MAF Question? Is it worth it?

1512 Views 14 Replies 5 Participants Last post by new8514, Jul 14, 2009

jdant

Discussion Starter · Jul 7, 2009

My dad has a 93' LX 5.0 with LT headers, O/R H-Pipe, FMPP Mufflers, 3.55 gears, smog delete, and a Mac(Fenderwell) CAI. He is looking to add something that will give him a little extra horse for not a lot of money.

I have been looking at C&L and Pro-M MAF's and I'm a little confused. His car has stock 19# injectors. C&L offers a 73mm and a 76mm MAF that is calibrated for 19#. They claim it will gain 8 or 11hp to the wheels by adding this mod.

Can anyone verify that this mod alone will gain any HP? Is there an issue with the CAI that will cause it to run bad? Pro-M offers a CAI option with thier MAF's. I think they use a screen to manage the airflow?

I know underdrive pullies are cheap and give a few HP, but he doesn't want alternator problems(dimming).

Are these easy to install? Is it worth the $?

Thanks!:bigthumbsup

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302Feen

· #2 · Jul 7, 2009

jdant said:
My dad has a 93' LX 5.0 with LT headers, O/R H-Pipe, FMPP Mufflers, 3.55 gears, smog delete, and a Mac(Fenderwell) CAI. He is looking to add something that will give him a little extra horse for not a lot of money.

I have been looking at C&L and Pro-M MAF's and I'm a little confused. His car has stock 19# injectors. C&L offers a 73mm and a 76mm MAF that is calibrated for 19#. They claim it will gain 8 or 11hp to the wheels by adding this mod.

Can anyone verify that this mod alone will gain any HP? Is there an issue with the CAI that will cause it to run bad? Pro-M offers a CAI option with thier MAF's. I think they use a screen to manage the airflow?

I know underdrive pullies are cheap and give a few HP, but he doesn't want alternator problems(dimming).

Are these easy to install? Is it worth the $?

Thanks!:bigthumbsup

Getting an aftermarket MAF by itself won't be worth the money. You MIGHT see 3 HP out of it. Especially if you still have the stock throttle body (FOXes come stock with a 55mm TB). If you were to change the TB AND the MAF you might see close to 5-8 HP.
So my vote is no.

Have him get a smaller crank pulley. He's already deleted the smog, so an underdrive crank pulley will make some difference and be pretty cheap.

Look into getting an Explorer intake. You can find them for around $200 if you're patient. Get the Explorer intake and a 65mm TB and you should see anywhere up to 15-20 HP. You can spend around $300-$350 for the intake and TB. Well worth the money IMO. :bigthumbsup

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EagleAutosports

· #3 · Jul 7, 2009

The Pro M is now called the PMAS, just in case you see it. The Pro M never used a screen in there, I have one and it doesn't use it.
The power gains depend on the rest of the engine. If you (or your dad) as a highly modified engine and the mass air is too small, then you'd get some noticeable gains from it. If those parts you mention are all he has, then he'd do alright getting one but it won't be that much.

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jdant

Discussion Starter · #4 · Jul 7, 2009

302Feen said:
Getting an aftermarket MAF by itself won't be worth the money. You MIGHT see 3 HP out of it. Especially if you still have the stock throttle body (FOXes come stock with a 55mm TB). If you were to change the TB AND the MAF you might see close to 5-8 HP.
So my vote is no.

Have him get a smaller crank pulley. He's already deleted the smog, so an underdrive crank pulley will make some difference and be pretty cheap.

Look into getting an Explorer intake. You can find them for around $200 if you're patient. Get the Explorer intake and a 65mm TB and you should see anywhere up to 15-20 HP. You can spend around $300-$350 for the intake and TB. Well worth the money IMO. :bigthumbsup

How hard is it to install the explorer intake? Can it be done by a novice or should it be taken to a shop? Do you have to drill any addidtional holes on the intake?

Thanks

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302Feen

· #5 · Jul 7, 2009

jdant said:
How hard is it to install the explorer intake? Can it be done by a novice or should it be taken to a shop? Do you have to drill any addidtional holes on the intake?

