perf. wise should i move up too larger hipo mass air flow sensor?

[DRAGIN]

i have a 1994 trans am i just got. i bought a functional ram air hood for it.i have all stock components but intend too replace them with all the performance parts. the LT1 engine will remain stock however.if i upgrade the mass air flow sensor will the gain be worth the $300 cost over stock? i do intend too get the whole set up performance programmed after all the bolt ons are added. any input would be wonderful! thank you.
DRAGIN

[FTA1995]

You don't really get any gain for buying a new mass air sensor unless your existing sensor is bad.

Increased MAF diameter won't do any good or a stock engine

Just de-screen the MAF yourself, but its arguable whether or not there is any real gain on a stock engine.

don't waste the money on a High flow sensor, it just lies to the PCM about the mass of air the engine is eating, makes the PCM lean out the system a little bit.

changing the dynamic flow rate of a MAF is not recommended as it will cause more problems than its worth. You will need to change the freq - mass ratios on the PCM to get an appropriate readout from the sensor, but thats only if you ar either really picky or your application requires very accurate metering.

Spend the 300 on a torque arm or control arms or something to upgrade your handling.

[Joe 1320]

In one word.

No.


Save the dough for real mods. A performance modified MAF won't be of any benefit unless you radically increase the amount of airflow the engine moves.

[DRAGIN]

thank you very much

thanks for that help! as for the reprogramming did you folks buy plug in tuner and do it yourself or did you send the computer off 2 be reprogrammed. also what is your prefered brand plug in type if used. again thank you very much for any advise here.

[Rob B (shoebox)]

Even descreening the MAF can cause issues. Best to just leave it alone, unless you need something to support 550+HP.

Mail order tunes (ex. Madtuner, PCMforless) are popular and do a pretty good job in most cases. You will need a special cable and PC or laptop to install it. If you have those two items you can also buy tuning software like Tunercat or LT1_edit to do your own programming.
Another delivery method is Trifecta, which loads a PCMforless custom tune on a handheld programmer that is mailed to you. You then use the device to install the tune and mail it back. No downtime with that method.

[FTA1995]

Do mine myself with a computer.

Don't just jump in unless you really know what you're doing, you can really damage your engine both very quickly and very badly.
The two roads of tuning are FUBAR and performance.

[ConElite]

Do mine myself with a computer.

Don't just jump in unless you really know what you're doing, you can really damage your engine both very quickly and very badly.
The two roads of tuning are FUBAR and performance.

That only Applies when you try and custom tune your own car. I Believe what shoeBox was more leaning to what get a Mail-order tune or a Programmer.


The Mail-order tune is I say one of the best bang for the buck. I hear good gains. When you De-screen your MAF you run the risk of damaging the MAF simply by taking the MAF apart. I say spend those 2-3 hundred bucks on a nice catback.

Let your know what your intentions are for this car. If your going for more of a handling car or more for drag, or an all around better care (just keep in mind one kinda works against the other). Its hard to have the best of both worlds without both working against eachother.