MAF Screens
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 805
Likes: 11
From: Hickory Flat Ga
MAF Screens
What do the screens do? Has anyone tried the plastic replacement parts with no screens? 1996 LT-1.
Reason for asking is it appears to be a 9 hp gain by their removal. What would be the downside other than being $80 poorer?
Reason for asking is it appears to be a 9 hp gain by their removal. What would be the downside other than being $80 poorer?
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 62,157
Likes: 1,731
From: Athens AL
C7 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist 2021
C4 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
In most dyno results I can recall, the LT1 does not gain that power from MAF screen removal that the L98 does, so I wouldnt bother with it.
They are there to straighten the air flow over the sensor element, and do not replace the MAF with an aftermarket unit like Granatelli.
You want power, spend money elsewhere.
They are there to straighten the air flow over the sensor element, and do not replace the MAF with an aftermarket unit like Granatelli.
You want power, spend money elsewhere.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 3,524
Likes: 4
From: Hinckley Ohio
Originally Posted by vader86
In most dyno results I can recall, the LT1 does not gain that power from MAF screen removal that the L98 does, so I wouldnt bother with it.
They are there to straighten the air flow over the sensor element, and do not replace the MAF with an aftermarket unit like Granatelli.
You want power, spend money elsewhere.
They are there to straighten the air flow over the sensor element, and do not replace the MAF with an aftermarket unit like Granatelli.
You want power, spend money elsewhere.
I removed the screen from my LT4 several years ago.....no problems, sure there was some small gain from this easy mod...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 8,753
Likes: 9
From: Louisiana
Yes it is free, and Vader86 is correct. The screen is there to straighten the airflow too the hot wires. This give more accurate g/sec and I will not suggest it as you could damage the hot wires and make yourself have to get a new MAF. Gain is minimal and not noticable.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 5,621
Likes: 206
From: Orlando FL
Everything I have read has indicated no power gain. Besides the screen keeping out debris, it does regulate the air flow so it is uniform across the resistors that control the A/F mixture. Thats why we clean them, so they perform properly.Some have taken it out and said there is no difference in performance and it runs well. But how do you know the computer calculations are not thrown off and sacrifice of fuel mileage. If there is no difference, then why take it out and alter the design.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 805
Likes: 11
From: Hickory Flat Ga
Thanks guys. I'm referring to the article in Vette Nov '06 page 68.
"We were stunned when the Dynojet registered improvements of 9 rwhp and 7 rwtq- precisely what Mid America claims for the unit in its catalog."
The 'unit' is the 2 end pieces without a screen for the factory MAF housing. Part # 616-002. Claims 1000 Cfm vs 650. I just wondered if it would screw up the readings.
"We were stunned when the Dynojet registered improvements of 9 rwhp and 7 rwtq- precisely what Mid America claims for the unit in its catalog."
The 'unit' is the 2 end pieces without a screen for the factory MAF housing. Part # 616-002. Claims 1000 Cfm vs 650. I just wondered if it would screw up the readings.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,057
Likes: 0
From: Warren Ohio
In a thread on this topic about 6-8 months ago, Alvin from PCMForLess stated that he sees about +5rwhp fairly consistently on stock-ish LT1s in back-to-back dyno tests.
On an F-body with the 90* elbow in the intake tract (ie. high-pressure wall down one side), descreening a MAF can actually hurt power production...because, as stated above, the purpose of the screen is to aid laminar airflow over the sensors. The Vette doesn't have this particular problem.
In any case 9rwhp seems high. What power level was the engine in the Vette mag article putting out?
On an F-body with the 90* elbow in the intake tract (ie. high-pressure wall down one side), descreening a MAF can actually hurt power production...because, as stated above, the purpose of the screen is to aid laminar airflow over the sensors. The Vette doesn't have this particular problem.
In any case 9rwhp seems high. What power level was the engine in the Vette mag article putting out?
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 26,196
Likes: 0
From: Orlando FL
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
It does very little. I'd leave it alone. I descreaned mine years ago and never noticed any difference in track times, etc. It went bad a while later and I never modded the new one, and still ran the same times.
Not worth it IMO.
Not worth it IMO.
