VaraRam, Updated intake kit

Frank S · October 18, 2004

I made it in to talk to Patrick from VaraRam today and he had my kit sitting right up front by the desk. He also let me take it out of there without first turning in my original intake which was still on the truck. I'm going to return the original tomorrow but it was a nice gesture on his part.

Anyway, here are a few pics

Yes, there is a huge difference in the feel of the truck in regards to the old standard kit. I played with it while running some errands a little while ago and the truck pulled very hard throughout the rpm range.

As you can tell in picture 2, I did have to bend the link brackets that attach the scoop to the ram air arm because the hood wouldn't shut right with it coming straight out the way it was designed to. No big deal there as I can make the bends a perfect 90* if I'd like to and it would look as though it was designed that way.

edit-Pictures changed to show revised install 10/18 9:15 pm.

Butch 02 Denali · October 18, 2004

That looks quite a bit different than the first one Frank. Now the front scoop stays on top of the front radiator cover? I do like that better than removing the cover.

willscary · October 18, 2004

Is it any noisier than the stock airbox and filter? Is the filter a washable unit like a K&N, or is it a more restrictive filter like the OEM? (I like the protection the OEM gives!)

01silverado2500 · October 19, 2004

Well im looking for an intake for my 6.0 and I have a few questions on this one.

Where does this draw the air from? behind the grille? under the hood? Also, can dirt or water fall into the air opening to the lower left? Thanks for the info.

Frank S · October 19, 2004

Butch, yes the cover piece does stay on, or atleast the instructions did not direct me to remove it. It's definitely a tight fit but that's a plus IMO. From what the instructions told me, you just temporarily remove the top passenger side shroud bolt and reuse it in bolting the arm down. That is also a very tight fit to get it between the bracket and the arm but it's nothing a little creativity can't solve.

Will, the filter is reuseable but I'm going to have to do some checking because it doesn't seem to be oiled. It seems to be dry where I felt it at but I admittedly can't get my hand on the main part without taking the new airbox apart so I could be wrong on that count. Also, I have not noticed any additional noise using this intake over the standard intake or over the stock airbox. I do have a pretty loud exhaust on my truck though so you may get some additional noise, though I doubt it would be much at all.

01silverado, the updated kit with the ram air attachment actually draws air from 2 seperate areas. It has the megaphone opening that points straight down from where the factory airbox and mounting plate sits and also pulls from under the hood at the end of the attachment. I'm not positive if the stadard intake has the 2 openings on the updated kit but I'd imagine they would be pretty much identical seeing as how it has been said that you can add the ram attachment at a later time if you purchase the standard kit first.

edit-Butch, the cover piece does need to be removed. Steve pointed out an improper install to me and I corrected it but the directions said nothing about removing that piece.

linda · October 19, 2004

Anyone have the 8.1L setup? I am having some serious lining up issues with mine. The box will not go down far enough, and if i force it down it kinks the stock hose that attaches to the MAF. If i leave the hose clamps loose, they pop right off of either the air box or the MAF connector when trying to line things up. The direction photos are completely different than the way my under hood area looks in regards to hooking the stock air tube back up. Do i use the larger adapters everywhere? Do i need the 1" adapter for anything? Does anything support the airbox from underneath?

I have the stock air tube that runs to the stock accordian hose. Then that hooks up to one side of the MAF connector, then the other side of the MAF connector gets one of the larger spacers attached to it. Then the airbox attaches to the other side of the spacer. When i hook it up like that, i cant get the correct angle or height i need without some serious pressure on the tubes and scoop, not to mention the accordian hose being kinked up. Any help would be great.

Thanks

Steve Cornell · October 19, 2004

Frank S,

I'm still running the original VaraRam with out the Ram Air scoop (Vara Ram is replacing mine with the new system and scoop) but something just does not look right in your pics ???

I really think you need to remove the plastic shroud under the hood, I don't see how you are going to get any air into the system the way you have it ?? and I don't see how you will get any "Ram Air" effect.

