cheap way to upgrade to a 73 mm MAF meter

2tone-pony · 07-16-2003, 11:36 PM

Loose that restrictive stock MAF meter (56mm) on a tight budget.....Go to your local junkyard and get a 73mm MAF meter from a 3.8 cougar or t-bird. they are easy to spot the sides are not dimpled like the stock 5.0's. And for even better flow cut the center bar out and file smooth. Drill out the sensor tube to 15/32" and use your stock electronics. You will have 85mm going in and 73mm out. I bought them for about $20.00 and about 20 minutes of cutting filing and drilling. Stock look with performance feel at a fraction of the cost.

LX XLR8R · 07-18-2003, 01:00 PM

awsome tip!

how is it holding up..car runs normal or lean/rich?

2tone-pony · 07-18-2003, 07:38 PM

I have not had any problems at all. I have a stock 5.0 motor with a Kenne Bell supercharger and I went from 14.1 @ 102.4mph with the stock MAF to 13.7 @ 104.6mph with this upgrade. There is a guy trying to sell the housings on Ebay from $75.00 each.

Mountain Main · 07-18-2003, 11:44 PM

How does the the computer know how to recalculate for the changes since you have gone to the new MAF? Doesn't the computer expect the MAF to be a 54. Don't the after market MAF give less restriction and fake the EEC-4 into thinking they have a 54 by doing the recalculating. I thought I heard some where what you just did was make your engine go lean to fast.

That is why 93 cobra used a different computer.

Mountain Main.

Adam94GT · 07-19-2003, 09:26 PM

It doesn't. This mod isn't such a good idea. Especially the shaving of the post. All that will do is lean out your fuel mixture, causing unnecessary long term damage.

2tone-pony · 07-19-2003, 10:05 PM

This allows air to flow better. Your calibration stays the same. Name for me then one after market company making a MAF sensor with a center post. Also look them up ,please, and tell me then why can you buy from C&L, Pro M,,......... a 73 mm MAF sensor calibrated for 19lb injectors. I would just love to here your answer! And actually Kenne Bell recomends an 80mm MAF cal. for 19lb injectors w/ a 75mm throtle body and EGR spacer.

Adam94GT · 07-20-2003, 12:02 AM

Pro-M and C&L make meters that are calibrated for the cross-sectional area that the air has to flow through. Factory meters which included the post are not calibrated for the area without the post. So there will actually be more air flowing through a stock meter with the post removed than the meter believes. This means there is more air flowing than the fuel system will be providing for, this should be fairly easy to understand. This leans out your mixture, and I'm sure you know what leaning it out does.

On another note, does anyone know what size a factory '94 Mustang 5.0 MAF is? I tried measureing the inlet mouth and came up with 80mm but that seems a little big for stock. Even with the post.

Coupe50h · 07-20-2003, 04:07 AM

My vortech housing accepts the stock sensor, why wouldnt it work?
It will simply tell the computer there is more air entering the engine, MAYBE CUZ THERE IS!

Adam94GT · 07-20-2003, 09:31 PM

I guess it just can't be explained to you

Coupe50h · 07-20-2003, 09:50 PM

I guess not.

Maybe it's a bit more complicated, than a housing that air flows through, and a sensor.

Dark_5.0 · 07-21-2003, 09:10 AM

I have known about this mod for years and yes it does work.

Dyno proven Baby!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2tone-pony · 07-21-2003, 09:29 AM

ADAM WHAT DO YOU THINK A SUPERCHARGER DOES? It forces more air into the cylinders and raises the compresion. The post in the center... What do you think that does? Its about as useful as the factory silencer on the air box. Oh wait based on your logic removing that may cause long term damage it alows the engine to breath easier. So I guess if you use bigger veturis on a carb motor you will cause the same problem as well?

stangGT95 · 07-21-2003, 09:33 AM

I believe the stock MAF on 94-95 is 70mm. Also I cut the center post out of mine, bumped up the fuel pressure, and keep an eye on my A/F ratio. And haven't had the CEL come on as of yet.

Adam94GT · 07-21-2003, 01:04 PM

That's exactly what you should do if you remove the post, raise fuel pressure.

