Maf Housing?

[Lazzman]

Due to the modification I had to do on my Volant air intake to accomodate the new 73mm C&L MAF housing, the air box is no longer mounted solid and has some play in it. It can clearly move back and forth with little effort.

I was told a while back that the MAF sensor has to be solidly mounted in place, one that shifts around a lot can throw off the metering, providing irregular readings.

Stands to reason, as every vehicle I have seen that comes factory stock has the MAF bolted down solidly so there is no movement. In the 4.0 sohc motor there are four mounts that keep the original air box solid as a rock.

I am concerned that when I put the pedal down that the box is shifting around. I am thinking of a way to secure it permanently whether it be a set of steel mounts or a wedge that will take up the slack between the airbox and the Coolant resevoir.

Volant designed the CAI to work with the factory MAF so that it was Jammed securely into the corner fenederwell. With the C&L the entry angle has changed significantly and the box will no longer stay in place.

I am looking for opinions or ideas to keep the MAF securely mounted or if it is even neccessary.

Thanks

 

[celly]

Interesting. Mine doesn't budge. The box is a pretty tight fit in my 5.0 and was too in the SOHC. So tight that it was a pain to get in place. If I had the same problem, I'd probably find a place to cinch it down with a zip tie or something.

 

[Lazzman]

Yeah, but it has to be solid with no play as with metal bracket mounts.

 

[celly]

Yeah, but it has to be solid with no play as with metal bracket mounts.

I've got no play in mine. My Ex runs smooth as silk with the setup and did so on the SOHC too.

You're jinxed. I'm convinced of it.

 

[Turdle]

Yeah, but it has to be solid with no play as with metal bracket mounts.

No it doesn't
Mine is supported by the air tube alone.

As far as movement--what do you think happens when you hit bumps in the road?

 

[aldive]

Before I built my MAF mount ( http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=136883&highlight=C&L+MAF ), I made several dyno pulls with the maf/filter just sitting , unsupported by anything but the intake tube. No problems whatsoever.

 

[Lazzman]

Ok, but I doubt car manufacturers are going to agree with that.

Every MAF is secured tightly so there is no movement, there has got to be a reason for that.

 

[Nocturnall]

There's also gotta be a reason for the smaller TB, MAF housing and other things they do. Also a reason for belt driven radiatior fan (Which I don't know if it's just me but I feel the one behind that should be hit)....

 

[Lazzman]

Yeah, I guess so.

 

[Jakee]

Ok, but I doubt car manufacturers are going to agree with that.

Every MAF is secured tightly so there is no movement, there has got to be a reason for that.

Secured tightly to what? The frame; which is moving evertime you hit a bump.

No, you don't want it wiggling around but don't think it moving a little is going to affect the voltage this thing is reading.

 

[Lazzman]

You guys don't understand.

I am saying that is need to be mounted to a fixed object. The way mine is, it is just hanging loose and can be moved around with one finger, about 6"- 8" in either direction.

I temporarily wedged an old sneaker between the coolant resevoir and the airbox to hold it in place, but have to come up with a permanent solution. Some performance shops have told me that the MAF sensor is particularly sensitive. Just mounting it at a different angle than stock could mess things up.

Even the guy on ebay who sells the air filter bracket that you attach the K&N filter to has a solid mounting bracket attached. I would sleep better knowing that this was securely mounted in place. I am thinking of using shelf brackets to mount it, one side screwed to the box and the other to the inner fender well.


Before the C&L install I could jam it into the corner of the fender and it was tight, I must have enlarged the hole on the airbox at a different angle and the box is now at more of an angle.
Unless someone has a better idea to mount it.

 

[aldive]

Classic .....

First Gorilla Glue and now an old shoe.

Lazz, what's next?

 

[Jakee]

You guys don't understand.

I am saying that is need to be mounted to a fixed object. The way mine is, it is just hanging loose and can be moved around with one finger, about 6"- 8" in either direction.

I temporarily wedged an old sneaker between the coolant resevoir and the airbox to hold it in place, but have to come up with a permanent solution. Some performance shops have told me that the MAF sensor is particularly sensitive. Just mounting it at a different angle than stock could mess things up.

