Im wondering weather or not to descreen my MAF on my 06 LS2 GTO. Anyone have any problems doing this? Did you feel any gains? Would it make the car hard to tune?

 

The screen is supposed to straighten and smooth the flow through the MAF. Turbulence reduces the flow capacity of a pipe, so removing the screen may hurt performance. Increased turbulence will certainly make the MAF unreliable as an air flow meter for your fuel calibrations.

 

I would not remove it. You are asking for a big bill to replace it when you start getting "check engine" light.

 

They put the screen there for a reason.

 

They put cats, restrictive manifolds and air pumps in cars for a reason too, but it doesn't mean that it's to help it go faster LOL.
I'm not saying to or not to remove the screen but certainly it 'just being there' isn't a valid reason not to.
They had a MAF screen in the 2001 Z06 for a reason as well yet for 2002 they suddenly chose to remove it for yet another reason, that reason was horsepower and the 2002 - 2004 Z06s still ran beautifully.
I removed the screen in my LS1 Z28 and while I can't completely verify the 'seat of the pants' gains that I felt after doing it I can assure you that I've had NO problems from it in the past 4 years.
But for the record I am not removing the screen from my C6.

 

I removed the screens in my '88 Vette; Had no problems, but didn't notice any gains.
And, yes, if it screws something up, its an expensive part to replace.

 

Put a WTB in the parts for sale for a stock MAF and try it with that one. I bet some guys have replaced the stock MAF. I would be curious to see if it helps also. In the C5 forum people seemed split about screen removal.

 

Ive herd of some goats getting some gains from descreening since the cars run super rich from the factory. If the screen is so critical in regards to correct MAF readings then why doesnt the Zo6 have a screen?

 

I have removed the screens on all 4 of my ls1 and ls2 cars and trucks including o6 c6 , no codes, no problems, better throttle response.

 

I don't know where this myth came from. Gotta disagree with you on this one.

They put the screen there for protecting the engine by filtering the air. It doesnt smooth out airflow. It was on all LS1's and 6's till the 2002 Z06 deleted it for additional airflow. Dave hill was quite clear when the z06 came out when he said it allowed greater airflow cfm on the 405hp Z.

You will not get any codes. I did it to my 2001 and just used the Z06 MAF table and never had any issues whatsoever just as the 2002-2004 Z06's have no screen and no issues. Unless you are telling me the design of the LS6 in the Z06 was wrong.

GM made cars with it and GM made the same cars without it. So you tell me if the car's designers intended it to be there.

 

In support of the "descreened MAF" crew; I installed my spare LS1
descreened MAF in my C6 Corvette and it runs very well. Much
better throttle response (CAI and Catback exhaust only other mods).
I suspect the original screening was to protect the MAF's delicate wire sensors but proved unnecessary when searching for every last bit of
horsepower viz.,the ZO6. Makes good hotrodding sense to me.

 

I'm of the opinion that "if it's not broke don't fix it" school. I have yet to see any empirical data that shows any value or gains from removing the MAF screen. I removed the one on my 99 because I read where the new LS6 didn't have one. I didn't notice any SOTP gains, nor did I notice any issues either.

If there are documented gains to be had by removing the MAF screen will someone please post them?

Tom

 

LOTS of empirical data.Just gave you some.Personal experience says
I gained better throttle response. My SOTP meter may be more sensitive than your's. This is all subjective stuff for sure. Recall the
throttle spacer argument? Of course, there appeared to be a bit of
identifiable theory involved with that one i.e.;an increase in intake plenum volume.
My opinion concerning the screenless MAF is simple enough;anything that improves airflow is fair game for modification,all
arguments about laminar vs.turbulent flow aside.I believe the ZO6 engineers were of that opinion also.Our results may have been different because our mods differed, or not enough drive time for the computer to adjust, fuel quality, etc.,etc.,
As far as the "don't fix it if it ain't broke" school of thought...I can't
imagine reconciling that philosophy with hot rodding at ANY level. You
were kidding, right?

 

This mod falls in the UD pulley, aluminum flywheel, ported throttle body, crane 1.7 roller rocker arm, electric water pump arena where people dont think its worth doing while guys did all of the above and dyno 25rwhp more than anyone else with the same cam like Tony Mamo.

I dont care what anyone else does to their car. If you dont want to do this mod then dont. I just dont like it when the rumor mill churns out myths and false data about a mod because they dont have proof to the contrary. Just dont say it doesnt work because you dont feel a difference. I cant say it works for making any power but unless someone has proof it doesnt work dont say so.

Dave Hill said GM testing showed greater air flow. What is the proof it doesnt do so for the doubters? Like I said above, added in with other mods, it does produce greater airflow. We can sit here all day with guys only going by the butt dyno on how electric water pumps arent worth it for 7rwhp since you cant feel it or the same with the 9rwhp from an UD pulley......add them up

 

I have a guy at Ford that helped me put my CAI kit on and he said that the screen was there to smooth the airflow. He told me not to remove it. His life is fuel systems so I left it on.

I think that this is one of those deals that could be discused for months and have five correct answers.......

 

Removed it from my '88 around 2 years ago, also with no problems but no difference either. I don't plan to remove it from my '06.

 

Have the 'guy at ford' contact the GM design team that removed the screen from the 2002-2004 Z06 and let them know they made a mistake. Just wondering what makes a Ford mechanic better than an GM mechanic at these sorts of things (and an aircraft mechic).

There aren't 5 correct answers. The best flow is no obstruction. The screen is an obstruction no matter how small an obstruction it is.

EDIT: Personally upon looking at the size of the openings in the screen itself, I see only one thing: that the size of the openings in the screen allows only those particles through that fit into the quench area in the combustion chamber. Flow could have been directed with bigger openings so as to not have more cross sectional area used up....ie 1/10th the number of 'cells' in the screen. I conclude that the screen is only for an object getting through the paper air cleaners that would damage the head and piston in the quench area of the combustion chamber. Also why would you have a screen directing air in some special way before it has a bigger disruption behind it in the form of a mount and the sensors attached to it. If it wasnt for protection then why put it before this big object. Lastly, why is it the same on all carsn that have the same MAF? Wouldnt different cars need different air flow direction? The exact same MAF is on the C5 in a way different location before the airbridge.

 

What SM just said. A little more history. As Mechanic myself of at least 20 years, I've too heard the the screen is there to "straighten" the airflow. Dave Hill did say thatwhen examining the '02 Z06 for more power, one of the team mentioned that the Corvette is one of few GM car which features a relatively STRAIGHT SHOT into the MAF so why not try it w/o the screen. They tried it and it did work. I completely agree w/this line of thinking, and I think that there is no decent reason on this planet why there should be a screen on any Corvette, after that hypothisis and proof (the '02 Z06).

This means that in theory, a GM vehicle w/a bend in the intake could have problems; drivability or codes from a descreening. I descreened my '96 Silverado (5.7L, 4x4, Xcab) which features a tight 90* bend immediately before the MAF. That was 3 years ago and I've never got a code. Never had a drivability issue, and it gets over 21 mpg highway. There is no legitimate reason why not to de-screen.

-Tom

 

this is the link from the gto forums inregards to the dyno gains seen on the ls2 goat.

http://www.ls1gto.com/forums/showthr...+todd+descreen

 

I got a deal for you. GM would not spend the money if it did not need to be there, but you can takes your off, if you want and I can leave mine on and we are both happy

Enjoy.