Does anyone make a MAF sensor for the charge (pressure)pipe

MattKatz

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May 27, 2014
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Tuners, Builders and/or Swappers..(is that even a word....I don't think so :D)....I need some insight from someone who knows or has done this.

I don't really have piping before my turbo on my transplant vehicle setup and no real room to add piping and was planning on just running a Guard screen on this setup. I thought the MAF wasn't needed on these and could be tuned out, kind of like we do with Gas setups, but Im learning now late in the process that I would benefit a LOT for a street setup to have this. SO my dilemma is that I need to add a MAF somewhere in this setup, and I would like to add something in the Charge pipe (pressure pipe) if there's something out there available, even if it needs to be scaled in the tune once installed.

Im looking for something that will work under boost, has available data for scaling or tables to enter for EFI if used and has an aluminum bung available to weld to the charge pipe. As you will see in my pic below....No pipes gonna fit between my turbo and headlight without reworking the entire setup which is already complete. Headlight would sit about 2-3" in front of the inlet with an adjuster that stick back to about an inch from turbo housing off to the side (center of light)

This is going to be an LB7 ECM if that makes a difference what we use.
Thanks in Advance to anyone who can help.

JOAFGY5.jpg
 

clrussell

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Sep 23, 2013
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I'm No rocket surgeon but I've never heard of a maf in a charge pipe
 

N2BRK

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Dec 31, 2009
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That's a gasser thing for blow through tuning, and it has a list of headaches. aside from other issues I foresee, doesn't that charge pipe get moisture and oil enough to make the maf shit the bed in short order? I know guys clog them with just slightly over oiled kn filters in the stock location.
 

rfletes79

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Mar 5, 2010
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You will need to mount it pre turbo, doesn't need an entire length of pipe, just enough to mount the MAF. A few inches will work, or a tight elbow, DO NOT USE A HOSE to mount the MAF into. Needs to be in a hard pipe, or directly on the turbo.
 

2004LB7

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Dec 15, 2010
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Also, what about the heat? The maf sensor would have to sit in the hot air coming out of the turbo
 

MattKatz

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I'm No rocket surgeon but I've never heard of a maf in a charge pipe
Youve obviously never messed with many highly modded Boosted gas cars....bout a 50/50 split on Pre vs. Post.
You will need to mount it pre turbo, doesn't need an entire length of pipe, just enough to mount the MAF. A few inches will work, or a tight elbow, DO NOT USE A HOSE to mount the MAF into. Needs to be in a hard pipe, or directly on the turbo.
Not a chance....Cant get even 2" of pipe in there.

Have you driven it much with the MAF deleted? Your right foot will have all the control over fueling that way, but it can be driven
I just want it as smooth as possible....and I want anyone to be able to drive it....Not have to get used to it.
 

RPM Motorsports

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May 13, 2008
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Talk to Rob at ATP to see what changes are made. We will be re-tuning the Nova MAF in the charge pipe. He says it will not be an issue.

I did have the MAF mounted to the compressor housing, just in front of the S475 compressor wheel last time around. Rob had no issue tuning it with damn near no smoke or lag.
 

MattKatz

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Talk to Rob at ATP to see what changes are made. We will be re-tuning the Nova MAF in the charge pipe. He says it will not be an issue.

I did have the MAF mounted to the compressor housing, just in front of the S475 compressor wheel last time around. Rob had no issue tuning it with damn near no smoke or lag.
Yeah Ive talked to a buddy who messes with tuning these a little and I know it will "work", But I am looking for a more finished approach and having it not only look right, but 100% operate right...Not just "close enough" type deal. Did he say what MAF youre going to use....it wouldnt surprise me if the Stock MAF wouldnt work, or switch to an LS7 Type slot MAF, those I know will work under boost iirc.
What about welding a MAF flange onto the compressor inlet & drill a hole thru for the sensor?

