Do I really need a MAF sensor? Or can I bypass the hole MAF and make my own CAI? I know it measures air temp and barometer and another thing and estimates the amount of fuel to put into the injectors. Something like that I guess. But if you pull the air intake hose off the air intake manifold the car starts right up. I have a 85 2.8. So I was wondering pretty much if I could leave the MAF sensor plugged in but route around it to make a custom CAI?

 

The engine will run, but for it to run correctly, it's required.

I promise you will never see anyone that has taken it out and been happy with the results. Best bet is to leave it in and design around it.

 

So are you saying I can leave it out of the new setup and just leave the peice that the MAF sensor plugs into on the car. Or I have to connect it to the new setup?

 

What I did (it worked well for me anyway) was to cut the sharp bend part off the maf. I then basically attached the K&N cone filter straight to the maf using a really short piece of tubing, and began curving the pvc pipe after it.

I've always wanted to drill a hole and thread the air temperature sensor into the tube, but it's done fine laying next to the filter.

I also left the screen in, as it straightens the air-flow through the sensor. Other's say they've removed it, and still others say they removed it and got codes.

 

If you leave it out you will have a stumble, poor fuel mileage, and check engine light on all the time, and a car that generally runs like crap. It directly meters the amount of air entering the engine so that it can precisly meter the amount of fuel required for a given circumstance.

Just build it into your setup and you'll be fine.