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  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
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CAI or straight shot filter to MAF = best performance?

  • Thread starter Thread starter rockin_rick
  • Start date Start date Dec 18, 2003
R

rockin_rick

Member
Oct 9, 2003
968
1
17
Dec 18, 2003
#1
  • Dec 18, 2003
  • #1
It's my understanding that the 90° bend of the CAI setup before the MAF causes less acurate readings by the MAF, and that a filter that is mounted right in front of the MAF provides 'cleaner' data for the ECU. But does this cleaner data/warmer intake air temp. combo result in more performance than a dirtyer data/colder intake air temp combo?

I've seen some of you guys have cut a large hole into the fender so that the filter is a straight shot to the MAF, and is still in the fender. This is not an option, as I am not willing to cut a large hole for that.

Apparently Pro-M's univer is made to clean up the data in this circumstance. That is expensive, though.

The MAF is a Pro-M 75mm. I already have a MAC CAI (so the cost is not a factor), but am willing to change.

Thanks,
Rick
 

94Blue302GT

Member
Oct 20, 2003
704
3
19
Chicago
Dec 18, 2003
#2
  • Dec 18, 2003
  • #2
I'm assuming that you would probably crank out the best numbers with the filter right on the end of the MAF, and the MAF right up to the Throttle Body, BUT, especially for daily's, the cold air puts the filter outside the engine bay to make sure that it is cooler/denser air getting in, and actually putting the filter on the MAF would end up giving you much warmer temps in the air, thus thinning it out, and therefore less power. That's why the cold air works.
 

Killercanary

The car that set the bar.
Founding Member
Nov 29, 1999
5,676
1
76
Altoona, PA
Dec 18, 2003
#3
  • Dec 18, 2003
  • #3
Mine is a straight shot with NO bends. 1/2 of my filter is in the fender, 1/2 is under hood. I made a little plastic sheild so that it doesn't pick up turbulant air from the fan.
 

final5-0

Mustang Master
Apr 6, 2003
6,817
12
79
DFW Texas
Dec 18, 2003
#4
  • Dec 18, 2003
  • #4
94Blue302GT said:
I'm assuming that you would probably crank out the best numbers with the filter right on the end of the MAF, and the MAF right up to the Throttle Body, BUT, especially for daily's, the cold air puts the filter outside the engine bay to make sure that it is cooler/denser air getting in, and actually putting the filter on the MAF would end up giving you much warmer temps in the air, thus thinning it out, and therefore less power. That's why the cold air works.
Click to expand...

I read somewhere that if the maf is close to the tb it can get a backwash, so to speak, from the tb blade and can cause probs.

On the other hand!

I had a home made cai that I ran for over a year and was in place at the dyno pull in my sig where the maf was about four inches from the tb and I had no driveability issues whasoever.

Later
Grady
 

95snoozer

Active Member
Dec 14, 2002
2,572
1
48
RCR
Dec 22, 2003
#5
  • Dec 22, 2003
  • #5
its not a huge hole.... you cut one line from oen current opening to the other, and roll the metal. very easy.
 
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