....I removed it on my '99 and was sorry I had after the fact. 
M.a.f. Screens
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,796
Likes: 1
From: Annandale VA
I doubt you will find many guys doing this. The gains are negligible, and are primarily due to the engine running slightly more lean due to the MAF under-measuring the airflow. If you really want to optimize your A/F mix, have your tuner do it right.
The screen is there to straighten out the airflow and allow the MAF to measure it evenly at all throttle settings. Removing the screen does not improve air flow at all. I have also seen bugs and other small road debris caught in the screen. Better to have it there than for it to be sucked into the intake.
The screen is there to straighten out the airflow and allow the MAF to measure it evenly at all throttle settings. Removing the screen does not improve air flow at all. I have also seen bugs and other small road debris caught in the screen. Better to have it there than for it to be sucked into the intake.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,276
Likes: 5
From: Ambler Pa.
I have removed the maf screens on 4 of my GM cars and trucks, including a 98 Z28 5.7L ls1 and an 06 C6 6.0L , no problems, better throttle response. Others may disagree, however my experience has been all positive.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 7,588
Likes: 6
From: Montreal Qc
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,208
Likes: 1
Seems more F-body guys do it than Vette types. When I had my T/As, the forums were full of wonderful claims for doing it. #1 GM didn't put it on to hurt performance. #2 it is illogical to assume any great improvement in air flow by removing a screen. For my 2c, a K&N filter will give better flow and not possibly harm the engine. The screen is there for several reasons. Removing it just doesn't make sense to me. 
Advanced
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 56
Likes: 0
From: Sanford NC
I have had several LT1/LS1and now a LS2 motor. I have always pulled the screen out and took a dremel to the MAFS. If you take the screen out and flatten it then compare it to the MAFS it blocks about 40% of the MAFS area. I also take a dremel to the TB to take the taper out of the TB also. I have heard many guys say that doing this to the MAFS and TB do nothing then why do guys charge $350 to port a stock TB? I am sure there are many right and wrong answers out there but I have personally done 50-60 MAFS?TB port jobs and have never had anyone complain or not be %100 satisfied. I challenge anyone with an aftermarket TB/MAFS to meet me at the track, I will run my car as is, then we can bolt on the aftermarket MAFS/TB and if the aftermarket combo show a gain I will buy both on the spot. I am not being an a$$ but I have been wanting to do this for a long time to see if there is a difference. I live in Sanford, NC and the Fayetteville DS is open every sun from 12-5 for test and tune. I really want to know if there is a difference and I think alot of other guys feel the same.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 8,472
Likes: 38
From: Houston TX
St. Jude Donor '11
Removing the screen is OK if you recalibrate the MAF table (or tables in the LS2). Without a recalibration you're just rolling the dice. You've changed the intake design right in front of the MAF wires which is sure to throw off the readings. As mentioned above the MAF typically reads leaner after removing the screen. Depending on how your current tune looks this could be good or bad.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 1,861
Likes: 1
From: Bremerton WA
St. Jude Donor '09
The C5 Z06's didn't even have the screen from the factory.
I've always removed mine on every vehicle eventually. I don't recommend it unless you have access to a tuner. Most of the horror stories out there stem from a person removing the screen and not tuning. Some are fine without tuning, but all can be good with tuning.
I've always removed mine on every vehicle eventually. I don't recommend it unless you have access to a tuner. Most of the horror stories out there stem from a person removing the screen and not tuning. Some are fine without tuning, but all can be good with tuning.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 3,565
Likes: 5
From: stafford country, va. Avatar: Me on turn 3 @ Bristol (The World's Fastest Half-Mile)
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 221
Likes: 0
From: Rowlett Texas
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,847
Likes: 1,145
From: Sleepy Hollow- NJ
I removed the screen on mine and the throttle response was crisper. As a matter of fact, GM realized the screens were nothing but a hinderance and they removed the screens from the MAF on all Z06 models from 2002 forward. FACT.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 4,275
Likes: 4
From: Vancouver WA
The only real reason I can see to remove a screen would be if your motor is digesting more air than what the MAF can flow with the screen in. Removing the sceen will allow more CFM of air to flow. For a N/A motor, I think it's a waste of time myself.
Also, GM orginally built the screen for the trucks and cars that has a 90 turn in the intake tract. That caused a lot of turbulance in the air flow. Which is why they used the screen. The C5/C6 corvettes has a straight air flow, so it's not need like the other vehicles. But GM decided to just have one MAF fit all, so they all came with a screen. (Except for the late model Z06 C5's).
Also, GM orginally built the screen for the trucks and cars that has a 90 turn in the intake tract. That caused a lot of turbulance in the air flow. Which is why they used the screen. The C5/C6 corvettes has a straight air flow, so it's not need like the other vehicles. But GM decided to just have one MAF fit all, so they all came with a screen. (Except for the late model Z06 C5's).
Collections Hold
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 3,520
Likes: 2
From: Tacoma WA
The only real reason I can see to remove a screen would be if your motor is digesting more air than what the MAF can flow with the screen in. Removing the sceen will allow more CFM of air to flow. For a N/A motor, I think it's a waste of time myself.
Also, GM orginally built the screen for the trucks and cars that has a 90 turn in the intake tract. That caused a lot of turbulance in the air flow. Which is why they used the screen. The C5/C6 corvettes has a straight air flow, so it's not need like the other vehicles. But GM decided to just have one MAF fit all, so they all came with a screen. (Except for the late model Z06 C5's).
Also, GM orginally built the screen for the trucks and cars that has a 90 turn in the intake tract. That caused a lot of turbulance in the air flow. Which is why they used the screen. The C5/C6 corvettes has a straight air flow, so it's not need like the other vehicles. But GM decided to just have one MAF fit all, so they all came with a screen. (Except for the late model Z06 C5's).
Robert
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 11,734
Likes: 15
From: SC
Correct info right here. It's a penny pinching idea from GM. We do not need it on our straight air paths, and it is a restriction to modded motors. I have removed many with no ill effects. Mandatory if your spraying a dry hit. Have you ever wondered why it's leaning a car out after removal, because of better air flow or VE (read: restriction).
Robert
Robert
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 8,472
Likes: 38
From: Houston TX
St. Jude Donor '11
The only real reason I can see to remove a screen would be if your motor is digesting more air than what the MAF can flow with the screen in. Removing the sceen will allow more CFM of air to flow. For a N/A motor, I think it's a waste of time myself.
Also, GM orginally built the screen for the trucks and cars that has a 90 turn in the intake tract. That caused a lot of turbulance in the air flow. Which is why they used the screen. The C5/C6 corvettes has a straight air flow, so it's not need like the other vehicles. But GM decided to just have one MAF fit all, so they all came with a screen. (Except for the late model Z06 C5's).
Also, GM orginally built the screen for the trucks and cars that has a 90 turn in the intake tract. That caused a lot of turbulance in the air flow. Which is why they used the screen. The C5/C6 corvettes has a straight air flow, so it's not need like the other vehicles. But GM decided to just have one MAF fit all, so they all came with a screen. (Except for the late model Z06 C5's).