Even the guy on ebay who sells the air filter bracket that you attach the K&N filter to has a solid mounting bracket attached. I would sleep better knowing that this was securely mounted in place. I am thinking of using shelf brackets to mount it, one side screwed to the box and the other to the inner fender well.


Before the C&L install I could jam it into the corner of the fender and it was tight, I must have enlarged the hole on the airbox at a different angle and the box is now at more of an angle.
Unless someone has a better idea to mount it.

Lazz - Did you cut the hole too big where the MAF goes into the Volant box?

Is the box the part that moves around or just the MAF housing?



Here's what I did. Not sure if it helps u but here goes...

Okay, inside the box where the hole is you cut, I added a MAF adaptor that mounted inside the box (This is where the filter will go) and then drilled 4 holes thru the box (This is how it will be mounted solid to the box). Now, on the other side (Outside of the box) I mounted another MAF adaptor, and used the same holes and screws to mount. Then I added a Reinforced "Turbo" grade connector to mount to the MAF housing. That's how I did my custom set-up....


My suggestion for you. The MAF housing and the box needs to be one somehow. It really needs to be sealed as well.

What kind of "slop" is in the hole where the MAF housing enters the box?

 

[Jakee]

I think added a bracket at this time is the "Cheap" fix and I wouldn't do it. You're starting to rig the heck out of this thing. I'll help you get this thing fixed but I need to know what sort of slop is in this thing.

 

[Nocturnall]

I rigged up a custom redneck adapter to put a k&n filter on and turned my maf to keep the cord tight, the black box with all the electronics in it for the maf is now on the side facing towards the engine bay and my car runs fine, still get the same 17mpg i was getting before so i don't think it's quite as sensative as those people have told you.

 

[celly]

I am saying that is need to be mounted to a fixed object. The way mine is, it is just hanging loose and can be moved around with one finger, about 6"- 8" in either direction.

Before the C&L install I could jam it into the corner of the fender and it was tight, I must have enlarged the hole on the airbox at a different angle and the box is now at more of an angle.

Got any photos? I couldn't move my setup 6"-8" in any direction if I tried.

 

[Lazzman]

I will post some photos. I think its maybe more like 3" to 4" of play. I expanded the silicone adjustment connectors on the Volant to the max and it still moved around.

The inside bracket idea won't work, as the C&L housing goes in through the box, where as stock one mounted flush to the outside and an adapter plate mounted to the inside of the box.

The C&L runs through the Volant air box, it is not tacked in place with anything, the air filter is hose clamped directly onto the C&L MAF housing.

I used that Black gasket maker from Permatex to fill the old holes. I also used Celly's tip of Dremmelling out the hole in the airbox to accomodate the C&L, the MAF housing slides through tight with no gaps- though I thought about sealing around it with Black gasket maker.


I also moved my MAF sensor around in all positions and the performance did not change either.

 

[celly]

I will post some photos. I think its maybe more like 3" to 4" of play. I expanded the silicone adjustment connectors on the Volant to the max and it still moved around.

I'm baffled Lazz. Mine's fit like a glove on both the SOHC and 5.0.

 

[Jakee]

How about this;

Go to home depot and by a pc of flat 1/4 alum. Fab a bracket that looks sort of like a shelf bracket. The bracket will attach to the side of the Volant box (Vertical part of bracket) and the other side will support the MAF housing (Horizontal part of bracket). An "L" bracket.


Hole the bracket under the set-up as it is and mark the mounting holes on the box. Mount the bracket to the box. Put the housing back and place and mark the holes for the housing to attach. Drill the holes and mount the housing.

That should stabilize the set-up. You can then seal the thing but it's really not 100% needed cuss the air that's being sucked in thru the cracks will be filter anyways. Just don't try to seal it with it not being securely mounted.

Now, I'm not sure if you have the room to do this but it's a suggestion. Maybe you can build from this.

 

[Lazzman]

Thanks Jakee, this is a good suggestions and I believe I can build on it.