Gen 5 Camaro External Bolt-On Tech - Cold Air Induction, Roto-Fab, Fast-Lane or VaraRam

I'v narrowed it down to these 4.. personally iv seen CAI, FL and VaraRam are the best but iv heard roto is good too, i just want the best one im doing my cam here soon and am getting my TB/intake ported

I researched all and had a vararam. Roto-fab all the way. They also have a cool radiator cover to match.
http://www.haddadmotorsports.com/catalog/images/2010%20Camaro%20Standard%20Black%20Radiator%20Cove r%20-%20Tex%20Finish.jpg

interesting the 4" AEM is just like the fastlane and its only $229.. damn that is dirt cheap for a name brand.. almost as cheap as generic... they claim 16 :eek2:

I would research the Halltech before you buy any of those. I bought a CAI intake and got 18rwhp with the scoop but I also got heat soak from the Aluminum tube.

Don't get an intake with a coated Aluminum tube.

I would research the Halltech before you buy any of those. I bought a CAI intake and got 18rwhp with the scoop but I also got heat soak from the Aluminum tube.

Don't get an intake with a coated Aluminum tube.

well research shows air moves so fast through tubes it doesnt have time to pull heat technically but i hear ya..

the thing about the low hung intakes is I imagine they work like scooped ones ( personally I like fastlanes pipeline CAI) but that pipe on the halltech definitly looks nice

id say halltech or rotofab for top mount ones

Couldn't be happier with my Rotofab.

ya im leaning towards the roto here.. customers and reviewers (need more people to review these things im surprised noone else has)

well research shows air moves so fast through tubes it doesnt have time to pull heat technically but i hear ya..

the thing about the low hung intakes is I imagine they work like scooped ones ( personally I like fastlanes pipeline CAI) but that pipe on the halltech definitly looks nice

id say halltech or rotofab for top mount ones


I listened to the research too and bought the CAI, I was PISSED after I got it. I'm giving you real world experience.

The problem with the research is they make a Dyno run and that's it. I drive around for an hour before I find someone to race and my engine was soggy because of the heat soak.

I covered the Aluminum tube with a piece of pipe insulation and the heat soak is not a problem any more. I would have bought a air intake with a plastic tube if I had to do it over again.

I listened to the research too and bought the CAI, I was PISSED after I got it. I'm giving you real world experience.

The problem with the research is they make a Dyno run and that's it. I drive around for an hour before I find someone to race and my engine was soggy because of the heat soak.

I covered the Aluminum tube with a piece of pipe insulation and the heat soak is not a problem any more. I would have bought a air intake with a plastic tube if I had to do it over again.

would u go roto-fab? if so screw it my decision :judge:

Roto fab intake ported TB and manifold

The Roto-Fab has a plastic tube (one of the reasons I went with it). FWIW, I actually drove to Roto-Fab and picked mine up right where they are/were made. I met Mike the owner and gave me a complete tour of his business while I was there.

check this out
http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=201216

I have a Rotofab w/ plastic tube and absolutely love it.

bought the halltech :judge:

BTW I had the LMR before but when i wrecked my car it broke (ya i smashed it good i fell asleep)

http://www.southerncarparts.com/images/Halltech/Halltech%20Camaro%20intake-lg.jpg

bought the halltech :judge:

BTW I had the LMR before but when i wrecked my car it broke (ya i smashed it good i fell asleep)

http://www.southerncarparts.com/images/Halltech/Halltech%20Camaro%20intake-lg.jpg

yea im liking the Halltech more and more for some reason

would u go roto-fab? if so screw it my decision :judge:

Roto fab intake ported TB and manifold


If I was going to buy a new air intake now it would be the Halltech hands down.

Everyone likes the Roto-Fab but it didn't do well in the Jannetty test. I would like to see another independent test other than Jannetty's if someone has a link or some other info.

I'd be hard pressed to believe equal air filters and plastic tubes mean a 10hp difference. I know an OTR LOST a 10th at the track on my car so I also believe any intake better be tuned for a long term gain.

I have the CAI inc. along with the ADM race scoop. Yes the tube does get hot but it is ceramic coated inside and out and had the lowest IAT in the Jennetty tests done on C5. Take that for what you will, some claim bias or whatever in the test. I orginally had a LMR intake as they were the first on the market and available when I got my car. I really could not tell much of a difference between the two till I added the ADM scoop to the CAI intake.

I'd be hard pressed to believe equal air filters and plastic tubes mean a 10hp difference. I know an OTR LOST a 10th at the track on my car so I also believe any intake better be tuned for a long term gain.

Do they have equal air filters?

Plastic tube is the only way to go. The heat soak from Aluminum or Stainless Steel will be a factor if you street race or drive it daily.

