89BlueRSCamaro

I basically ripped off the screen on my MAF....did not damaged anything else in the process..just wanted to know if i did good or bad....and how this will affect anything if anything....i did these cuz i heard it is good for better airflow...i also will not be doing anything as far as reprograming...my car is basically stock...soooo.....how bad did i screw up???

Tremo

Welll....... seems like the MAF is a pretty fragile item. And very expensive. Some guys have de-screened their MAF with no problems. Other guys destroyed theirs in the process. It's a real toss up as to if it's worth the risk. Unless you're making a LOT of horsepower, like over 400, I'd say leave the screens and don't risk MAF damage. If you insist on de-screening, I'd only remove the screen on the outlet side.

Hey, I admit it, I'm chicken to try to de-screen mine. Besides, I don't think it would make any difference on an LB9 with stock innards.

Z28cross-fire

Your engine will most likely be fine, but do not do anything else to it. Like said, the MAF sensors are sensitive, and can be ruined quickly.

CC89Formula

i did it, no problems for about a year, then the MAF went bad. now i have one with the computer chip inside and only the outlet side is descreened.

LAFireboyd

iTrader: (3)

I 'felt' a noticeable difference in throttle response the first time I took-off. I have no dyno proof that it made any difference, though. But if the Camaro intake alone makes a 5-10 hp difference over the Firebird intake, then I'd think letting in 100-150 cfm more air would definitely show a difference.

Safe? Yeah, no worries. You might read a lot of technical reasons why not to do it, but because so many people have done it and had no problems, it kind of makes those reasons seem more 'theoretical.'

I've read about so many more people who have had no problems than people who had problems, that it makes me wonder if the reason people had problems was because they damaged their MAF during the process, or that maybe their MAF was about to fail anyway. It just doesn't seem like failure occurred simply because the screens were out.

But one thing I didn't do was remove the fins inside. I'd have surely messed-up my MAF if I'd tried to do that!

86TA355SR

iTrader: (1)

I removed the screens and the fins. No problems in 8 years.

Takes a lot of time to be careful of not destroying anything.

Guess I got lucky!

89BlueRSCamaro

well i removed mine and drove the car a little but could not really say if i did damaged the MAF since i still have to fix the fans on the car...also i dont have a LB9...well no longer have the RS...i have a 89 IROC-Z....so i will have to wait till the weekend when i fix the fans and install some injectors since i have a damaged ones to see if the MAF is bad....i was not too careful when i descreened mine..kinda just ripped the screenes with some needle nose plyers and knife....i know i did not damaged the middle part and the wires are still there..the "hot" wires i guess....anyways...thanx for the input...also the car will stay basically stock..no major upgrades...the usual...manifold to back exhaust...better intake and MSD setup...other than that...maybe later a better cam...but nothing else....just wanted to get a better response on the car...

LAFireboyd

iTrader: (3)

Sounds like the test drive went well, so I doubt you hurt your MAF. You'll be fine.

As for my LB9 reference, I assumed Tremo was making reference to his own car, an LB9. And since mine is also an LB9, I thought I'd mention it. I had seen that your car was an L98, which will prolly be even happier than an LB9 with that extra air.

89BlueRSCamaro

True...i was not reading his post correctly i guess it helps when you read their quick bio...also i dont know if anyone has tried it...but what about gutting the intake...Y shaped thing....i read some users here cut the bottom part of it to help the car breathe better....any input on this idea....good/bad

formul8!!

Same here. As long as you run a good air filter with a tight seal so it does not let any dirt though, you should have no problems. Also, the MAF must not be able to move around much either. Excessive Shaking is another way to rip the wire or damage teh electronics.

Tremo

One final word of caution. If your de-screened MAF ever fails and you have to go to a parts store to buy a replacement, look out. They want your old MAF as the core for rebuilding, or they charge you extra (the core charge). Some won't accept a MAF that has been de-screened, or has had the fins ground away. If that happens, you toss the failed MAF and eat a $100 core charge.

Is there a way to remove the screens without any damage, so they could be superglued back into place if the MAF has to be returned as a core?

87IROCZ350TPI

Check the tech articles if you haven't already. there is a how-to on gutting the y-intake. I removed my outlet screen about five years ago and the MAF is still fine. I didn't notice much except for a small increase in throttle response. Screen removal probably works well in conjunction with other "ten-minute mods."

WhiteKnight

MAFs have $100 core charge on them?
Thats ridiculous.

formul8!!

I have never heard of a core charge on a MAF. Once you take one apart, they do not go back together.

whitedevilTA

iTrader: (8)

I had to buy a new MAF for my car, and on the Bosch one which I got, there was no core I believe, but they listed another brand that did have a core. I also think it was around 100$.

Tremo

Yes, MAFs have a core charge. The amount depends on which new MAF you buy. One I was reading said they would not accept a core MAF that had been altered or modified in any way. Core charges ranged from $60 or so to up about $100. Some very expensive brand new MAFs (not remans) had no core charge.