Vararam Quality - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

cmacclel · 06-22-2011, 06:47 PM

Well I picked my Camaro up last Friday and have been on the forums looking for mods ever since. My car came with the GM factory SS exhaust so I was looking at intakes. I was all set to by the CAI unit but it seems no one on the east coast had one available. I was planning on heading to the track this Friday so I wanted something close by so I could install it before hitting the track.

I sent MarylandSpeed and E-Mail asking if they had either the Vararam or CAI in stock. Within literly 5 seconds my phone rang and a gentleman gave me the information I needed (CAI out of stock). I wound up ordering the Vararam.

The Brown truck came about 30 minutes ago and I was already kind of bummed as it is currently raining outside and I wanted to install the intake ASAP. So I open up the box and thats where things got from bad to worse for me. The quality of this intake is really not something I would expect for a $400+ dollar part. The burrs on this thing are like nothing I have ever seen and I'm a machinist! The fit between the 2 pieces is very very sloppy and is not even remotely close to being air tight. There is 1/8th inch gaps in places.

Is this normal??? If so I think it's going back and I'll waite for a CAI.

Unit separated

I guess they left some extra in there :(

Is this really optimal? They could have cut off 3 barbs???

Burrs

Quality??

Yes this is the biggest burr I have ever seen!

More Burrs

Very Sloppy Fit

Bottom Gap

Top Gap

BackinBlackSS/RS · 06-22-2011, 06:51 PM

Call steve at Vararam with your concerns. He will take care of you. Another guy had issues with his intake and they sent him a brand new one. The intake performs, MANY of us here will testify to this. It flatout rocks. Call Vararam, they will make it right.

cmacclel · 06-22-2011, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BackinBlackSS/RS

Call steve at Vararam with your concerns. He will take care of you. Another guy had issues with his intake and they sent him a brand new one. The intake performs, MANY of us here will testify to this. It flatout rocks. Call Vararam, they will make it right.

So you have one and it looks better than this? Did I get a DUD that someone missed at inspection?

I can deburr this thing in 15 minutes but I'm not liking the way the 2 halves fit together.

Thanks Mac

BackinBlackSS/RS · 06-22-2011, 06:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmacclel

So you have one and it looks better than this? Did I get a DUD that someone missed at inspection?

Thanks Mac

Yes you did, mine does not have the burrs. The two pieces do not fit right up against each other. I'm not sure exactly why, although I heard one explanation is that so the intake can move as needed.

All I know is this thing performs, AND if you don't like the intake you can send it back for
100% money back guarantee.

laserjim · 06-22-2011, 07:03 PM

I would send it back.You would expect more for 400.00 dollars. Thats terrible

Pollock · 06-22-2011, 08:32 PM

Another reason why I went with CAI.

14pilot · 06-22-2011, 11:04 PM

Sorry you got a bad intake. Mine had none of those problems. Vararam will make it right, or they will take it back. Just a hassle to get something like that in the first place.

Ucantctchme · 06-22-2011, 11:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pollock

Another reason why I went with CAI.

What's your car run at the track?
To the OP I didn't have any burrs either. Vararam is a top performing intake as seen in the fast lists.

Camarowguy · 06-22-2011, 11:46 PM

Well honestly....my Carsten is the shittiest quality I have seen. Crappy quality control. I had to basically hand finish it myself and the screw inserts stripped out on the mass air flow sensor. So I had to spend $20 on new inserts to fix it. It was brand new like that. But the intake does really perform....if your willing to fix all the shit wrong with it. Vararam needs to up the quality for the price they are charging. I may have to take mine back off to see if I can fix that gap because I think dust or dirt can get through. Wake up vararam! I guess I should have called and complained, but I figured it would be easier to fix it myself.

mikeSS · 06-22-2011, 11:56 PM

there is a reason why CAI inc is not in stock. lets just say that.

Pollock · 06-23-2011, 12:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ucantctchme

What's your car run at the track?
To the OP I didn't have any burrs either. Vararam is a top performing intake as seen in the fast lists.

I am hopeful to find out this weekend weather permitting

boat rx · 06-23-2011, 12:20 AM

Do you want looks or performance.Mine sorta looked similar so I spent 15 minutes cleaned it up and put it on.If the holes don't line up properly I would grt ahold of Patrick and get one undrilled since you are a machinist you can handle that and make it fit good and tight.This is what I did and I have had nothing but great results from mine.

Bonemaro · 06-23-2011, 01:50 AM

My next door neighbor had similar issues. He didn't get all the parts and it was downhill from there. They promised him another one two weeks ago, and well.... he's still waiting to hear something. Poor is an understatement.