If you look at the Halltech tube it has a reduction at the MAF sensor. Halltech claims it lets in more air but I'm skeptical about it. I do know their inverted tip air filter lets in more air than a air filter with out an inverted end.

As long as everyone is warned about the heat soak from Aluminum and Stainless tubes I'm good

Do they have equal air filters?

Plastic tube is the only way to go. The heat soak from Aluminum or Stainless Steel will be a factor if you street race or drive it daily.

If you look at the Halltech tube it has a reduction at the MAF sensor. Halltech claims it lets in more air but I'm skeptical about it. I do know their inverted tip air filter lets in more air than a air filter with out an inverted end.

As long as everyone is warned about the heat soak from Aluminum and Stainless tubes I'm good

Same as roto-fab. Inverted cone filter, plastic tube with taper and velocity stack entry.

Same as roto-fab. Inverted cone filter, plastic tube with taper and velocity stack entry.


Hmm, that makes me question the accuracy of the JRE air intake test. I think he had the Roto Fab at 5 or 7 rwhp. I would think it would be closer to 15rwhp.

Bias, its not just for politics............

I would do a vararm tune intake.

im sure any of these have to work pretty good

where does that line or tube coming from the passenger side of the motor that goes into the stock intake go after u install the new CAI??

where does that line or tube coming from the passenger side of the motor that goes into the stock intake go after u install the new CAI??

Right here

Right here

Cool thanks i see it now, i heard u have to disconnect the negative side of the battery before installing the cold air kit? is this true?? also wut do u think of the K&N CAIs? they claim to give u 18rwhp

Cool thanks i see it now, i heard u have to disconnect the negative side of the battery before installing the cold air kit? is this true?? also wut do u think of the K&N CAIs? they claim to give u 18rwhp

Disconnecting the battery is not really necessary for a cold air install. The K&N is probably just as good as any, the key for these kits is isolating the filter from the engine bay heat. Make sure it seals well down on the inner fender area and against the hood liner when the hood is closed.

Disconnecting the battery is not really necessary for a cold air install. The K&N is probably just as good as any, the key for these kits is isolating the filter from the engine bay heat. Make sure it seals well down on the inner fender area and against the hood liner when the hood is closed.

ok cool, yea they are running a special on it at a nearby performance shop and i can get it for cheap so i figured why not, install looks pretty easy

Wut about the Vararam intake it looks like a totally different setup?

vararam won't work on a '12 yet.

vararam won't work on a '12 yet.

o its just for the 10s and 11s\ then?

I don't want to badmouth a product that I have not used, but there were a lot of problems with the Vararam intake when it came out. First it took them forever to get them out, I gave up my spot in line and went to the CAI. When they did come out people were reporting issues with bucking and surging at idle and low rpms. There were issues with build quality of the intake. They would not agree to have thier intake tested along with others. That being said , there are some people who swear they are the best intake out there.Vararam also seems to have good customer service with all the problems they have had. There must be some minor difference in the '12's, that they had to make a newer model intake.

'12 changed radiator cap location and vararam won't fit. I can attest to their customer service and also to a 10th loss in the 1/4 mile from stock intake. My .02.

I don't want to badmouth a product that I have not used, but there were a lot of problems with the Vararam intake when it came out. First it took them forever to get them out, I gave up my spot in line and went to the CAI. When they did come out people were reporting issues with bucking and surging at idle and low rpms. There were issues with build quality of the intake. They would not agree to have thier intake tested along with others. That being said , there are some people who swear they are the best intake out there.Vararam also seems to have good customer service with all the problems they have had. There must be some minor difference in the '12's, that they had to make a newer model intake.

'12 changed radiator cap location and vararam won't fit. I can attest to their customer service and also to a 10th loss in the 1/4 mile from stock intake. My .02.


wow some good info to know here guys, i appreciate that, i will stay away from them, just know my brother had one on his vette and it was great, but ill stay clear, im set on a K&N for a good price

Has anyone tried the SLP cold air intake. It appears to be a good setup because it has a plastic inlet and it relocates the the washer bottle and it seems would pull the coldest air in but I haven't seen one person recommend this setup. What I'm I mIssing here?

Over the weekend I modified a stock box and inlet tube. Major difference in throttle response and mid range. I took the air baffles and cut them off made some patches. The lid to the box I ported, took the carbon or whatever was in the white pouch out. Removed the waffles and part lines. Cut out the one side and used weather stripping to seal it to the inner fender. I like to play with stock stuff and see what I can gain for free LOL

I'm up in the air too, pretty open on this too. I'd really like to hear the before/after track gains, not so much the dyno stuff.