In case the rest of you didn't know, a MAF measures airflow by the air that blows into the tube itself and cools the thingy in there, it then sends a certain voltage to the computer depending on how cool it is. The computer figures the post is in the way (Not exactly like that, but it is calibrated for having the post) and thinks so much air is flowing through the rest of the meter which isn't directly measured by it, without the post, more air is flowing than the computer believes is flowing through, and not as much fuel is being sent that should be sent. Causing a lean condition.

In case you twerps (Shouting at me, you had it coming.) didn't know, leaning the mixture can raise HP, but at the same time can cause long-term damage to your engine. So not only are you gaining HP from more airflow, but from a leaner mixture.

2tone, superchargers and other performance mods don't alter your EECs measuring devices, so it knows to add more fuel to match the increased airflow.

But if gaining performance at the cost of potentially harming your engine is your thing. Then more power to you, it's not my car. Sorry I cared.

GodStang · 07-23-2003, 10:13 AM

What year cougar/T-bird? Does it have to be the supercopue or just the 3.8L? Will you have problems if you do not cut the post out? What if you just keep it at the 73mm?

2tone-pony · 07-24-2003, 01:33 PM

I'm not sure what years but you can see the difference. You do not have to cut out the post.

Katmandu · 07-24-2003, 02:36 PM

Anyone have an Inexpensive one they wish to sell. Send me an Email.

302man · 07-25-2003, 07:23 PM

The post is there for low speed air flow. I am sure you guys have heard of rotating your MAF to "find" the air. In my opinion, and modification that can potentially damage a motor should be check with a wideband.

jrgoffin · 07-29-2003, 12:24 AM

That T-Bird MAF is the same one used in the '93 Cobra. I can't remember the part number, but it started with "F1SC" which originally sources it from a '91 (and later) T-Bird. I know Pro-M used to cut the center post out and RE-CALIBRATE it for around $200!

Alex89GT · 07-16-2004, 10:12 PM

So I got a T-Bird MAF for $5 Canadian, almost free! Now I just will have a problem calibrating it, since drilling out 15/32 works for a supercharged 5.0 which needs more fuel it may not work well for naturally aspirated 5.0

Any ideas on how to do this??? I was thinking of buying a fuel pressure gause, air/fuel mixture gauge, and an adjustible fuel pressure regulator.
Would increasing fuel pressure mean that I would not have to modify the MAF???

Would it be better to play around with the sampling hole in the MAF -OR- buy a "variable resistor" and play with the voltage coming out of the MAF sensor???

If we get this idea working properly then after-market MAFs will be history.

07-16-2003, 11:36 PM	#1
2tone-pony Registered Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: nc Posts: 13	cheap way to upgrade to a 73 mm MAF meter Loose that restrictive stock MAF meter (56mm) on a tight budget.....Go to your local junkyard and get a 73mm MAF meter from a 3.8 cougar or t-bird. they are easy to spot the sides are not dimpled like the stock 5.0's. And for even better flow cut the center bar out and file smooth. Drill out the sensor tube to 15/32" and use your stock electronics. You will have 85mm going in and 73mm out. I bought them for about $20.00 and about 20 minutes of cutting filing and drilling. Stock look with performance feel at a fraction of the cost.

07-18-2003, 01:00 PM	#2
LX XLR8R Dirk Diggler Join Date: Feb 1999 Location: SLOATSBURG, NY Posts: 1,931	awsome tip! how is it holding up..car runs normal or lean/rich? __________________ 95 undecided cubes, AFR 185s,undecided cam, undecided intake, and a 150 hit 89 "turbonotch" 2.3T You might want to hold on..i saw this on a cartoon once

07-18-2003, 11:44 PM	#4
Mountain Main Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Minturn, CO 81645 Posts: 109	question How does the the computer know how to recalculate for the changes since you have gone to the new MAF? Doesn't the computer expect the MAF to be a 54. Don't the after market MAF give less restriction and fake the EEC-4 into thinking they have a 54 by doing the recalculating. I thought I heard some where what you just did was make your engine go lean to fast. That is why 93 cobra used a different computer. Mountain Main.

