / RX Catch Can / Jannetty Tranny Dipstick / 2012+ Heater Hose / 2013+ Rearview Mirror / Fuel rail flip / Drake shifter / Oil Cooler Delete |
05-01-2020, 11:22 AM | #13 | |
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Now... if someone asks if the car is stock after they got a good view of my taillights, do I tell them it's stock |
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05-01-2020, 11:27 AM | #14 | |
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