And again at 12:58 or so

 

Interesting video. Thanks for posting it.

 

The Vararam designer was pretty adamant that very few would need the short runner version, despite what they might think.
Mounting will be interesting, I've been thinking about that but they obviously got it together!

 

A short runner intake manifold doesn't become a benefit till well over 5000rpm, and doesn't really start to shine till above 6000rpm.

With ls motors, there are very few people who've invested the money to have their motors spin to 8000+ rpm, so giving up as much torque down lower to get the hp up top just doesn't make sense.

Sure, guys with a 4500rpm stall will say that they don't care, that the converter flashes to 5000rpm and they never see the loss in torque, but they only drive their car at wot. For the rest of us, it doesn't make sense.

 

I still think it looks like a toilet seat.

 

I've seen a video or two on the NRE X-Ram intake but last I checked they weren't ready to sell it (at an unknown price point), and I'm also nervous on the numerous bad reviews I've read on their customer service in general.

 

Again it would come down to value for money.

I just cant see such a unique intake giving good value for money considering how much they would cost.

It would probably be cheaper to butcher something together using a cheap ebay ITB base to start with, except not using it with ITB's
But then it would require a lot of fabrication which can cost if you dont DIY.

But the fancy intakes do look good and the theory behind them is sound. But all the OEM style intakes really do work well, and as Alchemist says, 90% of people would never really need or benefit from a lot of the short runner stuff anyway as they just dont use enough rpm's

I'd still love to try such an intake though !

 

I can see how the VR-X intake manifold could be superior to the factory LS3 intake. One has to remember that the factory is concerned with packaging and ease of installation. IMHO they did do a very, very good job of it.

Let us keep in mind that air does not like to turn. It likes to go straight ahead. It also appears to me that the VR-X intake does a good job of keeping both plenums full of air. It also appears that the total volume of both plenums is somewhat larger than the factory unit. That means the air is moving slower in the larger plenums and is able to make turns into the runners with less loses.

It also seems to me that there was a lot of time spent on the inlets to the runners. Fine tuning those also means less loses. From the plenum to the head the runners are a lot straighter than the factory ones. Again less airflow loses. I would be will to bet the Vararam pretty much got the shape of the runners correct. That would include taper and cross-sectional area. From what I have seen everything is a win, win with the VR-X design.

From the video runner length will determine the rpm range. So for an 8000rpm version the runners are going to be shorter. I think with 7000rpm and below the runner length will probably be close to the factory length. I don't think Nelson brought up harmonic tuning in the video. IMHO the factory tunes to the 3rd harmonic length. I think the Vararam does the same.

To summarize I can see how the Vararam can be an improvement over the factory unit as they are not all that concerned about packaging to the degree that the factory is. However they are keeping in mind that it has to all fit under the hood.

How much of an improvement? That is the question. I am hoping for maybe 25HP for my LS3 based 427 with a LLSR camshaft. By the way my motor with the factory LS3 intake manifold makes 512rwhp @ 6600rpm on a Mustang dyno.

 

Mid winter, early spring.....no sooner

 

Considering they haven't even brought it to SEMA or PRI, I wouldn't hold your breath till at least April or May like NemesisC5 just said.

 

I will be ready when they do bring it out. That is if the numbers are there. Otherwise I will just keep what I have.

 

I saw this Vararam update from the company on another forum and here it is. By the way it just confirms what I have heard through the back door and rumor control.

"VRX manifold

Update 10/16/2015


We know the internet has been burning up waiting on information on the VRX manifold.

Hear is the latest:

Several Patents have been filed covering the design and function on some parts of the VRX Manifold. We have received “some” but not all of our Patents at this time. We are currently waiting on the final Patents. We expected these some time ago but unfortunately there is no way to rush the Patent office. Our Patent Attorneys have been able to confirm that the final Patents are currently under review and we expect them to be confirmed and in place shortly.

Once we have the final Patent confirmations, VR will release Videos, independent test data etc...

Production:

We have already started on the production tooling to reduce production lag time. Some of the tooling has already been completed.


VR tech
If you have any questions feel free to drop us an email at: www.vararamindustries@gmail.com"

 

Well it's nice to see that they continued with testing and even moving towards production while the legal logistics were being hashed out.

 

"Well it's nice to see that they continued with testing and even moving towards production while the legal logistics were being hashed out."

I agree, that is a good sign. It looks like when the legal issues are done they will be ready to market the product and put out the testing information.

 

I'd love to know what is so special they need to patent it etc, which does only complicate getting the thing for sale and no doubt add considerable expense to themselves.

And you can be sure, the Chinese wont give a **** about patents when they copy it lol

 

Please show me one popular intake manifold made in China.

 

There are quite a few sheet metal types and a couple of ITB styles out there made in China.

Whether or not they are popular as yet, is a different matter. But they do exist.

 

China is good at making knockoff stuff that is cheap to produce that doesn't require high tech equipment. They make it cheap in two ways, one, cheaper materials, two, cheaper labor.

For an intake manifold that has multiple compound curve runners, it's hard to replicate that cheaply without expensive tooling and quality plastics. Make it out of cheaper 'chinese' plastics and it'll crack while bolting it down. Use cheaper equipment to manufacture it, and it'll never line up or seal. I think that's why you don't see a chinese knock off to the FAST or even the LS6/2/3 factory manifolds.

Sure, they can make cheap knockoffs of metal intakes, but for most people who are looking to really take advantage of a sheet metal intake, aren't in the sub $1000 intake market.

I'm not sure why they went after patents, I think the MSD and the FAST both have some patents as well, but it will be interesting in the future.

Sadly, I have cathedral port heads that I spent $3000 on up front, then spent another $1100 this past year having them worked and new springs.... so I doubt I'd sell them for a set of rectangle port heads, and a new intake manifold, especially when I can just add a degree or two of timing, or 1-2psi and see larger gains. Or I could send the blower to Steve Morris and have it ported for additional gains.

But it is exciting to see this come to market. Personally, seeing new stuff for this market is exciting.

 

Nice to see there is hope for it hitting the market.
I think most of the patenting is for their particular how it goes together in pieces construction method. Shape & runner design is NOTHING new, though not common yet.
Look up the Falcon f7 episode of dream cars how its made. Thay give a pretty good look at performance designs intake construction.
Haven,t had time to work on my intake in over a year now. Still might beat them though.

 

Funny you mention that, it was on TV here last night !! from Youtube.

Intake is from 12m30s onwards