****WARNING: I treated this lightly at FIRST, but have realized now this is a SERIOUS problem! PLEASE read my THREAD on the issue in the Vararam Forum HERE.
Had a bit of a blizzard yesterday, and came out today to find this under the hood. :4-dontknow:
The question is, did she start?!
It rained like the blazes over night last night... Hit 10c this morning... Now it's blowing up to 100km/h and the temp is at 0.
Tomorrow, I'll check my 3rd brake light and see if any water got in it after I fluffed the seal. Rather have the rain then snow... Bring on Spring!
Wisest thing might be to put the stock box back on for winter.
You're not the first guy with problems in the winter.
There's a couple guys down here who remove theirs in the winter as slushy snow covered streets and a scoop style CAI don't mix well.
The slush flies up and pretty soon their filters are a soggy mess
does vararam offer a pre-filter, I have run a pre-filter on my motorcycles with open filters in the pouring rain and never had a problem, and I run one on my k&n intake on the ram as it is not a closed box design and gets salty
I have been thinking this all afternoon. I sometimes run my HOG's intake in the open and have a prefilter also. I'd like to look at that in the sumer for sure, IF I keep the Vararam. You'd have to be very careful seating the filter after wrapping it so that the elastic part doesn't interfere.
I think it's coming in the grill. And while the stripping seems like an idea, it would also trap water and moisture that down the road would encourage rust.
does vararam offer a pre-filter, I have run a pre-filter on my motorcycles with open filters in the pouring rain and never had a problem, and I run one on my k&n intake on the ram as it is not a closed box design and gets salty
I personally like the pre-filter idea. Is there a way you can get a piece of foam rubber in there, moisten it a little and let it sit overnight to create a template?
Maybe the inside of an old couch cushion?
One question though...what works better, washer solvent or steam?
When I mentioned pre-filter I wasn't thinking of the foam type. I run a cover type on my HOG and it works great. I have no interest in foam in this application.
I understood that you weren't interested in foam. I was just wondering if you could use foam to make an impression of the opening to be used for a template to construct a filter that would fit snugly of a material you would be comfortable with.
Foam would be unsightly. I was just tossing that out there as a way to manufacture something that might be acceptable.
I don't think I understand this WL. I like the idea of a pre-filter 'cover', so I would ask Vararam what filter they are using and then reach out to the various pre-filter cover manufacturers to find one that works in this app. Frankly I'm surprised I never saw any commentary on this issue. I can't be the first guy with a Vararam who endures snowy winters. :4-dontknow:
Yea, thanks man. And we have a 2 day storm coming with 6 inch accumulation. :smiledown: If we have a lull with no blowing snow tomorrow I'll try and swap back in the stock. I wish I could get a filter cover quick. That would be my first preference. Tray that out. Does nothing for keeping snow out, but at least the cover could be cleared of snow 100% vs snow and ice crammed into every pleat.
It looks like it's coming in along the front section. That appears to be around 32 inches across. The height of the opening is what...? 1 3/4?
So what I'm suggesting is that to get a tight seal while it's sleeping to put a piece of foam in the opening along the front. When the hood is closed it will make an impression in the foam. Use the impression that it made for exact measurements on the contour of the opening.
Mow this is only a preliminary suggestion...but use the exact measurement and template formed by the foam to fabricate an air induction type opening in the front, since you should have exact measurements and contours.
If it has one elongated opening in the center across the opening it can be made to open when the truck is operating, by an electronic motor or vacuum.
However, while it's sleeping the opening would be closed.
If it's that cold no one wants to be out there doing anything so you have time to come up with a prototype or rough model/sketch and work from there.
You'll never seal it up tight enough to keep fine snow out of it at highway speeds.
The pre-filter might work,but i think you're better off using it seasonally,besides in the winter you don't need the extra power,it'll already spin the back tires easily in the snow,lol:smileup:
There's a young guy out here,that swaps his stock hood back on,as his aftermarket hood with a fresh air scoop,gives him nothing but trouble in the winter,anything that allows cold air into the engine compartment,also allows blowing snow to get into that same area
I'm glad you got it sorted out/figrued out before anything serious happened though! i'm sure we would all hate to see that sick rig on the back of a tow truck!
What about fabricating some type of pre-filter and installing it at the top of the radiator spanning the width of the inlet? Like a reed valve with a plastic rigid frame? At least you could see at a glance and clean it easier. Possibly? It would block any foreign matter getting into the main run leading up to the filter.
That's what I said. I wasn't considering the driving aspect and the intake of foreign matter while driving. But after reading Var's position I completely understand. I would be a little less than happy with something I purchased and is less than a month old too.
I am resigned to think the design, in my climate, is fatally flawed. I could do any number of mods but they simply shift the snow/ice gathering to a new location. Tell me that won't diminish air flow! So I'm supposed to pop the hood, and clean that pre-filter, or whatever each 30 minutes down the road? Sorry, can't do it .. should not have to do it.
The Vararam design probably works great in the sunshine, and if I lived in SoCal I'd buy one in a heart beat but not up here. Not in this snow.
I just wish someone had provided a caution or warning prior to my purchasing this from Vararam via Bully's Performance.
Well.......sorry for your grief, but if I purchase a product that was determined flawed through trial and error, I try to think through a reasonable fix before pulling it, I suppose it was a crazy idea. Just thought you were determined to keep it. This is obviously a "customer satisfaction" category. Good luck.
Don't get me wrong, I'm up to a mod challenge as much as the next guy, but I'm not feelin it here. Anything I do will either disturb the quality of airflow the AG was designed to experience, or it will be a hack job add-on which is a disservice to this Vararam product.
I have replaced the stock intake for now. While I was wrenching I happened to look down at the base of the rad area and it is 4-6" deep in packed snow.
That was scary to see for sure and understand your concerns. I am happy with my K&N drop in with the stock airbox. Only upgrade I would consider would be a closed solution like the S&B.
I use the Cloud Rider 4 piece Winter Front. You can leave the 2 bottom pieces out when it's not so nasty out or where I am I pretty much leave them all on. I don't notice a big change in town, but on highway the temp is better.
Wow that crazy! I was debating on the Varaam but went with the S&B because of the design. I also run a pre filter on mine inside the box. I have the scoop but haven't installed it yet because I am worried about things like this happening.
Well I'm glad I tried it, and Steve if honoring his satisfaction guarantee so it's all good. I spoke to Andrew @ Bully's and have the LMI short ram on order. I'll run a filter sock cover on it.
What filter sock will you be running on it? My LMI short ram intake (ordered from Bully's as well) will be here Thursday and hadn't really given much thought about a filter sock.
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