Got Corvettes on the brain? 'Cause we sure do! Back in our Nov. 2006 issue, we did some initial testing of our Monterey Red Metallic C6 project car ("Locked on Target")-and loved every minute of it. After pulling mid-12s in the quarter in our box-stock '06, we installed an Innovate Motorsports wideband O2 system to keep an eye on the air-fuel ratio of our LS2 during this build. We also slapped on a 3-inch Corsa cat-back exhaust, an item that garnered performance that could not only be measured on the dyno and felt in the seat of the pants-but perhaps best of all, heard from down the street!
Yet not every aftermarket product will yield all such types of improvements. That is, while any good bolt-on should increase performance in some objective fashion, it can't always be accurately measured via traditional means. We're talking about our friend the dynamometer here. Yes, peak dyno numbers are fun to quote on the message boards and at your local car hangout-but they don't always tell the full performance story. Factors like transmission type, vehicle weight, and rear axle gearing all mean that a rwhp number isn't necessarily the bottom line when it comes to whose machine will be first to the next corner.
Nowhere does this ring more true than with ram air induction systems. While most factory (and many aftermarket) airboxes function similarly regardless of whether a car is moving or stationary, ram air systems utilize the pressure of oncoming atmosphere to add airflow into the engine, compounding gains of torque and horsepower. (If you're interested in the theory behind ram air and induction systems in general, check out "Induction Introduction" back in our June 2005 issue.) Such is the case with the VaraRam VR-SC1 developed for the C6 Corvette. For this system, the company advertises moderate gains on the dyno, but the real power comes when the vehicle is in motion: a reported 32-37 rwhp or more at speed! So unless you're dyno testing in a full-fledged wind tunnel, actual performance improvement from such a ram air system can only be measured out on the racetrack.
And Vettes were born to race! Follow along in the photo captions as we install induction items from VaraRam Industries. While we're at it, we'll keep with the theme and improve our C6 with another item whose effect can't be dyno-quantified: a performance shifter from B&M. (See the sidebar for its install and review). So hang on to your hats folks-a strong wind's a blowin'!
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Donned with a name alluding to taming Viper and Cobra competition alike, VaraRam sells its VR-SC1 "Snake Charmer" ram air induction kit for $399.95. Included are the upper roto-molded and lower vacuum-formed plastic duct portions, a custom-designed cotton/gauze air filter, and all necessary clamps, hoses, and fasteners. Far more than just a cold air kit, this is a race-developed ram air unit with an aero package designed specifically to maximize peak CFM and minimize time needed to attain peak manifold pressure. | 
For this test we'll also be installing a VR-TBS1 Throttle Body Spacer. Compatible with all LS2 engines, this item is said to add 5 rwhp or more and 10 lb-ft of torque to your Corvette, SSR, Trailblazer SS, or GTO. Selling for $59.95, its primary function is to increase the effective plenum volume of the intake manifold-giving the engine a larger reserve of air to draw on during each intake stroke and hence "pull" less on the throttle body and upstream intake system. |