I finally got the vararam intake I have been thinking about. I found a slightly used one in the classifieds here on HTC, close enough to pick up and the price was right. Thanks Bighornhemi1.

I was dissapointed to find the scoop would not fit between my new custom tow hooks, they had to come off. Damn it man!

So I'm off to the garage to strap her on, told the wife I would be done in 30min. HA! Four hours, 2 busted knuckles and a knot on the skull later my disappointment continues.

The L-bracket that mounts the intake to the A/C bolt is not 1 piece as shown in the instructions it is 2 pieces, and is way flimsy aluminum crap. I have tightened it 3 times since last night and the intake is still wobbly. I have checked and rechecked the clamps at the TB and all is secure there. The only other spot that secures the intake is where it "sits" on top of the washer fluid tank. Is this really all that holds this secure, 2 hose clamps and a crappy L-bracket? You think maybe some velcro on the washer tank would help? May also consider reworking the crap bracket.

The PVC line breather is another head scratcher, it sits way up next to the dipstick just flapping in the breeze. Not a big deal I guess, except that it rubs/hits the dipstick and the bottom of the intake casing. I have considered trimming the hose to lower the breather down and tuck it away a little neater, but I am still not sure the intake has a permanent home under my hood.

The intake itself sits back under a metal lip at the firewall making the lid difficult to open. It barely opens 4-5 inches, hardly enough to reach the wing nuts and remove the filter. Is this right? The lid does not open fully?

The hoses were another issue. The drivers side was pretty straight forward, but the passenger side was a real pain... literally. Squeezing a 5 inch hose between the frame rail and the radiator hose was like shoving 10 pounds of crap in a 5 pound sack. This is where I busted the knuckles, one on each hand of course. At one point I tore a hole in the hose when it snagged on something, and had to pull it out to trim it and START OVER. I was having loads of fun by now... This was about the time I cracked my jug on the skidplate trying to reach through and manuver the hose into the tiny space it is "supposed" to go in. I did finally get it and clamped everything down. Whew!

By now its midnight and I'm whipped, dirty, sweaty, pissed off, ready for a shower, tylenol and some sleep. Test drive will have to wait.

I hope this doesn't sound like I'm bashing on the Vararam product. I did a lot of reading and researching before I decided which way I wanted to go with my intake. Maybe that is why I was so dissapointed with some of the things I saw as sub-par. I may have expected something different.

The test drive is the good news. There is a noticable improvement in the low to mid range pull under heavy throttle... ya know the floorboard test. The seat of the pants meter helped me forget about the headache and knuckle scabs. There is also an aggressive whoosh when you romp it, but none of the ridiculous noise some of the open filter CAI's are known for.

Anybody else have any issues with their Vararam? If so how did you resolve them?

My biggest problem is the wobble, A quality performance product should not be as unstable as a druken sailor. I mean if you push on the intake it moves enough to make you want to check and make sure it is properly attached, and I have many times.

Any thoughts???

have the same issues i wan to relocate the washer an raidiator over flow tank to where the old air box use to sit and then make a bracket to support the otherside i hate the wobble too but so far no problems with it my lid dose not open all the way either haventcome up with a soluion yet maybe after the tanks are moved by te way we need to get together and the Florida chapter is planning a N Fl GTG cheeck the state chapter section

I started to call the other night Raceram9, but it was 8pm when I started and 10pm before I started cussing. Figured it was too late.

I read through some older posts and noticed that Duane suggests a TB spacer will move it forward enough to open better. I'm gonna make a call tommorrow to check it out.

The washer fluid bottle just blows me away, I cant believe someone actually said "just sit it on the water bottle, it'll be fine". What??!

I will say this, I reset the PCM and drove it around some this weekend. She is stout! The more I drive it, the more I like it. I had considered selling it and ordering a BFI, but I'm not sure now.

I think I can solve the bracket problem, 1/4" flat bar should do it. Thing is we shouldn't have to mod a mod...right?

I want to find an OEM front deflector piece so I can cut it down and fill in the edges where the scoop doesn't cover. I saw a post where another guy did it and it looked real clean. Anyone have one laying around their garage they would be willing to sacrifice for a good cause?

on intake. i thru out my old deflector while back.
i have tb spacer though.

Yeah I don't like the bracket either. Not the greatest in support there! Connecting the the tb ids the biggest PITA for me. once you run the hoses once it's easy. I think personally the BFI will be in my future as I want NOS~!!!! The vararam does not bode well with nos

i was up and just watching tv

had the vararam and my fix was to send it back for credit, struggled with it for months but it never fit right or sealed right, the filter element let debris into the intake, and the hood hit the cover, no fix for that. flimsy plastic for 350+. good luck. performance and customer service was good though.

05ram

thank you for the welcome

quote:

Originally posted by zwa21:
i have tb spacer though.

Which TB spacer did you go with?