Remove the MAF screen on LT4?
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,370
Likes: 1
From: Raleigh NC
Remove the MAF screen on LT4?
I finally got a chance to take the LT4 out for my first long drive today. It's pretty sweeeeet. It doesn't have as much low rpm grunt as the L98, but it makes up for it up top. I can't wait to get it to the track.
I'm starting with the basic mods now. I took the intake ducting off and the MAF has 1 screen in it on the front side of the sensors. Should I remove this screen? Will it cause any problems if I remove it?
My last car was a speed density set up, so I've never had to deal with a MAF.
I'm starting with the basic mods now. I took the intake ducting off and the MAF has 1 screen in it on the front side of the sensors. Should I remove this screen? Will it cause any problems if I remove it?
My last car was a speed density set up, so I've never had to deal with a MAF.
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 105
Likes: 0
From: Nipomo CA
I removed my screen on my 95 LT1 and have had no problems what so ever. Go for it. Its a free mod along with the TB bypass too. 
Did you cut your air lid yet? or are you gonna buy a aftermarket air intake?
Did you cut your air lid yet? or are you gonna buy a aftermarket air intake?
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 12,263
Likes: 86
From: O'Fallon Missouri
Originally Posted by jonecap
Should I remove this screen? [/B] Will it cause any problems if I remove it?
My last car was a speed density set up, so I've never had to deal with a MAF.
My last car was a speed density set up, so I've never had to deal with a MAF.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 8,683
Likes: 6
From: Phoenix AZ
Originally Posted by C4boy
Do you mean the mesh screen protecting the sensor? Removing it is a great idea if you want to increase the potential for damaging your engine or ruining a $125-$400 part.
On short, no, you will not have any problems removing the screens...however, be VERY careful not to screw with the MAF itself as it is quite delicate (and expensive). Oh, and if you ever think about getting larger MAF shells...be careful, if you get the large ones, as I did, the computer needs to be reprogrammed or else it completely messes up the fuel tables!
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 105
Likes: 0
From: Nipomo CA
Originally Posted by ajorda14
i would NEVER descreen a MAF! GM put it there for a reason, to keep **** out!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 3,110
Likes: 6
From: Red Sox Nation! RI
You guys are braver than I am. Has no one else ever changed an air filter and found crud in the air box - leaves, dirt, etc? Anything that gets by your filter can damage the sensor and continue it's path into your motor. Nothing like having extra debris bouncing off pistons & valves.
Last bad MAF sensor I replaced had all of the above on the sensor and on the screen.
Last bad MAF sensor I replaced had all of the above on the sensor and on the screen.
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Race Director
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 14,130
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Cruise-In II Veteran
Originally Posted by Fancyazz
GM put a damn frisbie/disk on the front of the water pump on late L98's. Is there a real honest good reason GM did that? Probobly not,considering that damn frisbie only helps quickin water pump bearing failure due to excess weight.
Back to the topic,I see no reason to remove the MAF screens unless the engine was not getting enough air...id leave it until a dyno shows youre not getting enough air to feed the engine to its peak HP.
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 105
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From: Nipomo CA
Originally Posted by Bill's86Coupe
Theres an engineering reason they did that..if there have been more water pump failures because of it please quote the source...I do know removing the frisbee to gain a bit more HP at the track,but never heard of it being a cause for more water pump failures here.
Back to the topic,I see no reason to remove the MAF screens unless the engine was not getting enough air...id leave it until a dyno shows youre not getting enough air to feed the engine to its peak HP.
Back to the topic,I see no reason to remove the MAF screens unless the engine was not getting enough air...id leave it until a dyno shows youre not getting enough air to feed the engine to its peak HP.
I would personally like to know the engineering reason behind it. It didn't last but only 2-3 years? The reasoning for having it must have been pretty lame considering no other car on the planet i've seen has a disk/frisbie on the water pump.
I work in a shop and have seen plenty of stock vehicles in certain models no have MAF screens. I don't know why,some manufacures don't put them in. Our cars most likly don't need them to be removed but in drag racing,every 1 or 2 extra hp can help.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 8,683
Likes: 6
From: Phoenix AZ
Originally Posted by rickreeves1
I cleaned my MAF a few months ago. I found a bug stuck to the screen. Not sure how my motor would have liked swallowing that.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,057
Likes: 0
From: Warren Ohio
Zix is correct: The purpose of the screen in LTx cars is to promote laminar airflow over the sensor for an accurate reading.
This is a substantial issue for F-Bodies with the 90* bend in their intake tract...but the 'Vettes system is much straighter, so there's way less turbulence to deal with.
Anything that imposes an airflow restriction is bad for system throughput. (read that as: "HP production") A component doesn't have to be anywhere near its peak flow at some arbitrary pressure (like the 25" or 28" of water commonly seen on dyno-tests) to interject losses into the system. They may not be *large* losses, but they are present.
A few months ago, one of the big-name tuners posted that he consistently sees about +5rwhp on the dyno for mildly modded LT1 Vettes. In that thread, someone reported a dyno-confirmed 14hp on an LT4, but that's probably a fluke.
If 5hp is worth the effort to you, I'd say "Go for it."
This is a substantial issue for F-Bodies with the 90* bend in their intake tract...but the 'Vettes system is much straighter, so there's way less turbulence to deal with.
