which do you like better... i have an 86 with maf but am gonna buy an 88 with SD and i wanna know whats the difference when i start to mod the car... its a 5 speed and has 3.45 gears so just wondering which is better?

 

88 was still a MAF car unless owner converted it over...89 went to SD...better double check before you buy...

just fyi

 

yea i was just reading up and i heard 90 is when they went to sd so.... went to go see the car and the motor is out and sitting in his driveway..... so i really couldnt tell... but he only wants 1300 for it... nice clean straight body and wheels were recently redone looks like new

 

I like having speed density. Don't have to worry about the MAF failling, or being a restriction, and makes it easier to do stuff like this (don't have to incorporate the MAF into the system):



I just think speed density is better and simpler.

 

By the way, regardless of whether it's SD or MAF, for $1300 for a nice condition, 5-speed '88, I'd go for it. I don't look at SD or MAF as a selling point.

What engine?

 

In 90 they went to SD. 89 is still MAF

 

My car came with MAF and I converted it to SD. MAF is less sensitive to modifications. So you can do more to your engine and run a stock chip. SD is more sensitive to engine modifications. SD is easier to tune in my opinion, but you have to know how to burn proms. Overall I like speed density more then MAF. I was able to get my car to run better with SD then it ever did with MAF. But this was with prom burning.

 

the motor was the LB9 which is what i had in my 86 but the 88 is a roller... motor through 4 rods and so its trash but the heads up should still be good... had the G92 rear option and by lookin at the tech data base its a 3.45 9 bolt posi disk rear... i already have a 9 bolt in my 86 but its a 3.08 and its an auto... the seats are gonna need to be replace but i am gonna put 4th gens in it and mabye a roll cage.... so i should have some fun...... thanks guys

 

iroc,

Are we talking about runing in part throttle conditions or wot??

I'm having problems in part throttle with MAF.. But under WOT it doesn't matter cuz I run a 8:1 FMU w/ boost.

I'm thinking of the speed density swap over the winter.. I'm thinking if I could get idle/part throttle tuning down pat, WOT stuff shouldn't matter cuz of the FMU.. Plus, I'd like to get rid of the maf, and maybe run my supercharger intake to a cowl hood.

-- Joe

 

If you’re running boost you are going to want to switch to the 749 ECM. This is a SD ECM that can read boost that is used in the Buick GN. That 730 ECM is what comes stock in 90-92 TPI thirdgens and cannot read boost.

 

For a naturally aspirated scenerio this is your answer, I've seen all 3 tpi ecms in my car and they progressivly get better as the years went on. SD Is great to work with, however if you can't burn your own proms MAF will probably run better due to the fact its slightly more 'self adjusting'