Leave it in!
Vararam Install
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 241
Likes: 0
From: south boston va
Vararam Install
Vararam installed today, my co-workers Mr. Downs & Mr. King worked for 1 1/2 hour and job completed. My problem came with the mass air flow, can we remove this screen or leave it. Vararam guys which did you choose leave in or take it out ?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 8,003
Likes: 249
From: Tampa Fl
St. Jude Donor '12-'13-'14
I have two MAFs
both OEM year 2000. One is screened and one is unscreened.
If there is a differnace, it's minimal with the unscreened slighter better
I have bucking and surging after my heads and cam installed and have interchanged both MAFs to see if one would help with the bucking. My original tune was with the descreened MAF. I tried using the screened to see if that would stop the bucking, but it has not.
Overall the perfornace between the two is not noticable.
I would not descreen mind, but I got my unscreened on the cheap and it was worth the try.
If I were to descreen mine, Id set aside $300.00 to purchase a new one if the car started to crap out.
both OEM year 2000. One is screened and one is unscreened.
If there is a differnace, it's minimal with the unscreened slighter better
I have bucking and surging after my heads and cam installed and have interchanged both MAFs to see if one would help with the bucking. My original tune was with the descreened MAF. I tried using the screened to see if that would stop the bucking, but it has not.
Overall the perfornace between the two is not noticable.
I would not descreen mind, but I got my unscreened on the cheap and it was worth the try.
If I were to descreen mine, Id set aside $300.00 to purchase a new one if the car started to crap out.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 7,826
Likes: 221
From: Hillsboro OR
I de-screened mine and have had no problems. I have also had it dyno tuned and it rins great! 
I have an 03 and my understanding is that only earlier modles needed the screen. Now GM only puts screens in their trucks.
I have an 03 and my understanding is that only earlier modles needed the screen. Now GM only puts screens in their trucks.
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Race Director
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 18,308
Likes: 21
From: Marlton. Increasing performance one speeding ticket at a time! NJ
The screen is there to slightly baffle the air, and provide a uniform flow across the sensor. Without the screen, local vorticies may cause undue A/F mixtures.
Yes, it flows a tiny bit more air, but at the cost of the computer working harder, and possible incorrect ratios. Not worth it in the end.
Leave it.
Yes, it flows a tiny bit more air, but at the cost of the computer working harder, and possible incorrect ratios. Not worth it in the end.
Leave it.
Pro
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 731
Likes: 9
From: Ivins, Utah
The ONLY thing the screen is there at all for, is to straighten out the air as it passes over the MAF wires.
It is not to filter the air because it is after the filter and it is a bigger mesh than the filter.
I have 2 MAF's, 1 stock, with screen and one I slightly ported without. To port it I had to remove the screen. All I did in my porting is to clean the inside up a bit and fix the mismatch between the 2 MAF bodies.
I can't tell the difference between which one I use.
I guess that means it's a Mod I didn't really need to do.
It is not to filter the air because it is after the filter and it is a bigger mesh than the filter.
I have 2 MAF's, 1 stock, with screen and one I slightly ported without. To port it I had to remove the screen. All I did in my porting is to clean the inside up a bit and fix the mismatch between the 2 MAF bodies.
I can't tell the difference between which one I use.
I guess that means it's a Mod I didn't really need to do.
