How to remove the screen on the Mass Air Flow Sensor

[SlowSonoma]

Hey Guys,

(Not for people who ARE NOT going to run any types tuners. Such as Hypertech or Venom, Jet, Etc.)

HOW TO MAKE A 4.3 Liter Vortec Low Restriction Mass Air Flow Sensor.

If you have a Hypertech Tuner or Jet tuner or any other product like that installed on your truck you already know your truck has gained power and gas millage. But, When I see people go and install the Granatelli Mass Air Flow sensors too on top of their tuners I think, WHY? The tuning that the granatelli Mass Air flow sensors come with from the factory will only interfere with the Hypertech tuner or Jet tuner or any other type of tuner you already have installed. On top of that you probably wont see much of a power gain.

But there are good things about the Granatelli Low Restriction Mass Air Flow sensors. It is built with as little as possible obstructions so that air going into your engine can be as un-restricted as possible. But dont go spending your money on one of these sensors when I figured out a way to turn your factory Mass Air Flow Sensor into the lowest restriction possible mass Air Flow sensor much like what you'd get from Granatelli.

**WARNING**
I would not do this unless you know what your doing and follow these instructions to the T. Might Void Vehicles warranty if you have one.

TOOLS NEEDED:

1 Flat Head Screw Driver
1 TORX bit Screw driver for the four screws holding the Factory Mass Air Flow Sensor Together.

First:

Disconnect the Air Intake hose from the Mass Air Flow Sensor and disconnect the main harness wire from the sensor unit. (Sensor Circled in red)

http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z3/FireGuy776/EntireEnginered.jpg?t=1185822292

Second:

Remove the Mass Air Flow Sensor and examine it so that you know how it goes together and how it looked before removing the honey comb mesh that restricts air flow. (I already Broke my mesh in this picture but you get the idea of what it looked like)

http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z3/FireGuy776/Assembleb4Fixed.jpg?t=1185822435

Third:

Remove the four screws (Already Removed in picture but circled in red) using the TORX Bit screw driver.

http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z3/FireGuy776/Assembleb4Fixedred-1.jpg?t=1185822681

Fourth:

Remove the half of the Mass Air Flow sensor that has the honey comb mesh and put the half that has the actual sensor in a safe safe SAFE! spot. if you touch or bend or break a sensor the whole unit will be trash!

Take the half with the honey comb mesh and crack the mesh. I then punctured the mesh with a flat head screw driver and pried the mesh out the Mass Air Flow Sensor. After the Mesh has been removed wipe any burs or metal flakes from the inside of the housing. If burrs will not come out try some steel wool but I didn't have a problem. This leaves a clean un-restricted half of a mass air flow sensor.

http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z3/FireGuy776/Apart.jpg?t=1185822753
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http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z3/FireGuy776/PRY.jpg?t=1185822854
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http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z3/FireGuy776/Clean.jpg?t=1185822907
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http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z3/FireGuy776/Rippedout.jpg?t=1185822952

Last:

Re-assemble the unit how it was except without the honey comb mesh and re-install in the vehicle WITH THE ARROW POINTING BACK TOWARDS THE FIREWALL (Arrow circled in red).

http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z3/FireGuy776/Carpet.jpg?t=1185823414
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http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z3/FireGuy776/EntireEnginearrow.jpg?t=1185823482


Finishing thoughts and my review:

With the mesh removed you will flow a lot more air (about 130 CFM more).

I noticed huge gains in torque and a slight difference in horsepower and i don't even have a tuner installed. Right now I'm just preparing the engine for a supercharger and thought this is how I could get more power from my Air Intake.

Hope you guys like this!

Mason

[bowtieordie]

So you would not recommend doing it with a programmer? I have an 02 with a hypertech III and some other bolt ons. I also have a TB spacer, I want more air, for more power, and whistle. It cant hurt right???

[bowtieordie]

I have an 02 4.3 with some bolt ons and a Hypertech PPIII. I have a TB spacer and want more air of coarse, and whistle. I saw that u had one too, did u notice a sound difference. It couldnt hurt me to do it right, with the programmer and all? Let me know what u think... Thanks

[bowtieordie]

OOOOO I think I miss understood, u meant this is a better mod for those who have or are planning to have a programmer over a aftermarket performance sensor, right?

[bespurcell]

OOOOO I think I miss understood, u meant this is a better mod for those who have or are planning to have a programmer over a aftermarket performance sensor, right?
__________________
I think that's right. I did this to my truck several years ago and I have a hypertech. It was very easy. I didn't really notice a whole lot of difference but I'm sure it helped.

[SlowSonoma]

yes.

[SlowSonoma]

I have found if you are runnign a stock air intake, removing the screen may make the truck not run right but switching to an aftermarket cold ai intake no problems are caused by removing the screen.

[Hammer Head]

..TB spacers don't increase hp whatsoever.. it's a useless mod that just drains your wallet.

[LowSDime97]

funny thing is that when i removed my screen i just took a utility knife and cut it out without taking anything apart! lol

[SlowSonoma]

i know bought the vehicle with it on the engine so w/e

[SlowSonoma]

i know came on the vehicle when bought .

[Dogsofjune]

So....you're saying you bought the vehicle with it on already?

[retiredff]

what is the purpose of the screen?

if I remove it and use the stock air intake system, can I also buy a CFM Tech hi flow Throttle body without any problems? My exhaust is hi flow.

Thanks

Tony

[retiredff]

double post.... sorry

Tony

[01blzxtreme]

hahah well i just took some pliers pinched it and applied very little pressure to pull it out...and pop hahah it was out...no need to dissasemble anything

[Zygoat]

STUPID sssooooooo stupid. don't do it. it will net you nothing and has the potential to **** your **** up.

the screen is there to keep the air flow straight. this way the sensor can actually work. you remove it all bets are off. and if the sensor doesn't work right the truck no work right.

some people get LUCKY and their setup has straight flow already so when they remove it they have no ill effects, but they are LUCKY. and then they swear their truck is "so much faster and more responsive" bull****! others do it and end up buying a new one.

they use the same sensor on v8 trucks. it is not a restriction LEAVE IT ALONE.

[01blzxtreme]

STUPID sssooooooo stupid. don't do it. it will net you nothing and has the potential to **** your **** up.

the screen is there to keep the air flow straight. this way the sensor can actually work. you remove it all bets are off. and if the sensor doesn't work right the truck no work right.

some people get LUCKY and their setup has straight flow already so when they remove it they have no ill effects, but they are LUCKY. and then they swear their truck is "so much faster and more responsive" bull****! others do it and end up buying a new one.

they use the same sensor on v8 trucks. it is not a restriction LEAVE IT ALONE.


bullsh1t....hahah...why would they sell aftermarket MAF without it....i did it to mine nothing happened i didnt feel horsepower or anything but i did it for the heck of it....