MAF Upgrade or SD?

[earlbrown]

On this theme: At what point is it beneficial to move to LS-1 MAF and 3.5" plumbing VS LT-1MAF and 3" plumbing?

The point to move to a LS1 is the day Bob announced the birth of the Translator.

Between the two, the LS1 has less pressure drop over the LT1, so it wins hands down. The only reason to go LT1 is if you just refuse to buy a new air filter.
On the plumbing, there's no real reason to go to a 3.5" pipe other than cosmetics. (I will admit my 3.5 kit looks ''meaty as hell'').   The cross sectional area of the 3.5" MAF is only 80XX% of a 3" pipe.  (the LT1 is in the 60's percentile).

[Dont Panic]

On this theme: At what point is it beneficial to move to LS-1 MAF and 3.5" plumbing VS LT-1MAF and 3" plumbing?

The point to move to a LS1 is the day Bob announced the birth of the Translator.

Between the two, the LS1 has less pressure drop over the LT1, so it wins hands down. The only reason to go LT1 is if you just refuse to buy a new air filter.
On the plumbing, there's no real reason to go to a 3.5" pipe other than cosmetics. (I will admit my 3.5 kit looks ''meaty as hell'').   The cross sectional area of the 3.5" MAF is only 80XX% of a 3" pipe.  (the LT1 is in the 60's percentile).

Is the LS1 still the largest most reliable MAF available today?

[Dont Panic]

Powerlogger is a much better investment than another chip.  There is no performance in going from a 5.7 to a 6.1.  It just makes it a bit harder for you to screw up   DirectScan was great in its day but lots of things can go wrong in the 1.4 seconds that it takes DirectScan to update.

I'm pretty sure the DS has a fast refresh rate, maybe 18 frames per second.  I'll do some research on the powerlogger.

[Grumpy]

3.5 maf.  how fast are you looking to go ? 

[daveismissing]

I think DS is pretty usable if you have the ancient hardware. IIRC It was Turbo Link that only had ALDL refresh rates.
Nice to see you around again Devon

[earlbrown]

Is the LS1 still the largest most reliable MAF available today?

You're really spending too much time overthinking things, and not enough time under the hood.


It's the largest MAF available today that works with the Translator.

[daveismissing]

I remember Norbs tried to get that Granatelli sewer pipe to work without any luck

[Dont Panic]

3.5 maf.  how fast are you looking to go ?

Thanks, I'll go with the 3.5".  I would like to make the intake piping and MAF as large as possible now to future proof it.  If a 4" MAF was available that better suited 3.5" piping I would likely buy it even though it is currently overkill for my setup.

[reality]

There is a 4in available. and it's a ford part.
However 26 mph in the back half on 19lbs boost with all 3in. 3850 lbs Buick w driver;
Get rid of all that flexhose. JMO

[Dont Panic]

There is a 4in available. and it's a ford part.
However 26 mph in the back half on 19lbs boost with all 3in. 3850 lbs Buick w driver;
Get rid of all that flexhose. JMO

I was thinking of running a straight section of 3.5 inch smooth tubing from the turbo to the exit out of the engine bay (with MAF mounted somewhere in the middle) and then 4 inch flex hose over the wheel well down to where the filter is.  I have a lot of length and bends so not sure if 3" would be a restriction.  It sounds like it isn't a restriction in your set-up.  Maybe I'll stick with 3" for the straight section since the 3.5" MAF is less than the 3" tubing cross section anyways.

[reality]

What size is your throttle body. stock is only about 2 in.

[TexasT]

Did I miss the goal? Are you going to take it to the track and run it? Or as mentioned it is a street car and will be primarily atreet?
I didn't read any bad advice but for a street car kiss and so the translated and newer style maf. Fancy computers might be nice and have lots of features but you are building a street car. And I assume(yes, I know) you want to drive it and not tune on it.

The first thing that jumps out in the op is the unbranded "2800 stall" converter. Who built it, how old is it and is it a lockup? I think your best next money is in a new converter for your setup. Don't lie to the place putting it together, it isn't something that works for the future. You need one that works for your setup.

I can't imagine putting in more thought than what Steve, earl, Dan and the others have already posted. Get the maf/translator and get to driving it.

[Dont Panic]

I got the turbo, injectors, converter and chip (red93) as a package but it was a long time ago (maybe 2004).  I think it was a red armstrong LU converter but I could be wrong.


I'll get all the leaks fixed and see how it goes before looking into the converter.



I'm pretty sure I will go with the new MAF and translator.  That seems to be the overwhelming consensus.  It is also the cheapest and easiest solution, which works for me.

[Scoobum]

Z06 in the largest MAF you can get...may or may not need a 3 to 5 pin connector available from Eric. I did a same day test with the LT1, LS1 and Z06 with the Z06 showing the leanest 02's at WOT...surprise surprise. The Z06 is overkill...don't do what I do.

[TexasT]

Converter tech has changed a bit in the last fifteen yrs