BlackenedBird

iTrader: (5)

I can get a brand new stock MAF for $150. Or a Granatelli Motor Sports MAF for $300. Is double the price really worth the 10-15 rwhp it claims? Considering the typical exaggerated aftermarket claims, I'd say 5-10 is probably more accurate. http://www.summitracing.com/parts/GRN-350100/

"Granatelli offers these innovative mass airflow sensors as an upgrade for your stock one. The sensors feature state-of-the-art hybrid electronics, which provide improved ignition and injector timing control that results in a 10-15 hp gain at the rear tires. They're easy to install and they're housed in a rugged, injection-molded body to reduce heat soak, which is a common problem with stock metal sensors."

Looks like mine is bad so would it really be worth the spend the extra $, since I hafta buy one anyways?

TTOP350

iTrader: (8)

not worth the money. go with a stock one.

BlackenedBird

iTrader: (5)

By "not worth the money" do you mean it won't give a HP increase? Considering what some people pay for stainless steel exhaust or even mild steel stuff & the HP they get? I think it ain't that bad, HP vs $-wise.

Or will it not give any HP increase in return? With newer technology compared to early the 80s design, it certainly can't be any worse.

Or do you know of any other MAF that would be worth getting instead?

TTOP350

iTrader: (8)

It wont give you any more power by just putting it on.
Remove the screens, cut the fins on your stock one and be money ahead.
Then have your car tuned.

BlackenedBird

iTrader: (5)

I went ahead & ordered a new stock MAF last night. I'll descreen it, but I've never heard anything about fin cutting. I can't see that the fins do much, if anything, to really impede airflow, so why cut them? I'd be leery of hitting the uber thin wire inside anyways.

Orr89RocZ

iTrader: (20)

If you tune with the stock MAF you may see a few ponies, but its not the MAF thats doing it. Its the TUNE as in ecm controlled fuel delivery and timing.

See? They are saying timing/ignition control and injector control. Tweaking the output of the MAF will change fueling but not sure how its doing timing. Tweaking those parameters with this MAF may make the motor create more power if the factory tune is off, and they tend to be alittle rich from the factory, so you may get more power.... then again you may not.

But heres a hint....if you have a computer you can download tunerpro for free. You can buy a chip burner for 80 bucks, the adapter piece with 2 chips for 60. Burn a new chip with more aggressive timing curve and lean it out if necessary to gain your power. Doing that for 140 bucks compared to 300.

Now if you want to do more detailed tuning/scanning/datalogging, you need another 80 dollar ALDL cable and a laptop. Still under 300 bucks if you have the laptop, and you can find cheap old laptops to run tunerpro RT. I got a few for 50 bucks that I used to use for my tuning. BASIC computers but they work.


An even more basic bandaid cheap way of tuning is adjust base timing and get a fuel pressure regulator that you can adjust to dial in fuel pressure at WOT to optimize air fuel ratio. Go to a dyno and have a wideband o2 sensor monitor your pull and go from there.

BlackenedBird

iTrader: (5)

I know SQUAT about PROM programming/tuning, but I would like to. Any links/info you can give that is more specific would be greatly appreciated. My head starts swimming every time I have tried to research it & see what/where to buy the stuff to do it. Lately I have been thinking more about it & wondered if the ECM could be relocated for easier access. One arm to reach it really makes it difficult to get to, much less to actually get out.

Orr89RocZ

iTrader: (20)

DIY Prom board on this site. Search thru the stickies at the top of the forum. Theres a prom tuning guidebook and has all the starting information you need.

BlackenedBird

iTrader: (5)

Thanks, but I thought I was clear above when I said:
I know what I can & cannot do & accept it. Tuning is not something I could ever master, only tinker with at best. I'll just find someone who can & pay them for a chip.

Pat Hall

iTrader: (31)

I'm pretty much in the exact same boat as you are. I'm basically retarded when it comes to anything to do with PROM tuning, and don't want the hassle of learning how to become a computer geek. Lol. As for what's been said above, the other guys are correct in saying the Granatelli MAF is really just a big waste of money. They have a tiny adjustment screw on them, but unless you know what you're doing, playing with that adjustment usually gets the sensor so far out of whack with the computer, you'd be lucky to ever get it running right again. I'm running a 355 with AFR 190 heads, Super Ram intake, 24 lb. injectors, and a good sized Comp Extreme Energy series cam, and I'm still running the stock Bosch MAF sensor. I haven't even bothered to descreen it or mess with the cooling fins, and I get plenty of airflow and power. My motor pulls hard all the way to 6 grand. Maybe remove the screens if you absolutely feel like you need to modify something, but other than that, I'd just leave the MAF alone. As Orr said above, you really only see major improvements in power by playing around with the settings in the PROM chip, such as tweaking the spark and fuel tables, and also tweaking the MAF tables. But since you sound the same as me, you're better off not playing with any of the PROM settings. I had a mail order chip burned for mine, and all I had them do was use the ARAP bin file (350 Vette w/aluminum heads) and reset the injector constant setting for 24 lb. injectors. On the non-performance related stuff I had them disable the EGR, VATS, and speed limiter, since all those controls are nothing but a headache on these cars! The only other MAF worth getting instead of the stock Bosch one would be the one made by Micro-Tech. It uses a circuit card instead of a heated wire, and supposedly flows a bit more CFM than the stock unit. It also costs about the same as a stock replacement.

BlackenedBird

iTrader: (5)

Funny that you mention that. I bought one from Autozone online on Friday, free shipping to my house. Just came in today & it is the style you described.

And yep....A new MAF cured my engine ills, despite currently no MAF code and the CEL going on & off.

Pat Hall

iTrader: (31)

Yep, looking at the pics you just posted, that's definitely the critter I was referring to! That's great news to hear it cured your poor running conditions! Unfortunately for me, I bought one of the circuit style MAF's for my car some time ago, but I bought it used from a member on here. Needless to say he ripped me off. The damn thing was no good, so I ended up just putting the original Bosch sensor back on for the time being.