No BS dyno test of Vararam CAI for G8

[Patrick G]

The first mod on my G8 GT was a dyno tune. My power rose from 307rwhp/333rwtq to 325rwhp/335rwtq with the tune (87 octane tune by the way). It was all outlined here:
http://www.ls1tech.com/forums/dynamo...e-g8-tune.html

Yesterday, I installed the Vararam cold air intake for the G8 as the second mod. I've seen some pretty outrageous claims from different people on the gains from installing the VR. Mine was going to be a true A-B-A comparison. Tuned with the Vararam, back to tuned with the stock air box, back to the tuned with the Vararam. All on the same dyno within a one hour time period.

The results for the Vararam were good, but certainly not nearly as high as other people's gains. We dynoed the Vararam and it made 335.5rwhp/341.5rwtq. Then we reinstalled the factory airbox and it made 325rwhp/335rwtq. Then we reinstalled the Vararam and it made 336rwhp/342rwtq. A gain of 10.5rwhp and a torque gain of 7. This gain was not as much as some others had posted which leads me to believe that perhaps the Vararam may gain more on an untuned application or maybe people were testing the stock airbox with a stock tune and the Vararam with a power tune. If that's the case, then my total gains for VR and tune were 28rwhp and 9 rwtq. More in line with the big claims some have been making.

Here's the dyno of the Vararam compared to the stock airbox. All adaptives were reset before each pull and the oil/water temps were all the same. We used 93 octane to insure there was 0 knock. Like I said, this was a no-BS test.

[fiveoh]

Good info. Thanks for doing this. I see your in victoria, what shop do you work at? What are your plans for your g8?

[Patrick G]

Good info. Thanks for doing this. I see your in victoria, what shop do you work at? What are your plans for your g8?

Actually, I don't work at a shop, but my best friend has a large garage with a lift and a chassis dyno. Cool friend huh? We've been dyno tuning EFI cars for years in our spare time, but we both have high paying white collar jobs during the week.

Plans for the G8? Not sure. Next mod will probably be headers, then a baby cam after that. I really like AFM, but I'm not sure how big I can go with an aftermarket cam and still keep the feature. Once I know for sure, I'll decide. These 821 heads really respond to lift. After headers and a cam, I may add a TVS 2300 blower (or whatever's better at the time).

[MGM GT]

Did you have a fan capable of producing the 50mph ( I think technically its 48) winds the vararam claims to produce more power at? I think thats a small catch...

[johnh]

I really like AFM, but I'm not sure how big I can go with an aftermarket cam and still keep the feature.

Yep it would be cool. I think New Era is the only vendor with a DOD Cam.

I think a dod cam, headers and a maggie would let you get hopefully 28 mpg and high 11s.

[Gonewild]

Thanks for you and your friends hard work and research. I know it takes time to do these tests, and it is much appreciated...

[majesticix]

I'd suggest taking a trip to your local track and see what you run with the stock airbox and the Vararam. I bet you'll see a noticeable improvement in time, and weigh that with the cost of these intakes, and I'd say it's a worthwhile mod investment with minimal risk.

[Devilish34]

That to sounds about right but when I went from my side mount NEP to vararam I noticed a diff at above 60mph @ wot before a new tune
BlackBerry8330/4.5.0.77 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/105

[Mike P]

Actually, I don't work at a shop, but my best friend has a large garage with a lift and a chassis dyno. Cool friend huh? We've been dyno tuning EFI cars for years in our spare time, but we both have high paying white collar jobs during the week.

Plans for the G8? Not sure. Next mod will probably be headers, then a baby cam after that. I really like AFM, but I'm not sure how big I can go with an aftermarket cam and still keep the feature. Once I know for sure, I'll decide. These 821 heads really respond to lift. After headers and a cam, I may add a TVS 2300 blower (or whatever's better at the time).

Patrick:

What are the ballpark cam specs of the baby cam that you are thinking of going with. I know you are a cam & tuning expert, so I am very curious what kind of cam you are thinking of going with? (Especially the LSA).

Can't wait to see the specs on the cam you are thinking about....


*** Actually what specs on a cam would you use, if you were getting rid of DOD/AFM?



...

[PostalCherokee]

You said you have an 87 octane tune. You used 93 to make sure there was no knock but did you use a 93 tune? If not then there is probably some more power left on the table. Sorry, didn't want to start another octane war but anyone feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.