Intake Comparison - Blackwing/VaraRam

[Remo]

(yes, I drive my car in the rain and it has not melted yet).

Jim,

You "actually" drive it in the rain? I'm shocked. I thought there was something in the owners manual under the "garage queen" section discouraging the practice of driving in the rain.

Remo:cool

 

[SANOLS1]

Lingenfelter Performance Engineering uses the Blackwing System on all their modified C5's.

Remo:cool

I'm anxious to hear if anyone has any comments on the Hurricane system that is also offered by Lingenfelter. Is the Blackwing just a filter setup or does it come with a forced air box? :confused

 

[DRTH VTR]

Jim,

You "actually" drive it in the rain? I'm shocked. I thought there was something in the owners manual under the "garage queen" section discouraging the practice of driving in the rain.

Remo:cool

I committed an even worse blasphemy this morning. I drove my car to work in the snow. It was just wet when I left the house, but by the time I got to work the snow had accumulated to somewhere between 1" and 2". I will leave it here unless the roads are clear after work. The prediction is for mid 30's and rain.

 

[DRTH VTR]

I'm anxious to hear if anyone has any comments on the Hurricane system that is also offered by Lingenfelter. Is the Blackwing just a filter setup or does it come with a forced air box? :confused

It is just a filter.

 

[Eagle Flight]

"just" a filter.... <doh> It is a GREAT system, I am still getting a kick out of it! The car goes AWESOME when you get on it!

They do sell a box or enclosure for the backwing to get more forced air from below, but I elected not to get it for now. I like it how it is, and it looks great to boot. Donalson makes first rate equipment! Good enough for Lingenfelter!

Everyone has their favorite and you will too, you just got to jump in and go for it. Enjoy every mile. My car is a daily driver, regardless of weather. As a matter of fact on really nice days it's the '67 that gets out.

Smoke 'em if you got 'em!

 

[Wyodude]

Hi Eagle Flight, one thing I left out of my comment is also the installation of the hi-flo duct and smooth coupler. I have installed VRam system, Granatelli MAF, Hi-flo duct and coupler and the VR velocity stack. The throttle body is still standard. I have heard that the 2003 has the Z06 intake maniforld which can flow 800CFM. To me it seems pointless installing a throttle body which can flow in excess of 1000CFM. What is your take on this?

Have you taken your Vette to the strip? I'm curious what the quarter mile times are for your car with the mods you installed. I have the Vararam, the hi-flo duct, the smooth coupler and VR velocity stack as well as a Corsa Indy exhaust. My first try with a new G-Tech Pro attached shows a 12.559 at 117.885 MPH. The weather was cold and traction was lousy at best. This came after I put traction control in competition mode. The first two runs with TC on were 12.95s at a higher terminal speed. I'm thinking about a Granatelli MAF and the GM bored throttle body as my next investments. What are your thoughts?

 

[*89x2*]

Lingenfelter Performance Engineering uses the Blackwing System on all their modified C5's.

Remo:cool

...and again, the blackwing proved in a third party test to make 19-21 hp less than a Callaway Honker on a C5 - From VETTE Magazine.


At Carlisle this year, they (Callaway Cars) sold about a 1/2 doz. "other" filter, Blackwing and a vararam included, that were used - Used in comparo tests. When I asked them about the others, they said if they made the power (equal to or greater than a Honker) it would be on their packages (cars).

Honker relocates the MAF on C5's to where it is now on a C6 - GM Obviously saw this and did the same after the Honker was introduced - there is probably a very good reason

I hope this helps

 

[Best Vette Yet]

Have you taken your Vette to the strip? I'm curious what the quarter mile times are for your car with the mods you installed. I have the Vararam, the hi-flo duct, the smooth coupler and VR velocity stack as well as a Corsa Indy exhaust. My first try with a new G-Tech Pro attached shows a 12.559 at 117.885 MPH. The weather was cold and traction was lousy at best. This came after I put traction control in competition mode. The first two runs with TC on were 12.95s at a higher terminal speed. I'm thinking about a Granatelli MAF and the GM bored throttle body as my next investments. What are your thoughts?

