What options are their for at home MAF recalibration?

[AmericanThunder]

Have a Lightning MAF calibrated for 42lbs Injectors. Like to recalibrate for
30lbs injectors are their any kits or software that allows for an "at home" tune instead of sending to sombody. I know Pro-M has some kit, but it's my understanding that kit will not allow for permanent recalibration.

Any info is greatly appreciated.

 

[Daggar]

Anderson Ford Motor Sports has a Mass Air Flow Extender that you could use but it's not going to be a perfect solution for your situation. There is more to consider in the tune than just the meter's transfer function. I have a couple of questions for you:

How do you know the meter is calibrated for 42s? They don't come that way.
Where did you have this meter calibrated?
Does your car have a custom tune/chip?

 

[Mustang5L5]

Tweecer

 

[AmericanThunder]

I was under the assumption that the supercharged lightnings had a MAF calibrated for 42lbs injectors. It was purchased from a salvage yard. No tune. Stock Chip.

 

[Look Its Aaron]

Hey you are from glendora. I am from Fontana. Check out your local so cal stang sites!

www.lamustangclub.com

www.socalhorsepower.com

 

[Daggar]

I was under the assumption that the supercharged lightnings had a MAF calibrated for 42lbs injectors. It was purchased from a salvage yard. No tune. Stock Chip.

Nope... they are NOT calibrated for 42 lb injectors. Their calibration is very similar to the calibration of the stock meter found in Fox Mustangs (there are variations due to the later year computer's faster processing speed).


For the sake of making the converstion simple:
Change your assumption. Assume instead, that the meter is calibrated for 19 lb injectors (it's not true but it's close. No meter is specifically calibrated for any particular sized injector. Calibrated aftermarket meters are calibrated so that the EEC sees signals appropriate for the injectors installed. In effect, the computer is being fooled). With a custom tune or TwEECer it's not necessary to have the meter recalibrated. Instead, you program the meter's transfer function into the tune and tell it what size injectors you're using.

 

[AmericanThunder]

Dagger. I stand corrected. Thank you for clairifing. But I would still like to know what options there are for "at home" calibrations. Maybe the Pro M setup?

 

[Daggar]

If you intend to use a Lightning Mass air meter and 42s AND be able to tune in your driveway then your options are kind of limited. The TwEECer (mentioned above) and a wideband 02 capable of datalogging will be the weapons of choice.

Something else that many folks fail to realize is that stuffing a meter under the hood calibrated for 42 lb injectors, is not going to cut it. Sure... the meter should be sending correct air sample signals to the EEC but when you start talking about injectors as large as 42 lbs then you run into problems with fuel and spark curves programmed into the EEC. You also run into problems with what the computer things the minumum and maximum capabilities are for the injector.

Remember: We've adjusted the output signal from the meter but the EEC still thinks that there are 19 lb injectors installed. When the EEC makes the decision to ramp up fuel volume 10% and performs that function with a 42 lb injector isntalled well.... that's allot more gas.

So... custom tune is required. Obtain it with a custom chip from a dyno shop or get a Programmable Engine Control Unit. TwEECer gives the most control and is the hardest to learn to use. If you plan to also run a meter calibrated for 42s then you can get away with an Anderson PMS. The PMS costs more but is easier to use. It's unable to deal with meter transfer function so a calibrated meter MUST be used with the PMS.

Good Luck!

 

[AmericanThunder]

Next question would be. Can I use the 1999-00 80mm Lightninig MAF with
30lbs and stock tune in the EEC, and drive the car to my tuner shop with out any really bad problems. The shop is 40 miles. I'm sure their will be a surging idle? Other than that anything else?

 

[Daggar]

Next question would be. Can I use the 1999-00 80mm Lightninig MAF with
30lbs and stock tune in the EEC, and drive the car to my tuner shop with out any really bad problems. The shop is 40 miles. I'm sure their will be a surging idle? Other than that anything else?

I've never tried something like that but my initial feeling is that you're not going to be able to pull that off. With no tune, an OEM calibrated meter, and 30 lb injectors, I suspect that the car will not even start. If it does manage to start, it won't stay running.

Here's another option though:
Have your tuner burn a chip with a basic setup. Tell him what meter you're running, what injectors you've got in there, and what computer you have installed. That will make the car at least run well enough for you to get to the shop and have a proper tune done. If you're running any kind of forced induction, make sure that it's disabled for your trip to the tuner. You don't want to add boost to a crappy tune. It will likely cost you your motor.

Most tuners have the transfer functions for all the OEM meters and more popular aftermarket meters stored on computer. Should be fairly simple for him to do. You'll just have to purchase the chip from him then have it reprogrammed once he gets your car on the dyno.

 

[AmericanThunder]

Thanks for all the help. I really appreciate it.