I currently run a K&N 63 series and am looking at either the S&B or Vararam. A couple of questions:
- if you made this swap to either of these from K&N, notice an increase in HP?
- Which of these would be best suited with a 87mm ported TB, tune, LT headers and cat-back exhaust system?
Biggest difference is going to be less obvious throttle noise from under the hood.
I have the S&B and even when I had the stock exhaust on my RAM it wasn't overly loud. Before my RAM I had a K&N on a 4.7L Durango. That CAI could shake the fillings out of your teeth at WOT and would drown out music and conversation under acceleration on the freeway. It also sounded poser because the noise wasn't coming from the tail pipe, and it frequently gasped at idle like I was trying to pretend I had a blower under the hood.
So now I have a louder exhaust on the RAM and the CAI throttle noise is not even an issue. I think I get a little sump'n in the butt dyno and I know I'm getting colder combustion air because its not sucking form under the hood the way a K&N does, by instead using the factory fender aperture.
That being said, if you want more noticeable impact on performance you'll want the Vararam. Some say the S&B fit and finish is way better (and I agree) because Vararam seems a little flimsy, but the ram-air-like behavior of the Vararam is best for power, especially if your feeding headers and a free flowing exhaust.
Happy mod'n.