Was reading "How to build a LS1/6 engine" - It says that the screen in the MAF sensor should be removed to increase air flow. I've never heard this anywhere else so I was wondering if anyone had any other imput on this.

 

I have seen and heard both arguments. Some owners have see problems after the screen is removed some don't. The screen is there to condition the air and create a laminar boundary layer.

Leave it in; it's not worth the potential headache for such minimal (if any) gains. If you haven't already done so, improve the stock filter arrangement.

 

Just do what I did:

1. Read about removing MAF screen and porting MAF
2. Remove MAF screen and port MAF
3. Convince yourself that you're getting more power for a week and that the marbles your hear during tip-in acceleration are the marbles rolling around extra hard in your head because of all the extra power
4. Get over the placebo effect and start wondering if the marble sound is really coming from the engine
5. Do more reading
6. Learn about tip-in KR
7. Try tuning it out
8. Try rotating the MAF around to put the wires in a better position
9. Do more tuning
10. Start pulling hair out
11. Buy a new MAF that was exactly like the one you messed up
12. Install MAF and be amazed by the lack of tip-in KR

 

I've heard both sides of the story also and decided to descreen mine anyway, I think the trick is to not just pull the screen out like most people do but instead pull the screen and then log some data on how much airflow is actually going thru the MAF and then reprogram that table in your PCM. Thats what I did and my car runs great without the screen

 

Good / humorous post!

 

I have also heard good and bad things on this type mod. My 98 Pace Car had already had this done, and I never had any problems as a result of it. I now have an '01 Z06 that still has the screen, but I don't think I will ever remove it. I just don't want to deal with any possible headaches that might result, just to supposedly gain a few ponies. I don't know if the Pace Car had any tuning or not, so I can't say what all the other guy went through before I purchased the Pace. Either way it's your decision, but I would be afraid to chance it for so little of advantage.

 

Taking the MAF screen out will allow for alittle more airflow. I had mine out and tuned it and never had any issues before or after it was tuned. I'd say go for it. The stock ECU is rich and after you add some mods it gets even richer.
Phil

 

Even though I've removed the screen on my 99 H/T with no adverse results, leaftye's reply is some of the best writing I've seen on this forum in a long time. - C.

 

It turned every light on car on!! Active Handling;service engine soon;traction conrol ; would not let me go over 25 miles an hour to the floor; read some where thats it a 50 / 50 chance that you will gain any power( LS1 tech ) My understanding is that some cars run rich and when you descreen them it lean them out and you get the increase in power then there is ones that run lean when you descreen them it makes them leaner and you lose power and turns all the lights on like my car did! so only one way to find out try it !! Good luck!!!

 

I was thinking about doing this. Does not sound worth it anymore. Thanks for the heads up guys...good luck

 

I like your thinking. Mine is out and I have a bunch of other mods Halltech snorkle Maf ends, milled the excess plastic, LS6 intake complete LG LT headers and exhaust system and everything inbetween as well as good tuner SW.

If you were going to do everything else than yes, but just take the screen out? Not worth the effort, cause you need to retune after any mod to the maf that may affect airflow metering.

 

Don't just punch out the screen, it makes it kinda hard to go back. Instead, buy a set of ported end plates for the MAF. Remove the factory plates with screen intact and replace. Cheap, easy to go back if it doesn't work for you. I bought mine from BPP, they work good. More air, no KR.

 

My MAF is bad after about 10,000 miles after removing the screen. It shows up error codes. My advice don't do it. I didn't get nothing from it. It is all in the head.

 

The MAF screen was removed in 2002 for the LS6 engines, they found that it really wasn't required for the Corvette intake because the airflow is pretty straight already. Good for about 5 HP when removed.

zo6vettepilot

 

Part of the MAF screen issue is probably also tied to the choice of intakes. With the stock intake, it's fine I'm sure. With the Vararam intake, I believe the bulk of the airflow flows towards the top of the sensor....out of the reach of the wires.

If you're hard core about improving airflow, just take the MAF out alltogether and do a speed density tune.

 

This is what I'm scratching my head about. I have an '01 Z06 and an '02 Z06 and BOTH vehicles have a MAF sensor with the SAME part number. They both have an 8 digit GM number that is molded into the plastic that reads 25168491. I bought both cars used but the weird part is that the '01 has a screen on the MAF but the '02 does not?!?! How can this be if the part number is the same? Maybe somebody pulled the screen out of the '02 MAF before I bought it? Not sure if its easy to tell when the screen has been removed or not. But then again, why would there be an '01 MAF in the '02 that has had its screen pulled out?

So I called the dealer and they said that the '01 and '02 MAF's have DIFFERENT part numbers. So obviously the '02 part number he gave me didnt match the MAF thats on the '02 because that MAF part number matches the part number on the '01 that I have. I need know if there is some kind of calibration difference between the two whereby you shouldn't run the '01 Z06 MAF in an '02 Z06. Because for some WEIRD reason, my '01 that is totally stock is faster than my '02 (which is already supposed to have 20 more HP from the factory) yet the '02 has a Blackwing filter and a corsa pace car exhaust which should easily add 20 MORE horses.

This is driving me crazy cuz I hate that my '02 which I've done A LOT of work to doesnt seem the least bit faster than my '01.

HELP!

 

25168491
Hi,
I don't think that the number your looking at is the part number. It could be the casting number.
Part # for 01 is 25318411
Part # for 02 is 25341604

Anyway, the 02 and later Z06's have no screen from the factory.
I think you need to at least checkout your long term fuel trims on the 02 with something like AutoTap. It could be running very rich at full throttle due to your mods. I would tune it or go back to stock to get a baseline.

Good luck,
Steve

 

Actually when I gave the dealer the part number 25168491 he said it was valid and that it crossed over to 25318411. So both of my MAF's are the same and are supposed to be on an '01.

 

This is exactly what was written in the book. Just looking for other opinions. So far it looks like those that seem to know what they are talking about say to remove. Any thoughts from the speed shops that watch here?

 

We had the chief LS6 engineer at a club meeting when the 2002 Z06 came out. He was mentioning where the HP gains came from over the 01. The descreening of the MAF gave them almost 2.4 FWHP, probably 2 RWHP. He then went on to mention they had to alter the PCM code to compensate for it. When you put a Donaldson air filter on a 2002+ Z06 you run into the pig rich situation and the 01 did not have that problem. Solution, if you do it you have to retune.