Thanks

It's a direct bolt on and it's VERY easy to do. Just takes some time and a little patience. But it's well worth it.

Plus, after you have the exploder intake on there, THEN the MAF will come in handy... :bigthumbsup

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88BlownGT

· #6 · Jul 7, 2009

Sorry to hijack, quick question. Does the explorer intake flow any better/worse than the Cobra intake?

jdant

Discussion Starter · #7 · Jul 8, 2009

88BlownGT said:
Sorry to hijack, quick question. Does the explorer intake flow any better/worse than the Cobra intake?

I think the Explorer, Cobra, and Tubular GT-40 are all very close in performance(please correct me if I'm wrong).

Do you need to do anything to the fuel system(Fuel Pump, injectors, fuel rails, etc...) if you replace the upper and lower intake?

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302Feen

· #8 · Jul 8, 2009

88BlownGT said:
Sorry to hijack, quick question. Does the explorer intake flow any better/worse than the Cobra intake?

The tubular GT40, Cobra, and Explorer are all the same basic intake and flow the same. The only difference I can think of is due to the tubular design of the original GT40, the intake stays cooler which means cooler air, and the upper is aluminum which makes it about 3-5 pounds lighter than the cast Cobra's and Exploder's.

For some reason though, the tubular GT40 can handle up to 450HP (unported) whereas the Cobra/Explorer can only handle up to 350ish HP (unported). On the flipside, the upper tubular intake cannot be ported whereas the Cobra/Exploder uppers can be ported.

jdant said:
I think the Explorer, Cobra, and Tubular GT-40 are all very close in performance(please correct me if I'm wrong).
You are correct. :bigthumbsup

Do you need to do anything to the fuel system(Fuel Pump, injectors, fuel rails, etc...) if you replace the upper and lower intake?

Just upgrading to a GT40 intake doesn't require a fuel system upgrade. The only thing that would be a good investment is a fuel pressure regulator so you can raise the pressure just a tad due to the extra air.

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EagleAutosports

· #9 · Jul 8, 2009

There are differences in flow between the three but not enough to worry about. The GT40 just looks better in my opinion.

302Feen

· #10 · Jul 8, 2009

EagleAutosports said:
There are differences in flow between the three but not enough to worry about. The GT40 just looks better in my opinion.

You got that right! :bigthumbsup

I don't know how accurate this info is, but this will give you a good idea on flow ratings...

http://www.allfordmustangs.com/Detailed/574.shtml

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jdant

Discussion Starter · #11 · Jul 13, 2009

Thanks for the graph!! Looks like the Cobra Intake is the way to go. Esp. for the price.

new8514

· #12 · Jul 13, 2009

You don't have to drill anything in an Explorer intake as long as it's an early one with the hole of the air temp sensor.

I put a throttle body and mass air meter on and went from a best time of 14.50 to 14.12 - 1/4 mile, still stock intake, not port matched to the throttle body either, I would say I gained at least 10hp.

The limiting factor in all three intakes ends up being the lower.

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jdant

Discussion Starter · #13 · Jul 14, 2009

Damn, just with a 76mm MAF and a 70mm Throttle body on a stock intake you took that much time off your time?

So you think with a Cobra intake, 76mm MAF and a 70mm throttle body I can expect around +20hp?

302Feen

· #14 · Jul 14, 2009

jdant said:
Damn, just with a 76mm MAF and a 70mm Throttle body on a stock intake you took that much time off your time?

So you think with a Cobra intake, 76mm MAF and a 70mm throttle body I can expect around +20hp?

I think a 20HP gain from all those combined is very possible.

new8514

· #15 · Jul 14, 2009

Yes and No, I already had all new exhaust so the new incoming air had somewhere to go, the gains would be less if your exhaust was all still stock. Also I have a cam so that's also going to help me a little more then having the stock cam would. Same thing with already having a K&N filter.

Everything in your motor has to work together and when it does you will see more power.

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