Help me decide on cai

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hemi_hawk

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S&b and vararam ... I know it’s the big debate and I do t want to beat a dead horse but Fck if I can decide on which to buy.

The s&b looks cool but the installation looks like a pain... btw I want the older one with the two snorkel type things on it.

The vararam is an easy I stall but where do you plug the air sensor in at ? And it seems if you do t get the filter co we bolted on just right the chance for dust getting by is vary high .

Does the vararam give the truck any different sound ? What about the s&b ?

Can I oil my vararam filter if I get that one ?
 

VB712

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I have the S&B. I like it. Easy install, looks good and probably does nothing for performance.
 

Pull Ya

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Vararam will increase performance at full throttle and on the highway. If you have tech questions about the Vararam talk to Matt at Moe's Performance.
Jay
 

bchap05

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I debated this for month's. Was leaning Vararam, then S&B based on fit, then back to Vararam based on it actually will give you small gain and if I'm going to pay 300+ I want a gain.

Then I decided its all dumb so I did the air intake box mod that you see some on here, and a lot on another Ram forum. So I routed a hose off my stock air box to my bumper, bought a Green Performance drop in filter (same brand Vararam uses), and am going to buy a scoop style ram air inlet to mount to the bumper so it gets air forced in at speed.

Then the 300+ I would have spent on the Vararam or S&B I'll use for a tuner and get way more gain for the money.
 

ncgrl1

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I just installed the new S&B. I can say it has noticeably increased throttle response. Had to go on 2 - 350 mile trips to the hospital this week. 1 trip stock, the other with the S&B. Gas mileage was exactly the same, down to the tenth. I am happy with it. Installation is not as bad as I thought. I was able to remove 2 screws from the fender liner and work my arm in there enough to get the bolts out. That was the only tedious part...
 

crazykid1994

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I️ just installed an s&b and noticed it has better throttle response and a slight increase in the exhaust sound. It also seems to hold mds a little better at cruising speeds. Otherwise everything else was the same


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hemi_hawk

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Ya like most of you I am back and forth, the price is 55 dollar difference, I can justify the 55 to the vararam for the cool factor, especially since this will be on my ram rt, muscle truck with a muscle air intake lol.

But the s&b just looks neat too and seems like the filter would not be quite as exposed to dirt...

My local summit also would need to get it shipped to them as they don’t have one at that location
 

crazykid1994

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Ya like most of you I am back and forth, the price is 55 dollar difference, I can justify the 55 to the vararam for the cool factor, especially since this will be on my ram rt, muscle truck with a muscle air intake lol.

But the s&b just looks neat too and seems like the filter would not be quite as exposed to dirt...

My local summit also would need to get it shipped to them as they don’t have one at that location



Moes-performance is where I️ ordered mine. Awesome vendor on this site.
Personally I️ got the s&b for the sealed benefit. Less chance for road grime. I️ live off dirt roads...

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Goose_1327

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I️ just snagged a K&N CAI (no exactly the most ideal) for 100 bucks though so it was a steal!


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Nick@GotExhaust

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Let us know if we can help you with your purchase. We offer both brands.

My thoughts on it is that the vararam will offer a bit more performance but i feel the S&B will offer a bit more protection due to the design differences. IF you want the most performance you can get go vararam. If you drive in dusty conditions and want max protection go S&B
 

Txhemirt

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I wouldn’t purchase one. I have had two tuners tell me theirs no adjustments for intakes that can be done so tells me their useless. I went vararam but if I could do it again I’d go neither or S&B.
 

Superbrowndude

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It was a good chunk of money but...
 

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Superbrowndude

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I had a S&B on my 04 and it was pretty good to
 
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hemi_hawk

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I think at the end of the day I might just get the vararam
 
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hemi_hawk

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I wouldn’t purchase one. I have had two tuners tell me theirs no adjustments for intakes that can be done so tells me their useless. I went vararam but if I could do it again I’d go neither or S&B.


So did you notice any difference with vararam ? Any issues ?
 

Txhemirt

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Mostly Sound is all I noticed honestly man. Others may disagree but it’s all I noticed. The main issue I have with it is it just doesn’t seem very secure structurally. For $300, I expected more. Its evidently secured in place with the weight of hood.
 
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Riccochet

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Mostly Sound is all I noticed honestly man. Others may disagree but it’s all I noticed. The main issue I have with it is it just doesn’t seem very secure structurally. For $300, I expected more. Its evidently secured in place with the weight of hood.

That sums up my opinion of the Vararam. Friend has one. With the hood up the thing is not very solid. I always joke about the wobbly plastic saucer on his engine. Looks cool as hell though.

Vararam probably performs very well, if that's what you are going for. Just don't expect extreme quality.

For the best of both worlds, quality and performance, you'll spend double on the Mopar intake with the ram air kit.
 
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hemi_hawk

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Hmm that’s making me rethink the vararam
 

Luis

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Found this on the google, looks like the sensor attaches to the tube that goes from the filter housing to the TB.
 

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