There definitely isn't enough meat to mount these MAF sensors in the actual housing..these things are like a 2x3.5" body with a 1.2" through hole roughly.....you'd have to have a HUGE inlet lip to be able to mount that direct, not to mention, you'd have to ruin a housing to do it, and if you change turbo, do it all over again....no thanks on that one. I want proper and permanent to the parts that stay with the truck. this is a work in progress and will likely change power levels and parts as we go along, this is just the starting point. I have been muling over a way to make an air box that will work for this for the last day or so....I just need to get out in the garage and see what kind of true room I have once parts are bolted in front of the turbo solidly.....I think I have a way to make it work pre-turbo, althought a Blow through MAF solution would be 100X easier at this point.
 

S Phinney

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Aug 15, 2008
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The biggest problem I would see is a potential boost leak. Other than that it can be tuned to work properly.


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nwpadmax

comlpete diphsit
Aug 17, 2006
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Are you running an intercooler? If so, you're better off for multiple reasons.

There are a few companies making aftermarket MAFs and when I talked to them, they just said there was a temperature limit (350F ?) because of plastic components. They could make any size I wanted and have it scaled however I wanted. I think it'll be OK in the charge pipe if your air charge temperature is reasonable enough to let the MAF live.
 

THEFERMANATOR

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Feb 16, 2009
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It could be done, but I would foresee heat related failures as the air charge leaving the turbo can get HOT! Not to mention maf sensors don't like to work with even the slightest bit of oil residue on them. As to tuning, turn the maf and intake air sensor codes off, max out your maf fuel table, then your next best friend will be your max injected fuel quantity vs altitude table as it will need alot of tuning to keep smoke output semi reasoneable. I know when I 1st started tuning, many tuners were maxxing out the maf table rendering the maf sensor useless. That was when nobody cared about billowing out huge clouds of smoke. You'll just have to set your limiters so you don't overfuel and chance hydrolocking your engine since your maf will no longer be your safety.
 

MattKatz

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Are you running an intercooler? If so, you're better off for multiple reasons.

There are a few companies making aftermarket MAFs and when I talked to them, they just said there was a temperature limit (350F ?) because of plastic components. They could make any size I wanted and have it scaled however I wanted. I think it'll be OK in the charge pipe if your air charge temperature is reasonable enough to let the MAF live.

It could be done, but I would foresee heat related failures as the air charge leaving the turbo can get HOT! Not to mention maf sensors don't like to work with even the slightest bit of oil residue on them. As to tuning, turn the maf and intake air sensor codes off, max out your maf fuel table, then your next best friend will be your max injected fuel quantity vs altitude table as it will need alot of tuning to keep smoke output semi reasoneable. I know when I 1st started tuning, many tuners were maxxing out the maf table rendering the maf sensor useless. That was when nobody cared about billowing out huge clouds of smoke. You'll just have to set your limiters so you don't overfuel and chance hydrolocking your engine since your maf will no longer be your safety.

I would put it up in the piping right before the y bridge so temps should be under control there. I lonw a lot of the LS style card MAFs are a metal and plastic(composite) combo, I guess I just need to know what the stock MAF output and range is and I could find and change the tune accordingly.


And....ITs got a little intercooler....;)

ps21IzP.jpg
 

MattKatz

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Going to smoke the lights at the track with that exhaust setup.

I know...I know.....Its a long story but was supposed to come out higher at less of an angle and the guy who built it thought he was doing me a favor...because its primarily a street driver, and I mentioned needing a small angle down to keep the exhaust out of the passenger compartment....he went a bit extreme on it...so I said Id try it out first....The fender was already cut so to fix it will require another fender anyway....so no point in not trying it out. :thumb:
 

RPM Motorsports

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May 13, 2008
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I know...I know.....Its a long story but was supposed to come out higher at less of an angle and the guy who built it thought he was doing me a favor...because its primarily a street driver, and I mentioned needing a small angle down to keep the exhaust out of the passenger compartment....he went a bit extreme on it...so I said Id try it out first....The fender was already cut so to fix it will require another fender anyway....so no point in not trying it out. :thumb:

You could V-band just inside the fender, then have a removable/changeable street & track set.
 

MattKatz

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You could V-band just inside the fender, then have a removable/changeable street & track set.

Already have the Vbands....we had already talked about that. I even have a Stainless/Aluminum hybrid clamp I put together to use an aluminum end for weight and heat dissipation ......I was kind of thinking ahead you could say.

Right now I really need a MAF solution though....In a BAD WAY.