LS1 maf

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vacuum 6

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 6, 2006
Messages
2,449
What size maf tube should I use? Looking for better spool up and not sure if my existing 3" tube would be too restrictive?!? Currently using a stock maf.
 
I have a Z06 MAF almost 4" with a 3" MAF tube and there is no problem. I just had to buy silicone adapters off ebay.
 
I have the 3.5in pipe from TR Custom Parts. You could still use a 3in pipe and get some 3in to 3.5in couplers. 3.5 or 4in pipe you will probably need the angled IAC plate to clear the IAC valve.
 
The 3.5" LS1 will give you faster spool up. I can't find the post I made with the actual numbers but I measured a 3" MAF pipe, and LT1 sensor and an LS1 sensor. The 3" LT1 had somewhere around 63% of the cross section area of a 3" MAF pipe, and the 3.5" LS1 unit was at something like 84%.

They are both choke points in that tract but the 3.5" is right at half way between the two as far at cross section area.


That being said!.... Faster spool don't necessarily make your car faster. It will let you come on the pipe earlier but at the same time if you blow the tires away it might actually slow you down.
 
The 3.5" LS1 will give you faster spool up. I can't find the post I made with the actual numbers but I measured a 3" MAF pipe, and LT1 sensor and an LS1 sensor. The 3" LT1 had somewhere around 63% of the cross section area of a 3" MAF pipe, and the 3.5" LS1 unit was at something like 84%.

They are both choke points in that tract but the 3.5" is right at half way between the two as far at cross section area.


That being said!.... Faster spool don't necessarily make your car faster. It will let you come on the pipe earlier but at the same time if you blow the tires away it might actually slow you down.

Sorry to high-jack a little. What year LS1 MAFs work? Will one from the local parts store work?
 
The 3.5" LS1 will give you faster spool up. I can't find the post I made with the actual numbers but I measured a 3" MAF pipe, and LT1 sensor and an LS1 sensor. The 3" LT1 had somewhere around 63% of the cross section area of a 3" MAF pipe, and the 3.5" LS1 unit was at something like 84%.

They are both choke points in that tract but the 3.5" is right at half way between the two as far at cross section area.


That being said!.... Faster spool don't necessarily make your car faster. It will let you come on the pipe earlier but at the same time if you blow the tires away it might actually slow you down.

I'm not concern with killing the tires just looking for better throttle response.

Any data with a LS1 and 3.5 pipe? Would one see a noticeable different between a LS1 and 3" pipe vs LS1 and 3.5 pipe?

Thanks,
 
An LS1 with a 3.5" is pipe will have an even better discrepancy. (I can't find that stupid post with my measurements to save my life!)

The intake tract is only going to flow as much as the least flowing chock point. If the MAF is the biggest cork on an pre-turbo intake tract, increasing the size and/or flow rates of other components won't do anything for flow.

With your current 3"pipe/stock MAF setup, I would recommend getting a Translator with a 3.5"MAF. Use reducers to mate it to your current pipe. (keep in mind the inlet to the turbo is smaller than the pipe). If you can afford it right now, get a new filter with the larger opening to fit the larger MAF. I like the internals of the AEM more than the sharp edge found in the K&N. Otherwise you can reduce it down to work with a 3" filter by using a short piece of your existing MAF pipe. (I can get you a pic if you can't picture my description in your mind).

BUT, keep in mind air in the larger pipe will be going slower and Bernoulli wrote a song about pressure going up as velocity goes down. I can't think 100% correctly right now... I just woke up and haven't had my morning cup 'o pr0n yet. lol
 
The 3.5" LS1 will give you faster spool up. I can't find the post I made with the actual numbers but I measured a 3" MAF pipe, and LT1 sensor and an LS1 sensor. The 3" LT1 had somewhere around 63% of the cross section area of a 3" MAF pipe, and the 3.5" LS1 unit was at something like 84%.

They are both choke points in that tract but the 3.5" is right at half way between the two as far at cross section area.


That being said!.... Faster spool don't necessarily make your car faster. It will let you come on the pipe earlier but at the same time if you blow the tires away it might actually slow you down.

Hi Earl,
I don't know if this is it
 

Attachments

No, it was a post I made here about two months ago. It was a thread that I assume was about MAF or MAF pipes and I just happened to have a 3 and a 3.5 unit sitting on my coffee table with some digimatic calipers (bonus points if you can guess if I'm married or not :) )

So I took them apart, measured the ID and subtracted the airfoil in the middle. I remember being shocked at just how small they were compared to a 3" MAFpipe and I remember posting 'I need to write these numbers down"... and didn't write them down!!
 
Found it on the first try this time, go figure o_O

My 3" MAF pipe has a cross section of 6.47 square inches. An LT1 MAF has an area of 4.3 square inches. (66.46% of a 3" MAF pipe)

a 3.5" MAF has a cross section of 5.275 square inches. Even though it's a "3.5"" unit, the actual flow area is only 81.% of a 3" MAF pipe.


Damn. Now I know where the extra spool comes from. I need to write those numbers down.


I still haven't written them down. lol
 
Try the LS-2 maf from '05 and newer with a 4" pipe. Looks great and air flow will be there if you upgrade turbo and / or horsepower.
Try looking on the Corvette forum parts for C-6 Corvettes. Will need to either angle IAC or add 1/2" spacer, both available from Champion.
 
I upgraded to the new plastic open style LS1 MAF. I got an 4" out S&B filter to a transition to 3.5, plastic MAF to 3.5 transition 3" MAF pipe with a 3" transition to 4" on the turbo. Kind of a funneling down effect. It does spool a little quicker that the LT1 style 3" MAF with the big air foil in it which spooled better than the stock MAF.
 
Wow, I had no idea they were that restrictive... I didnt even bother removing mine when I installed my sd2 chip. I have a 3.5" ls1 maf with a 3.5" pipe. Guess I know what I'm doing after work today! My maf and translator will be in the classifieds section cheap tomorrow ;)
 
Several of us are going to NED on the 23rd. You can do a back to back test. That would be interesting. Just turn your boost down so you don't get booted...
 
Several of us are going to NED on the 23rd. You can do a back to back test. That would be interesting. Just turn your boost down so you don't get booted...

Im in if I can get the car running right!

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using TurboBuick Mobile mobile app
 
Earl, I just got yesterday a MAF Translator Gen 2 and 3.5 LS1 MAF Sensor and 4inch custom pipe.... Can the pipe mount right up to the turbo motor 006.JPGmotor 005.JPG
 
Wow, I had no idea they were that restrictive... I didnt even bother removing mine when I installed my sd2 chip. I have a 3.5" ls1 maf with a 3.5" pipe. Guess I know what I'm doing after work today! My maf and translator will be in the classifieds section cheap tomorrow ;)

Now THAT will be some cool data. It'll highlight the difference between theory and practice. Do you have a powerlogger with boost input?


Earl, I just got yesterday a MAF Translator Gen 2 and 3.5 LS1 MAF Sensor and 4inch custom pipe.... Can the pipe mount right up to the turboView attachment 197421View attachment 197422

Man, you're piling up some nice parts! Is the turbo inlet 4"?
 
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