07-19-2003, 09:26 PM	#5
Adam94GT Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: O'Fallon, MO Posts: 32	It doesn't. This mod isn't such a good idea. Especially the shaving of the post. All that will do is lean out your fuel mixture, causing unnecessary long term damage. __________________ ----------- Adam M. Bullard 1994 Ford Mustang GT Too many mods since last E.T. http://www.geocities.com/adam94gt

07-20-2003, 12:02 AM	#7
Adam94GT Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: O'Fallon, MO Posts: 32	Pro-M and C&L make meters that are calibrated for the cross-sectional area that the air has to flow through. Factory meters which included the post are not calibrated for the area without the post. So there will actually be more air flowing through a stock meter with the post removed than the meter believes. This means there is more air flowing than the fuel system will be providing for, this should be fairly easy to understand. This leans out your mixture, and I'm sure you know what leaning it out does. On another note, does anyone know what size a factory '94 Mustang 5.0 MAF is? I tried measureing the inlet mouth and came up with 80mm but that seems a little big for stock. Even with the post. __________________ ----------- Adam M. Bullard 1994 Ford Mustang GT Too many mods since last E.T. http://www.geocities.com/adam94gt

07-18-2003, 07:38 PM	#3
2tone-pony Registered Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: nc Posts: 13	I have not had any problems at all. I have a stock 5.0 motor with a Kenne Bell supercharger and I went from 14.1 @ 102.4mph with the stock MAF to 13.7 @ 104.6mph with this upgrade. There is a guy trying to sell the housings on Ebay from $75.00 each.

07-19-2003, 10:05 PM	#6
2tone-pony Registered Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: nc Posts: 13	This allows air to flow better. Your calibration stays the same. Name for me then one after market company making a MAF sensor with a center post. Also look them up ,please, and tell me then why can you buy from C&L, Pro M,,......... a 73 mm MAF sensor calibrated for 19lb injectors. I would just love to here your answer! And actually Kenne Bell recomends an 80mm MAF cal. for 19lb injectors w/ a 75mm throtle body and EGR spacer.

07-20-2003, 04:07 AM	#8
Coupe50h Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: SanAntonio, Tx Posts: 957	My vortech housing accepts the stock sensor, why wouldnt it work? It will simply tell the computer there is more air entering the engine, MAYBE CUZ THERE IS! __________________ X-Texas highway patrol ssp 1990 coupe - exploder Gt-40 iron heads, Explorer intake, 19 lber's. E-cam. crane 1.7 rollers. 190fp. 75mm maf. 65mm tb, tubular subframe connectors, mac cai, Asp crank pulley, T-5, king cobra clutch, flowtech 1-5/8 unequals, mac X-pipe Frpp driveshaft, lakewood Lca's. race weight 3,160 12.69 @ 107.35, 1.71 60' 26x8.5 drag's 3.90 gear 13.20 @ 106.91 - 235/60/15 firestones 2.3 60' 3.27 gear

07-20-2003, 09:31 PM	#9
Adam94GT Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: O'Fallon, MO Posts: 32	I guess it just can't be explained to you __________________ ----------- Adam M. Bullard 1994 Ford Mustang GT Too many mods since last E.T. http://www.geocities.com/adam94gt

07-20-2003, 09:50 PM	#10
Coupe50h Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: SanAntonio, Tx Posts: 957	I guess not. Maybe it's a bit more complicated, than a housing that air flows through, and a sensor.

07-21-2003, 09:10 AM	#11
Dark_5.0 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Staging lane Posts: 4,337	I have known about this mod for years and yes it does work. Dyno proven Baby!!!!!!!!!!!!!! __________________ 92' LX-Big brakes, Lots and lots of suspension, GT40X heads, Ported cobra intake, stock cam, Vortech SC trim. 00' Lightning-Stock 88'CRX-13 second ego killer

07-21-2003, 09:29 AM	#12
2tone-pony Registered Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: nc Posts: 13	ADAM WHAT DO YOU THINK A SUPERCHARGER DOES? It forces more air into the cylinders and raises the compresion. The post in the center... What do you think that does? Its about as useful as the factory silencer on the air box. Oh wait based on your logic removing that may cause long term damage it alows the engine to breath easier. So I guess if you use bigger veturis on a carb motor you will cause the same problem as well?

07-21-2003, 09:33 AM	#13
stangGT95 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Novinger, Mo Posts: 72	I believe the stock MAF on 94-95 is 70mm. Also I cut the center post out of mine, bumped up the fuel pressure, and keep an eye on my A/F ratio. And haven't had the CEL come on as of yet. __________________ 95 GT w/ AODE and Transgo Shift kit, trans cooler, SpeedCal, KB 1.5 Flowzilla w/ 6# pulley, MAC chrome CAI, chrome radiator hoses, stock MAF w/ center post removed, 70mm PP TB, electrical boost & FP gauges, digital A/F gauge, 1 5/8" unequal headers, 2 1/2" ProChamber h-pipe, Borla catback exhaust, and 3.55's. Cobra RR hood, Saleen double wing, Xenon body kit, chrome Cobra R wheels 17X8 in front and 17X10.5 in the back.