Anything that imposes an airflow restriction is bad for system throughput. (read that as: "HP production") A component doesn't have to be anywhere near its peak flow at some arbitrary pressure (like the 25" or 28" of water commonly seen on dyno-tests) to interject losses into the system. They may not be *large* losses, but they are present.
A few months ago, one of the big-name tuners posted that he consistently sees about +5rwhp on the dyno for mildly modded LT1 Vettes. In that thread, someone reported a dyno-confirmed 14hp on an LT4, but that's probably a fluke.
If 5hp is worth the effort to you, I'd say "Go for it."
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 6,097
Likes: 2
From: Cincinnati Oh
Originally Posted by Zix
Afterall, that screen is NOT there for any sort of protection, it's to help smooth out the airflow over the MAF sensor so it can get an accurate reading...
And the short and straight intake to the LT1/4 engine does not really need this, so you can remove the screen, but I doubt you will see any advantage in doing so. Ever check out the intake on the Camaro or a truck...that's the reason the screen is in there.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,137
Likes: 5
From: Howard PA
Originally Posted by Zix
Oh, c'mon now it's not such a bad thing. I haven't run a MAF screen in abour 5 years now, and in one of the dustiest/sandiest environments (Phoenix). I also run a K&N filter, that I constantly keep clean and oiled...there's more of a chance of me screwing up the MAF by over-oiling the filter than there is a chance of the MAF being damaged because the screen is not there. Afterall, that screen is NOT there for any sort of protection, it's to help smooth out the airflow over the MAF sensor so it can get an accurate reading...however there are no aftermarket MAF shells that have a screen in them (that I know of) so as I said mine have been gone for a loooooong time.
On short, no, you will not have any problems removing the screens...however, be VERY careful not to screw with the MAF itself as it is quite delicate (and expensive). Oh, and if you ever think about getting larger MAF shells...be careful, if you get the large ones, as I did, the computer needs to be reprogrammed or else it completely messes up the fuel tables!
On short, no, you will not have any problems removing the screens...however, be VERY careful not to screw with the MAF itself as it is quite delicate (and expensive). Oh, and if you ever think about getting larger MAF shells...be careful, if you get the large ones, as I did, the computer needs to be reprogrammed or else it completely messes up the fuel tables!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 7,839
Likes: 22
From: San Diego, Ca
Leave it alone - even one of the Mags - Pontiac Performance? - touched on this issue recently, junking a descreened MAF for a used one that had the screen. It either reads the correct amount of air or doesn't. The screen has nothing to do with it, but plenty to do with life of the part.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 14,130
Likes: 7
Cruise-In II Veteran
Originally Posted by Fancyazz
I would personally like to know the engineering reason behind it. It didn't last but only 2-3 years? The reasoning for having it must have been pretty lame considering no other car on the planet i've seen has a disk/frisbie on the water pump.
I work in a shop and have seen plenty of stock vehicles in certain models no have MAF screens. I don't know why,some manufacures don't put them in. Our cars most likly don't need them to be removed but in drag racing,every 1 or 2 extra hp can help.
I work in a shop and have seen plenty of stock vehicles in certain models no have MAF screens. I don't know why,some manufacures don't put them in. Our cars most likly don't need them to be removed but in drag racing,every 1 or 2 extra hp can help.
I dont recall if they did it due to customer complaint of noise from under the hood or due to the fact that certain brackets on the engine would break.
I do know that the aluminum accessory brackets on the L98s were notorious for cracking on some cars,and I had to replace 2 of them on my 86 over the 9 years I owned that car...the bracket that cracked was the a/c bracket itself.I didnt resort to installing a frisbee on mine though,screw that...big heavy disc just in the way.
Youre right about many vehicles not having a MAF screen...seen different ones over the years and have been impressed by some of the new ones in design Ive seen.My 97 Grand Prix has a MAF with no screens on it.However,its much different inside how the wires are set up across as say,compared to an older Bosch unit I had on the 86 Vette.Doesnt even have heat fins inside either.
I guess maybe it depends on wether its needed or not when they design the pieces.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 46,295
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From: Northern, VA
St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
It may add a couple hp, but I have another question: does anyone really believe GM puts anything on their cars, that they don't need to put money into? I don't. If I'm GM, and I can save a buck, I'd do it-1994 or 2006.
That doesn't mean they don't make mistakes and errors in engineering. But if they can avoid spending a buck, they do it. So does every other mfr.
That doesn't mean they don't make mistakes and errors in engineering. But if they can avoid spending a buck, they do it. So does every other mfr.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 7,839
Likes: 22
From: San Diego, Ca
Originally Posted by LT4CompYell
It may add a couple hp, but I have another question: does anyone really believe GM puts anything on their cars, that they don't need to put money into? I don't. If I'm GM, and I can save a buck, I'd do it-1994 or 2006.
That doesn't mean they don't make mistakes and errors in engineering. But if they can avoid spending a buck, they do it. So does every other mfr.
That doesn't mean they don't make mistakes and errors in engineering. But if they can avoid spending a buck, they do it. So does every other mfr.
Kinda of makes you feel like saying Duh doesn't it?Frisbee was added to balance the harmonics of the Nippondenso Compressor. Some get a vibration when using a/c if it's removed - some don't.