Hi Wyodude,
I have had my vette at the track and this is what was recorded.R/T- .135,
60'- 2.273, 330- 6.106, 1/8- 9.186, MPH- 78.55, 1000- 11.811, 1/4- 13.987, MPH- 103.93. This was on July 12th, temp was 106 degrees on the track, lockup was shakey. My vette was sitting at 220 degrees as I had to sit and wait at idle for a while before the actual run. I need to fit a lower thermostat as well. This is the best info I can give you. I also have a GTech Pro RR which I have taken pains to calibrate and it is very close to my track times. I can print out my run and compare my graphs with previous runs. The GVMW of your vette is very important and must be determined,(with you in it) try and find a weigh station to assist you with this measurement. I make sure I have a half tank of gas and not a full tank when I am at the track. The other vettes I have competed against were fairly standard and clocked average times of 14.45 and 96.7MPH at the end of the 1/4 mile. My dial in was 13.8. I think I would have made it if the weather had been cooler. I need to tell you that the other vettes were quicker from zero to 1/8 of a mile. It seems like my vette has "long legs" as she tends to gain more torque after 75MPH. I found improvement with the Jet stage 1 performance chip though. I had my vette set to "sport" and competition mode. Hope this little info helps you as for a standard vette, your 117.885 seems to be a little high. Good luck and drive safe.

 

[Remo]

...and again, the blackwing proved in a third party test to make 19-21 hp less than a Callaway Honker on a C5 - From VETTE Magazine.


At Carlisle this year, they (Callaway Cars) sold about a 1/2 doz. "other" filter, Blackwing and a vararam included, that were used - Used in comparo tests. When I asked them about the others, they said if they made the power (equal to or greater than a Honker) it would be on their packages (cars).

Honker relocates the MAF on C5's to where it is now on a C6 - GM Obviously saw this and did the same after the Honker was introduced - there is probably a very good reason

I hope this helps

I have no doubt that the "Honker" is the best air intake ever created - after all Vette Magazine said so. But what bothers me is that anyone would ever think that you would get a 20 HP improvement from "any" air/filter intake system.

Remo:cool

 

[Wyodude]

Best Vette Yet,

Where did you do your quarter mile runs? I know altitude makes a huge difference. My friend (yellow_2002_germany) ran his box stock C-5 at about sea level and shifted at or below 5 grand and turned 13.8s and 13.6s if I'm not mistaken. With what you have on your car, I would have guessed you would easily get into the mid to low 12s. I used the factory advertised weight added weight for the fuel (1/2 tank) and driver 185 lbs. I'm sure factory weight depends plenty on the options on the car. There is no scale that I know of around here. Anyone else have information on the G-Tech pro and quarter mile times?

 

[Best Vette Yet]

Best Vette Yet,

Where did you do your quarter mile runs? I know altitude makes a huge difference. My friend (yellow_2002_germany) ran his box stock C-5 at about sea level and shifted at or below 5 grand and turned 13.8s and 13.6s if I'm not mistaken. With what you have on your car, I would have guessed you would easily get into the mid to low 12s. I used the factory advertised weight added weight for the fuel (1/2 tank) and driver 185 lbs. I'm sure factory weight depends plenty on the options on the car. There is no scale that I know of around here. Anyone else have information on the G-Tech pro and quarter mile times?

Hi, I actually did my runs at 4600ft, you are correct when you say that altitude will have an effect as the air is a lot thinner here. Also with the track temp being so high and all, on second thoughts, I could have done a little better but such is life. Hope you enjoyed the holidays. One thing which I like about the GTech is that your HP and Torque is measured when the vehicle is in motion. this takes into account drag which drops HP and TQ figures, (realistic figures?); this does not occur on a dyno.

 

[Wyodude]

Ah, hah! That explains the ETs. You had me worried there for a moment. I thought my calculations at GTech were totally erroneous. I appreciate your comments and wish you a super new year (is there a new Z06 on this year's horizon?).

Wyodude

 

[Best Vette Yet]

Ah, hah! That explains the ETs. You had me worried there for a moment. I thought my calculations at GTech were totally erroneous. I appreciate your comments and wish you a super new year (is there a new Z06 on this year's horizon?).

Wyodude

No looking forward to a new Z06. I am trying to sell my vette in a hurry as I am in the middle of a messy divorce and cannot afford it anymore. My vette would be paid off in 2 yrs from now. Life deals unfair hands sometimes.