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Which Is Better Lightning 90mm Maf Or C&l 85mm?

  • Thread starter Thread starter stangboy
  • Start date Start date May 15, 2012

stangboy

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#1
  • May 15, 2012
  • #1
I'm building a Dart based 363 and I'm trying to figure out which MAF would work better. I have a C&L 85mm that I bought used but a friend of mine said he has a Lightning 90mm that he can give to me. Is bigger better or would the C&L work better?
 

stykthyn

I want to measure mine. It doesn't look that tall.
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#2
  • May 15, 2012
  • #2
That 90 won't work without a tune.
 

stangboy

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#3
  • May 15, 2012
  • #3
Yeah, I know that. I was just wondering which one would actually work better.
 

srtthis

the guy doing it does every local racers rear end
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#4
  • May 15, 2012
  • #4
my tuner prefers the L MAF...
 

Noobz347

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#5
  • May 15, 2012
  • #5
The LMAF is OEM and designed specifically to have great low flow resolution for drivability. Assuming a tune is going to be done, hands down vote for the LMAF.
 

NIKwoaC

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#6
  • May 15, 2012
  • #6
It sounds like you're putting a lot of money into this build, so I don't think I'd skimp on the meter. You should be researching meters like the Pro M 92 or an ABACO 97. Yes, assuming you are using a quality meter that does a good job of measuring the airflow, bigger really is better for MAF meters. You absolutely don't want it to be any sort of a restriction to airflow.
 

srtthis

the guy doing it does every local racers rear end
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#7
  • May 16, 2012
  • #7
NIKwoaC said:
It sounds like you're putting a lot of money into this build, so I don't think I'd skimp on the meter. You should be researching meters like the Pro M 92 or an ABACO 97. Yes, assuming you are using a quality meter that does a good job of measuring the airflow, bigger really is better for MAF meters. You absolutely don't want it to be any sort of a restriction to airflow.
Click to expand...

to a point i agree with this... only issue is when you start having resolution issues that cause driveablity issues.
 

NIKwoaC

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#8
  • May 16, 2012
  • #8
srtthis said:
to a point i agree with this... only issue is when you start having resolution issues that cause driveablity issues.
Click to expand...

Agreed, that's why I said "a meter that does a good job of measuring airflow". You see a lot more people having issues with junk meters or malfunctioning meters than you do people with meters that are "too big", though.
 

stangboy

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#9
  • May 16, 2012
  • #9
NIKwoaC said:
It sounds like you're putting a lot of money into this build, so I don't think I'd skimp on the meter. You should be researching meters like the Pro M 92 or an ABACO 97. Yes, assuming you are using a quality meter that does a good job of measuring the airflow, bigger really is better for MAF meters. You absolutely don't want it to be any sort of a restriction to airflow.
Click to expand...

Yes, I am putting a lot of money into it and I'm coming to the point of getting the last few things for the motor and its starting to nickel-and-dime me to death. My budget it dwindling away quickly and I haven't even ordered my suspension parts yet. So, I'm just trying to find the best quality parts for the least amount of money....not cheap quality parts tho. Like I said I already have the C&L that I bought thinking it was a 90mm because thats how it was advertised on craigslist. Then I measured it and it turned out to be 85mm. But a friend of mine that used to be a Ford mechanic said he has a 90mm Lightning MAF that he'll give to me. So I figured bigger was better, I just wanted to check with you guys to see if there was something I didn't know. I'll be using the Lightning 90mm. Thanks guys!
 

srtthis

the guy doing it does every local racers rear end
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#10
  • May 16, 2012
  • #10
another thing to so is talk to the person who is going to be tuning it to see which he prefers
 

stangboy

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#11
  • May 16, 2012
  • #11
I sure will.
 

NIKwoaC

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#12
  • May 16, 2012
  • #12
stangboy said:
Yes, I am putting a lot of money into it and I'm coming to the point of getting the last few things for the motor and its starting to nickel-and-dime me to death. My budget it dwindling away quickly and I haven't even ordered my suspension parts yet. So, I'm just trying to find the best quality parts for the least amount of money....not cheap quality parts tho. Like I said I already have the C&L that I bought thinking it was a 90mm because thats how it was advertised on craigslist. Then I measured it and it turned out to be 85mm. But a friend of mine that used to be a Ford mechanic said he has a 90mm Lightning MAF that he'll give to me. So I figured bigger was better, I just wanted to check with you guys to see if there was something I didn't know. I'll be using the Lightning 90mm. Thanks guys!
Click to expand...

What system is the 85mm C&L designed for? It may actually flow better than the LMAF 90, since the sensor probe in the Ford unit is pretty invasive to the flow path. That said, of the two, I'd probably still go with the LMAF. Not sure how I feel about the C&L sampling tube gizmo.
 

Gearbanger 101

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#13
  • May 16, 2012
  • #13
This dart based 363 going to be N/A? If so, you'r probably fine. If you plan on pairing it with any sort of forced induction, I'd worry about pegging that Lightning MAF meter.
 

stangboy

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#14
  • May 16, 2012
  • #14
Just went on C&L site and the 85mm MAF is actually disigned for the lightning. Hmmm
 

stangboy

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#15
  • May 16, 2012
  • #15
Gearbanger 101 said:
This dart based 363 going to be N/A? If so, you'r probably fine. If you plan on pairing it with any sort of forced induction, I'd worry about pegging that Lightning MAF meter.
Click to expand...

The only power adder I'm planning to use is nitrous. But for the most part the car will be n/a.
 

srtthis

the guy doing it does every local racers rear end
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#16
  • May 16, 2012
  • #16
stangboy said:
Just went on C&L site and the 85mm MAF is actually disigned for the lightning. Hmmm
Click to expand...
and the stock meter works better

newer slot meters and the SCT meters are the big upgrades for the lightnings.
 
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