Hicompression · 06-23-2011, 05:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmacclel

So I open up the box and thats where things got from bad to worse for me. The quality of this intake is really not something I would expect for a $400+ dollar part. The burrs on this thing are like nothing I have ever seen and I'm a machinist! The fit between the 2 pieces is very very sloppy and is not even remotely close to being air tight. There is 1/8th inch gaps in places.

That is some bullsh*t quality right there. And people wonder why some of us buy performance parts made in Mexico and China? I've seen better quality come out of Mexico and China than some of the crap made in the U.S. No wonder manufacturing jobs are going overseas...zero pride in workmanship. Shame on you Vararam.

06-22-2011, 06:47 PM	#1
cmacclel Drives: 2010 2SS Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Boston Posts: 39	Vararam Quality Well I picked my Camaro up last Friday and have been on the forums looking for mods ever since. My car came with the GM factory SS exhaust so I was looking at intakes. I was all set to by the CAI unit but it seems no one on the east coast had one available. I was planning on heading to the track this Friday so I wanted something close by so I could install it before hitting the track. I sent MarylandSpeed and E-Mail asking if they had either the Vararam or CAI in stock. Within literly 5 seconds my phone rang and a gentleman gave me the information I needed (CAI out of stock). I wound up ordering the Vararam. The Brown truck came about 30 minutes ago and I was already kind of bummed as it is currently raining outside and I wanted to install the intake ASAP. So I open up the box and thats where things got from bad to worse for me. The quality of this intake is really not something I would expect for a $400+ dollar part. The burrs on this thing are like nothing I have ever seen and I'm a machinist! The fit between the 2 pieces is very very sloppy and is not even remotely close to being air tight. There is 1/8th inch gaps in places. Is this normal??? If so I think it's going back and I'll waite for a CAI. Unit separated I guess they left some extra in there :( Is this really optimal? They could have cut off 3 barbs??? Burrs Quality?? Yes this is the biggest burr I have ever seen! More Burrs Very Sloppy Fit Bottom Gap Top Gap

06-22-2011, 07:03 PM	#5
laserjim Another Day In Paradise Drives: Inferno Orange 2SS Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Port Richey, Florida Posts: 144	I would send it back.You would expect more for 400.00 dollars. Thats terrible __________________ 2011 Inferno Orange 2SS L99: Razzi Body Kit Solo Performance Axle Back Tuned With Superchips Flashpaq

06-22-2011, 11:46 PM	#9
Camarowguy Drives: 2011 imperial blue SS, black 92 RS Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Denham Springs Posts: 2,580	Well honestly....my Carsten is the shittiest quality I have seen. Crappy quality control. I had to basically hand finish it myself and the screw inserts stripped out on the mass air flow sensor. So I had to spend $20 on new inserts to fix it. It was brand new like that. But the intake does really perform....if your willing to fix all the shit wrong with it. Vararam needs to up the quality for the price they are charging. I may have to take mine back off to see if I can fix that gap because I think dust or dirt can get through. Wake up vararam! I guess I should have called and complained, but I figured it would be easier to fix it myself. __________________ 2011 imperial blue SS/RS a6 12.43@112 vararam, tune, jba cats, magnaflow axle back, self ported tb, under drive pulley, NO headers, Stock tires. 1.87 60ft. Stock tires. SOLD :( 2000 1500 silverado extra cab SOLD :( 2017 Silverado 5.3 all stock 2004 5.7 GTO 78mm turbo

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06-22-2011, 06:51 PM	#2
BackinBlackSS/RS Go Blue!!!!! Drives: 2012 Cruze LT Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Indiana Posts: 23,290	Call steve at Vararam with your concerns. He will take care of you. Another guy had issues with his intake and they sent him a brand new one. The intake performs, MANY of us here will testify to this. It flatout rocks. Call Vararam, they will make it right.

06-22-2011, 08:32 PM	#6
Pollock LT4 M6 Drives: 2018 ZL1 1LE Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Bloomington, IN Posts: 1,249	Another reason why I went with CAI.

06-22-2011, 11:56 PM	#10
mikeSS Drives: 2015 c7 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: MI Posts: 7,462	there is a reason why CAI inc is not in stock. lets just say that.

06-23-2011, 12:20 AM	#12
boat rx Drives: 2010 2ssrs Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Miami Posts: 205	Do you want looks or performance.Mine sorta looked similar so I spent 15 minutes cleaned it up and put it on.If the holes don't line up properly I would grt ahold of Patrick and get one undrilled since you are a machinist you can handle that and make it fit good and tight.This is what I did and I have had nothing but great results from mine.

06-23-2011, 01:50 AM	#13
Bonemaro Drives: 2010 RJT 1SS M6 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Ann Arbor, Mi. Posts: 1,692 View My Garage	My next door neighbor had similar issues. He didn't get all the parts and it was downhill from there. They promised him another one two weeks ago, and well.... he's still waiting to hear something. Poor is an understatement.