I think the "Scoop" needs to go down behind the grill to trap the air ??

I could be totally wrong but look at the picture from Vara-Ram, how about it Tom Byrne, any input ??

SxViper · October 19, 2004

I hope mine shipped today. If so I should have it tommrow or the day after. I am heading to VA(from Maine) at the end of the month and should be taking my 6.0L and will get real world MPG for everyone.

Frank S · October 19, 2004

Frank S,

I'm still running the original VaraRam with out the Ram Air scoop (Vara Ram is replacing mine with the new system and scoop) but something just does not look right in your pics ???

I really think you need to remove the plastic shroud under the hood, I don't see how you are going to get any air into the system the way you have it ?? and I don't see how you will get any "Ram Air" effect.

I think the "Scoop" needs to go down behind the grill to trap the air ??

I could be totally wrong but look at the picture from Vara-Ram, how about it Tom Byrne, any input ??

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

You might be right and I'll look at it again but the directions with my kit said nothing about removing that piece above the radiator.

edit-Steve, you are 100% correct. The fit is perfect when I remove the plastic guard and I'm sure that is the way it's supposed to be.

I've gone back over my instructions and nowhere does it say to remove that piece. I may mention that to them when I take my old kit back tomorrow.

Picstures changed BTW.

linda · October 19, 2004

still having fitting problems with mine if anyone has suggestions. Not sure why, but it seems like that section of tubing that drops down on the stock intake tube is making the flexable tube section kink up. I will try and get some photos tomorrow, im getting to aggrivated tonight

dannyukonxl · October 19, 2004

linda, you might want to try losening up the tube that connects to the throttle body, maybe its a different angle, making the vararam airbox too high or in the wrong direction, at least if you loosen that up you can have some play to move it any direction you want

Steve Cornell · October 19, 2004

Frank,

Thanks for the update, I'm going to order a new plastic cover for my truck so when my Vara Ram gets here I'll try doing some cutting and see if I can "Perty" it up a bit.

I'm also going to fabricate a base out of ABS plastic to hold the airbox in place a bit better than the rubber flap that comes with it.

I'll post pics of my progress once it arrives.

Steve

linda · October 19, 2004

I tried that danny, but the stock pipe hits the fan shroud once you push it down more than an inch or so. I dont think there is any room for play with that stock tube. how does it keep a tight fit to the hood if there is no support under the air box? When the hood shuts, wouldnt it just push the air box down? From what i can make out of the instructions (which doesnt use the 8.1L in its photo's) i dont need the 1" spacer, or the extra 10" tube that is supplied. Looks like i dont need the "cone" they sent me either, thats for a non-ram setup. I just dont understand how this thing stays in one place without mounting it anywhere except the one fan shroud bolt. The other thing is in the photos i have seen, the ram shoot comes within about an inch or so from the fender after its all mounted up. The fan shroud bolt on my truck that is used makes it so when mine is in place, its like 3 or 4 inches from the fender....but thats the only bolt i have that is close enough to work. No matter what i do, i cant get this thing to line up, it either binds up my flex tube, or the spacers pop off of the airbox or MAF block.

Frank S · October 19, 2004

Frank,

Thanks for the update, I'm going to order a new plastic cover for my truck so when my Vara Ram gets here I'll try doing some cutting and see if I can "Perty" it up a bit.

I'm also going to fabricate a base out of ABS plastic to hold the airbox in place a bit better than the rubber flap that comes with it.

I'll post pics of my progress once it arrives.

Steve

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Right and that's good thinking.

I was actually looking at mine after I pulled it and thinking about what I can do with the Dremel. I think I can get it to work.

linda · October 19, 2004

does anyone have any photos of thier VARARAM installed BEFORE they put on the scoop? Im trying to find out if i hooked up the tubing using the wrong spacers or something. Cant figure out why nothing lines up.

Thanks