Anyone ever tried replacing their MAF screen with a larger mesh screen?

Seems like this might improve flow, but still create enough laminar flow for the MAF.

It may help slightly but where would you get one?

if you have laminar flow to begin with the MAF screen does not affect the idle and smoothness too much, its still noticeable but I noticed the removal of the maf screen gave it a litte bit better response.

Thats why I'm weighing the idea of a FWI vs a custom CAI + airbox at the fender because I want to remove the MAF screen but dont want to sacrafice the smoothness of the series IIs

I want to improve breathing, but have the motor appear as bone-stock as possible. Call it a "sleeper theme."

As to the intake, this means no FWI'* or CAI'* for me...at most, a gutted airbox, K&N box filter, relocated IAT and MAYBE a smooth rubber coupling to replace the accordian.

I also need this car to be a smooth-idling daily driver, so no MAF screen removal for me.

I can get all kinds of different stainless steel screen meshes at work, from very tiny to very large; I use them for particle size separation in powders.

at WOT there is a LOT of airflow in there, the maf screen is designed in a specific manner that it will not get "sucked in" I have a hard time seeing how you would find some solution that was not as restrictive as the OEM maf screen without having it get sucked in. Just my opinion.

The MAF screen is not a restriction (at least not up to 425 horsepower).

The MAF screen is more than a screen. It has depth. I simple screen will just be a restriction. having smooth walls and depth forces air into a straighter trajectory.

Thanks for the lookouts.

This MAF screen replacement thing is just an "off the top of my head" idea at this point. I've only read about "MAF screen vs. no MAF screen" up to now...always trying to think of a "third way," you understand.

My biggest concern there would indeed be proper seating in the throttle body (i.e., whether or not I could put a stiff, thick enough "lip" on the test screen, etc.). I would seek to start any testing by oversizing the screen and somehow clamping or crimping it over the front of the TB, just so it couldn't possibly get sucked in. Only if that testing gave me something quantifiable would I go further.

I will say that the bigger the mesh size of these screens I am talking about, the stiffer and thicker wire gauge they are.

Do you have data on that? If that is proven, then:
a) why would anyone even consider removing it?
b) I don't even need to conduct this experiment
(Granted, I have not been able to find quantitative data demonstrating that removing the MAF screen entirely improved anything...perhaps THAT is the place to start.)

I admit I have not taken a close enough look at my MAF screen to ascertain the differences between it and a typical screen. Perhaps that is an idea killer right there...or at least "back to the drawing board."

Of Course.

a) I don't know
b) correct

Beyond 425 Horsepower (currently at 465hp) I changed my MAF sensor with my TB so I can not reliably say its not a restriction above 425 but data suggests even if it was, it would be minimal. However, I do still have the MAF screen for the SLP 85mm MAF I am running installed.

Why oh why do people think removing the screen will make a noticable 'improvement' in flow?

I agree with Rogue and also have my MAF screen in place on my 85 mm LQ4 MAF.

My advice? Don't bother removing it, there'* nothing to gain.

Cheers,