I installed a custom cold air kit on my 88 GTA. With it installed on the car she barely will stay started. I have a piece of 3" exhaust pipe with a 90 degree bend, that runs from the MAF under the car with a 6x9 K&N filter. The thing sounds like a jet engine with all the air it is sucking in, but it just won't run right with it on there.

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Founder of the Greater Cincinnati F-Body Association
Greater Cincinnati F-Body Association
1988 Yellow Trans Am GTA
Click here for photos

 

The cold air kit will have no effect when you start it, it only works while driving and air is forced into the intake. Maybe you accidently disconnected something or maybe there is vacuum leak.
To answer your question anyways, yes I believe you can give an engine too much air, that's why you can't just slap on a turbo with 25lbs of boost, it's too much for a stock engine to handle.

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'86 IROC
T-TOPS, TINTED WINDOWS, BRAKE LIGHT BLACKOUTS
GM GOODWRENCH 350
EDELBROCK TES HEADERS
3" Hooker CatBack w/Aero Chamber muffler
EDELBROCK 600CFM CARB.
KN AIRFILTER
ACCEL HEI DISTRIBUTOR
160* Stat
3:73 Posi
Rebuilt 700R4
B&M Megashifter, 5" Autometer Tach w/shift lite

 

When fabbing your CAI, check for any leaks, if there is any leaks in the system before or after MAF sensor you will run very very ****ty, as your computer doesn't know how much air is going in any more. and it doesn't know how much fuel to put in which can cause all your problems. Also if you might have damaged your MAF, which again can cause these problems, or wires are unpluged as mentioned above, check your power and burn off relays as well.

My .02 hope this helps ya.

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1989 Trans Am GTA, L98 5.7L TPI, TH700-R4, T-Tops, dual cats, 9-bolt rear, 3.27, Dynomax muffler, K&N
1992 Camaro RS, LO3 5.0L TBI, T-5, T-Tops, 3.08, L69 Dual Snorkel, K&N - Sold

Honda engines ROCK, I have one on my lawn mower but I still have to push it.

 

I agree with Drakar, one time i took of my intake hose to get to something, and when i put it back on i didn't tighten the hose clamp and the MAF sensor and it caused it to let air in After the MAF sensor, it ran really really really bad, thats most likely ur problem, somehing with the MAF

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- David
88' GTA 5.7L TPI MODS---> air foil, K&N, Shift Kit, 180* therm, TB bypass, Gutted CAT, Flowmaster 80 Series

 

You can have leaks before the MAF, but not after it. Remember, there is a large hole before the MAF where the air comes in.

 

That is possible, maybe my rubber boot isn't sealing well, but when I put the factory unit back on it runs fine.

 

Too much air isn't usually a problem. Not enough fuel to go with the air is a problem.



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350 with stealth intake, holley carb, 470 lift cam. 700r4 with .5 boost valve, vette servo, tci lock-up kit, B&M megashifter. Richmond 3.73 gears, powertrax locker, timkin bearings, synthetic lube. Custom 3 inch single into 2 2.5 pipes. 1 1/2 drop springs, 1 5/16 solid front sway bar, 1 inch rear bar, custom subframe connectors, custom LCA relocation brackets. Kobel ground FX, currant red metallic paint. Lots of other stuff...
82camaro

 

I'm thinking a 3" exhaust pipe is a little on the smallish side for an intake tube. The I.D. of a stock MAF is about 70mm (about 2.75") and is widely considered the most restrictive part of the system, outside of the TB. Over a longer distance, the restriction becomes exponential, not additive.

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Later,
Vader
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Justice and Freedom will Prevail