Anybody changed MAF yet?

[FordNut]

Just wondering if anybody has explored the possible performance gains of changing to the 90 mm Lightning MAF. This is based on a comment made in another thread awhile back which reads:

Our factory MAF’s are problematic at best for tuning purposes. What happens is that they falsely plateau prior to reaching their peak output voltage and stick or stay that way for several hundred rpm before climbing again. This is tricky for tuning as normally you set a commanded A/F ratio and adjust airflow through another table in the PCM. Well since your airflow table gets screwed by the plateau, you have to falsely ask for a richer mixture than you really want to get the real world A/F that you are asking for. Replacing your MAF with a 90mm lightning MAF will eliminate this problem and let a tuner work their magic with your car more accurately!

[CRUZTAKER]

Talk to Rick...your moderator and mine:P

He did it, and posted pics, trials and tribulations....

[FordNut]

I thought he changed the throttle body, not the MAF. Maybe it was both?

[CRUZTAKER]

You could be right. I read that thread a LONG time back when I was on the road. Perhaps a fellow in my area...'Blackhole'. I recall him telling me something. Not my forte, just hoping to help since no one had answered.

Goog luck man :up:

[FordNut]

Thanks.

[Marauderer]

I crunched the CFM numbers a while back (in LML's thread about the TB upgrade) and can't see any benefit for a larger MAF on a NA car and the apparent HP gains for even a S/C car seem minimal. I plan on doing this mod mostly for control over my tune and to be able to do it right without having to fudge it. Apparently every tuner sees this problem with our MAF's. My question is why haven't they addressed this with a mod before? What if the plateaus change or move? Well, since you have to cheat by asking for a richer and richer mixture the worse that could happen is that you run rich, right? Well, the problem with that is how rich? Lean isn't the only thing that causes problems. Running a car too rich can cause cylinder wash, which is just as bad.

Now I'm not saying this is a "real" problem as I haven't seen any blown motors that could be traced back to this. It is just something that nags at me. Knowing there is something jury rigged under my hood, just makes me want to run out and replace it :) regardless of the "threat level".

Take it easy,

Bill

[FordNut]

Bill,
I'm with you on the size being a non-issue. Just wondering if a more accurate voltage output could be beneficial for better or easier programming. If/when you do the mod, keep us informed.

BTW, where did you relocate the IAT sensor to? Would/could/should it benefit a N/A car to move it? If so, where would you suppose would be an optimal location? In the air box instead of the engine compartment maybe?

Thanks

[FordNut]

Just visited Pro-M website. They have an 80mm sensor listed for the MM. Claims 17 hp gain. It appears to be sold with a cone-type filter. I sent them an e-mail asking for more info.