07-21-2003, 01:04 PM	#14
Adam94GT Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: O'Fallon, MO Posts: 32	That's exactly what you should do if you remove the post, raise fuel pressure. In case the rest of you didn't know, a MAF measures airflow by the air that blows into the tube itself and cools the thingy in there, it then sends a certain voltage to the computer depending on how cool it is. The computer figures the post is in the way (Not exactly like that, but it is calibrated for having the post) and thinks so much air is flowing through the rest of the meter which isn't directly measured by it, without the post, more air is flowing than the computer believes is flowing through, and not as much fuel is being sent that should be sent. Causing a lean condition. In case you twerps (Shouting at me, you had it coming.) didn't know, leaning the mixture can raise HP, but at the same time can cause long-term damage to your engine. So not only are you gaining HP from more airflow, but from a leaner mixture. 2tone, superchargers and other performance mods don't alter your EECs measuring devices, so it knows to add more fuel to match the increased airflow. But if gaining performance at the cost of potentially harming your engine is your thing. Then more power to you, it's not my car. Sorry I cared. __________________ ----------- Adam M. Bullard 1994 Ford Mustang GT Too many mods since last E.T. http://www.geocities.com/adam94gt

07-23-2003, 10:13 AM	#15
GodStang College Stanger Join Date: May 1999 Location: Aiken,south carolina, usa Posts: 1,097	What year cougar/T-bird? Does it have to be the supercopue or just the 3.8L? Will you have problems if you do not cut the post out? What if you just keep it at the 73mm? __________________ 2003 Sonic Blue Cobra

07-24-2003, 01:33 PM	#16
2tone-pony Registered Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: nc Posts: 13	I'm not sure what years but you can see the difference. You do not have to cut out the post.

07-24-2003, 02:36 PM	#17
Katmandu Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Troy, Ohio Posts: 38	Anyone have an Inexpensive one they wish to sell. Send me an Email.

07-25-2003, 07:23 PM	#18
302man Registered Member Join Date: Jul 1999 Location: INDIANAPOLIS Posts: 404	The post is there for low speed air flow. I am sure you guys have heard of rotating your MAF to "find" the air. In my opinion, and modification that can potentially damage a motor should be check with a wideband. __________________ old S trim combo 10.13@ 135 New YS combo = 680RWHP (no times)

07-29-2003, 12:24 AM	#19
jrgoffin Registered Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: The Midwest Posts: 79	That T-Bird MAF is the same one used in the '93 Cobra. I can't remember the part number, but it started with "F1SC" which originally sources it from a '91 (and later) T-Bird. I know Pro-M used to cut the center post out and RE-CALIBRATE it for around $200! __________________ '90 LX Too many mods... Rear-Disc tech

07-16-2004, 10:12 PM	#20
Alex89GT Registered Member Join Date: May 2000 Location: edmonton Posts: 24	I got one! So I got a T-Bird MAF for $5 Canadian, almost free! Now I just will have a problem calibrating it, since drilling out 15/32 works for a supercharged 5.0 which needs more fuel it may not work well for naturally aspirated 5.0 Any ideas on how to do this??? I was thinking of buying a fuel pressure gause, air/fuel mixture gauge, and an adjustible fuel pressure regulator. Would increasing fuel pressure mean that I would not have to modify the MAF??? Would it be better to play around with the sampling hole in the MAF -OR- buy a "variable resistor" and play with the voltage coming out of the MAF sensor??? If we get this idea working properly then after-market MAFs will be history. __________________ 306,9.5:1 comp., home made cooled RamAir,65mm TB,73mm MAF, MSD 6AL,Eibach progressives, KYB shocks, no front swaybar, 1-5/8 Flowtec headers, 2-chamber flowmasters w/turndowns, upper/lower Cobra intake (port matched),stock home ported heads,CenterForce2,SVO Aluminum Driveshaft,14.275 at 98 mph shifting @ 4700rpm

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