Hey guys,will the relocation of the MAF mess up the readings or cause a check engine light to come on if the MAF is relocated from the air cleaner end of the air bridge to the other end where the throttle body is?Any info is appreciated,as id like to be certain it wont make a difference before i purchase a Vararam power duct which allows the relocation of the MAF,thanks

 

I installed the Vararam Power duct on my '02 Z06 and it did throw
a code. Since the code said it was lean on one side, I decided to
take the Power duct off until I could get a dyno tune, which I did
about a month ago when I put long tube headers on.
I don't know if everyone has the same problem...
Oh, and I don't remember what code it was. Sorry.

 

my car has already been tuned with the MAF positioned closest to the air box,just wondering if it will change anything if the MAF is positioned at the throttle boddy end

 

It shouldn't and you'll get a slightly more accurate reading...

 

Ok,thanks for the responses,and hats off to you Tim! Hope all is well bud!

 

Why would this be a more accurate reading?

 

Less turbulence after the bridge?

 

More accurate is probably technically correct, but that doesn't always mean it's a good thing either.

The sensor itself (in theory) should read the airflow more accurately near the throttle body, as the air flow through it will be straighter (more laminar), and less turbulent as opposed to placed right by the airbox or filter.

But, consider the MAF calibration within the PCM tune, is a lookup table of static values. (x g/sec of airflow = x hz).
By making the MAF "more accurate", only means the actual airflow now corresponds to a different frequency (hz) that the MAF reports to the PCM.
If you do not re-plot the MAF calibration to reflect those changes, then the only thing you accomplished is made engine fueling more inaccurate, because now the PCM is now receiving incorrect airflow information, even though the sensor itself may be reading the airflow better.

And the MAF is a big player in how the PCM fuels the engine.


I'm sure the Vararam (and Callaway and Halltech) and any other system that was designed to relocate the MAF has been designed with this in mind, and are such that no tuning changes are "required"...but changing anything with the MAF, even screen removal, will alter the readings it reports to the PCM. Sometimes for the good, sometimes the other way....but never "more accurate" unless recalibration was also done.

 

I had mine in the stock position and didnt think twice about it. I was tuning a car a couple months ago, and he had a vararam power duct which relocates the MAF in front of the throttle body.

I liked the idea so when I installed my 85mm MAF, I relocated mine in front of the throttle body. Im not sure if it helps, but I liked the theory behind it.

I have a picture of it floating around the forum somewhere

 

found it

 

Another factor to consider, the placement of the MAF sensor away from from the throttle body is to reduce the affects caused by pulsations that come out of the intake from influencing the MAF sensor readings. The pulsations can change the actual velocity of of the incoming air mucking up the reading. Placement of the MAF sensor more up stream allows for most of the pulses to be damped out and having less of an affect on the MAF readings.

 

I have the same exact issue. I can hear it ping in second gear going to install the stocker and get a tune here shortly. I just can't believe it's sucking in that much more air then the stocker. Butt dyno feels the same even after the bridge.

 

Have done this on my 2002 Z06. No codes,etc. Can't say that I have noticed anything different in the performance.

Gene

 

I disagree, the MAF is merely a sensor it doesnt care whether it is 3" or 18" from the TB,it only measures what is passing through it and the ECM takes that measurement and applys it. Being closer to the source may help in that the response time may be reduced by a very minute amount.

 

If it doesn't matter where the MAF is placed, why hasn't GM integrated it into the throttle body compared to having separate devices? Why are they always mounted to the body side of the inlet air system and not on the engine side?

Mount too close to the throttle body and the sensor will detect flow going in and coming out of the inlet. The problem is the MAF sensor is non-directional. So any out flowing pulses are treated as ingoing. Bottom line the sensor can send a signal showing more air into the engine then there really is.

 

Your engine is pulling a constant vacuum,it has no "out going" pulses! If it does you have a problem like a leaking intake valve.

 

Interesting, then if it doesn't matter where the MAF is placed, why hasn't GM integrated it into the throttle body compared to having separate devices? Why are they always mounted to the body side of the inlet air system and not on the engine side?

 

I had to do the Idle Relearn procedure after installing my Power Duct, once the VR-B2 was already in place. The car would idle, but not drive until I did the relearn. All is well now.

 

I don't think it's pulling in more air, but it changes the dynamics a bit - some have offered opinions as to how -
and the MAF sends an incorrect signal to the computer, which then injects the wrong amount of fuel (apparently not enough).
And that's just my opinion of what's going on....

 

WOW! Im glad i asked the question,im getting ALL sorts of feedback,thanks guys!!!!!!!