Vararam V6 intake installed!

[LSRevelry]

From all of the information I have come across in regards to vararam, their products are a cut above, but I have not seen one in person. I am sure they work as advertised which is awesome. Regardless, I am sorry to be the skeptic here, but I want to know how this affects the radiator set up. Is it too much to ask for some different pics?

I saw earlier how someone asked if this would affect the radiator set up and they were supplied with a simple no from vararam. Can I ask why it does not? If you are removing half the supports how is the radiator supported?

I love the ingenuity here. I am happy that vararam is building a better bomb. I just want to know a little more.

[gundaaniyan]

better is better

[Trnsfmr]

I'll be buying one soon aswell. Ron from Vengeance mentioned it to me the other day and he's definetly the man to talk to. I'll be hydro dipping mine more than likely.

[chicagobulls]

if this has better hp and torque gains then the injen i will get it if not then i really do not want to overpay for less performance

will this have better gains than the injen

[rolnslo]

Originally Posted by LSRevelry

From all of the information I have come across in regards to vararam, their products are a cut above, but I have not seen one in person. I am sure they work as advertised which is awesome. Regardless, I am sorry to be the skeptic here, but I want to know how this affects the radiator set up. Is it too much to ask for some different pics?

I saw earlier how someone asked if this would affect the radiator set up and they were supplied with a simple no from vararam. Can I ask why it does not? If you are removing half the supports how is the radiator supported?

I love the ingenuity here. I am happy that vararam is building a better bomb. I just want to know a little more.

Let me see if I can help explain why Vararam was easily able to say that this would not affect the radiator setup...

If you take a closer look at how GM has set up the radiator, you'll notice a few things... From the factory, there is some "play" built into the radiator supports. The upper brackets that are bolted to the core support have a rubber grommet that goes around the plastic posts on either side on the top of the radiator. This means that the top of the radiator is not locked in solid to the frame of the car. The lower brackets for the radiator are a similar idea. Basically, the bottom edge of the radiator has two "posts" that extend down into holes in the frame rails on either side. These posts sit in a rubber grommet also, like the top. These rubber grommets allow for quite a bit of movement of the radiator, plus allowing for expansion/contraction of the entire radiator assembly.

Some pictures of the lower radiator mounts:






Now, here's a better side view of how the Vararam intake sits. The lower housing (the part that connects to the throttle body) sits on top of the radiator and then flows down the backside of the radiator before going to the throttle body. Keep in mind, also attached to the upper housing on the intake is the air deflector that extends down in front of the radiator. This deflector fits snugly between the radiator and the core support. Between the deflector and the lower intake housing, the radiator is basically sandwiched between the two.





For what I am about to say next, this info is coming directly from me and is not from Vararam.

If you are still concerned and want the extra security of having those upper radiator brackets still attached, you can put them back on - if you do a slight modification. I took a minute with a hacksaw to remove the section of the bracket that bumps into the intake housing. A simple vertical cut followed by a horizontal cut that aligns with the lower side of the bracket. With this slight modification, I was able to install the bracket back in it's original position...just have to remember not to over-tighten the bolt, as you don't want to crush the rubber gaskets on the intake air deflector. After taking the pictures, I removed the modified brackets since I don't really see a need to have these installed also given the way the intake itself basically cradles the upper part of the radiator. But, the option exists for those that want the extra security.





Hope that helps answer the concerns with how this intake affects how the radiator is supported.

[rolnslo]

Originally Posted by chicagobulls

if this has better hp and torque gains then the injen i will get it if not then i really do not want to overpay for less performance

will this have better gains than the injen

Completely understand on this...but...I can't see why Vararam would invest in the R&D for this intake to come in 2nd place. I don't have an Injen intake to compare it to so I can't speak on the comparison. I know dyno runs will be done and posted, just don't have a date for the dyno time yet.

[GoPaul]

Originally Posted by rolnslo

Part of the work they are doing now is to see just how close they can get the gains to be for both the manual and automatic with a single unit. If they can't get optimal results for both types with the same unit, there has been some discussion about releasing one for each. Time will tell which way it ends up being.

looks sweet, have they got a manual test vehicle?

[rolnslo]

Originally Posted by GoPaul

looks sweet, have they got a manual test vehicle?

That would be mine.

[GoPaul]

Originally Posted by rolnslo

That would be mine.

lol, I thought you were auto for some reason - I should have ready your sig!

[rolnslo]

Originally Posted by GoPaul

lol, I thought you were auto for some reason - I should have ready your sig!

Don't worry...I've done the same thing to other people as well...

[LSRevelry]

Rolnslo: Thank you!!! I appreciate you sharing this information! Vararam clearly picked the right person to give everyday feedback in their R&D for this. You addressed the concern to the T and the fact you can modify the set up makes me feel better.

Now...to play the waiting game.

[rolnslo]

Glad to help out.

[E.T.]

rolnslo,

Thanks for all the pics of the radiator setup. Without doing your little mod on the top brackets and just leaving them off, does the radiator move at all, or is it secure.

Personally, I'd rather be safe than sorry, and have those top brackets in place. For what this is going to cost, Vararam should just include a set of modified brackets with the kit. After paying a bunch of money for an intake, I shouldn't have to hacksaw parts of my car, even if those parts are just brackets.

[chicagobulls]

+1