I'm up in the air too, pretty open on this too. I'd really like to hear the before/after track gains, not so much the dyno stuff.

The good CAIs pick up min .25 to .4 tenths et at the track.

CAI
Halltech
Rotofab
ADM

Are the Top performers.

havn't installed yet.. waiting for the car to be painted still.. got cam, ported intake/tb full exhaust, under drive all ready to go on :) 500 rwhp :judge:

The good CAIs pick up min .25 to .4 tenths et at the track.

CAI
Halltech
Rotofab
ADM

Are the Top performers.

I love ya Ted but just have not seen gains at the track. I chose a roto-fab for looks but don't think it made any gains.

Who's run before/after installing a cold air intake?

The good CAIs pick up min .25 to .4 tenths et at the track.

CAI
Halltech
Rotofab
ADM

Are the Top performers.


So you mean .025 and .04 then. Since the average HP gain is about 10 you can't mean it's picking up as much as 4 tenths.

Who's run before/after installing a cold air intake?

I ran a vararam when car was bone stock. I had 2 weekends in decent weather and ran 13 teens at 109.5 then installed the vararam and gave it a few hundred miles before going to the track. In cooler weather it lost a tenth and maybe .5 MPH. I was not happy and sold it. Going back to stock and learning how to slip the clutch at 3500 got me high 12's stock from 12.7 to 12.8

good info

So you mean .025 and .04 then. Since the average HP gain is about 10 you can't mean it's picking up as much as 4 tenths.

No I meant Tenths, we see it repeatedly.

Ted.

No I meant Tenths, we see it repeatedly.

Ted.

40 hp from a cold air intake and nothing else or is this a cai/tune?

40 hp from a cold air intake and nothing else or is this a cai/tune?

Not all Cold air intakes, but the CAI brand At the Track Back to back Testing just bolt on the CAI.

All I can tell you is Try it you will Like it.

BTW guys the halltech looks and is built great... still havnt installed it just keep looking at it with the cam, headers and goodies in my closet :zzz:

So who sells these CAI brand kits?

The CAI looks like over kill to me and it's like $400. Most of the guys on the most popular 5th gen site have never drag raced before and just buy whatever is the shiniest.

I picked up a cold air from a buddy, I think the most important aspects are a good design and a bulkhead that keeps the hot engine air from getting to the filter. Once the hood is shut there is not much need for a cai with a top.

i bought 3k worth of performance with my insurance check from my wreck /\_/\ yuhhhhhh

i9 heard that fast lane only spents about 45 bucks in parts and labor to make their part and in a mag it came out almost last

I read somewhere that the k&n 63 series(plastic one) sets off the MAS. Can anyone confirm that, before I go for that one. I'm choosing that because its fairly inexpensive and is the plastics design

I don't think it will set off any codes.

The CAI looks like over kill to me and it's like $400. Most of the guys on the most popular 5th gen site have never drag raced before and just buy whatever is the shiniest.

I picked up a cold air from a buddy, I think the most important aspects are a good design and a bulkhead that keeps the hot engine air from getting to the filter. Once the hood is shut there is not much need for a cai with a top.

This. I stopped going to the 5th gen sites because it was loaded with questions like " will a matching purse or sunglasses give my car more hp?" Then they believe EVERY word from every parts manufacturer.

Being said, I did see cooler intake temps with New Eras otr intake over the regular Roto-Fab per HP tuners. I also experienced low rpm false readings at the maf which occasionally caused stalling. However once I found what it was, it was easy to tune it out.

Yeah the 40 HP from a cold air intake set up smells like Unicorn Farts to me. You know the flatulence of a mythical creature, which is why I want to know who sells the fantabulous Cold Air Induction brand kit. I suspect who ever is making the claim is an outlet.

I got attacked from like every member for saying 40 hp from a CAI is bullshit. It was insane.

I think most of us know that the gains from any cai are from a combination of having a better flowing air filter, straight-shot design, and elimination of noise-abatement chambers (what are those dang things called). Then you have some that focus on ram air, like over the radiator.

In the end I got a deal on a new in the box cold air from a friend. I take a pic when I get it on the car. But I would have bought any of the popular ones used if I had seen a local deal. The difference in performance from the best to worst isn't going to be that much.

I think most of us know that the gains from any cai are from a combination of having a better flowing air filter, straight-shot design, and elimination of noise-abatement chambers (what are those dang things called). Then you have some that focus on ram air, like over the radiator.

In the end I got a deal on a new in the box cold air from a friend. I take a pic when I get it on the car. But I would have bought any of the popular ones used if I had seen a local deal. The difference in performance from the best to worst isn't going to be that much.

the shitty baffles.