Performace Mafs
Former Sponsor
Joined: Mar 1998
Posts: 13,385
Likes: 4
From: Virginia
I'd like to comment on this a bit, guys,
First, I agree in general that in the 1999 & newer F-150 that uses the old barrel-style MAF meter there is generally no need or real benefit to upgrading the MAF unless you have made enough mods to also require larger fuel injectors, too. They just happen to work out that way, it's not because you must have larger injectors to do a MAF change.
The gentleman who started the thread has a 2004 F-150 - now if that is the new body style 2004 truck, then his 5.4 would be the newer 3V engine, and there is no reason, even at 500+ horsepower, to change the stock factory MAF sensor on those vehicles. It has *plenty* of range, and is not the old restrictive barrel-style MAF meter, but instead, is the newer slide-in style of MAF sensor used on many modern vehicles. And, it's range can be VASTLY increased if need be by simply increasing the diameter of the air handling tube in which it is located. That is accomplished with something as simple as installing an Air Force One aftermarket air intake kit (as well as get the power gains from that intake kit).
See, in the new body style 2004 & up F-150's it's not like it used to be, where you went out and bought a Granatelli or Pro-M 80mm MAF meter and hoped you got some HP gain because they claimed you would (remember, the stock MAF meter on the 1999-2003 5.4 2V's was already 80 mm, so installing an aftermarket 80mm unit only gained power by leaning out the engine, as it was the same size).
So the correct advice really depends on what vehicle you have, what model year, etc., as the 2004 & newer F-150's have a different type of MAF that is not a traditional MAF meter like the 2003 & earlier mass-air F-150's, but instead is just the sensor and it's electronics slid into an air handling tube - thus the sensor itself requires no upgrading, nor is there any power to be gained by doing so.
Now when we are talking about the 2003 & earlier MAF-equipped F-150's (as well as the old body style 2004 "Heritage" models), the time to upgrade their MAF meter, generally speaking, is as was mentioned - when you need to upgrade the stock injectors. That is usually a good time to also do the MAF meter and pick up a few more ponies from a larger MAF housing diameter. For example, let's say you have done enough bolt-on mods on a 2003 5.4 2V F-150 so that it now makes in excess of about 310 HP - well, it's at about that point that it's time to ditch the stock 19# injector for larger units, and that is going to require custom tuning - so it also makes sense to upgrade the MAF meter as well, and do all that tuning at the same time. But do NOT use an aftermarket MAF, use instead the Ford 90 mm MAF meter that came on the 2001-2004 SVT Lightning - it's cheap, works well, it's consistent, and tunes right in properly and reliably.
The only 2004 F-150's that would potentially want to have the MAF upgraded (and only then when you are making so much power that there is an actual benefit to installing a physically larger unit, since the stock unit is already 80mm) would be the old body style 2004 "Heritage" models, which carry over everything from 2003, basically - so if *that* is what the gentleman has, then he should follow the recommendation we made above, regarding the 2003 & earlier F-150's, as was expressed by another poster - but if he has the new body style truck, then his 5.4 is the newer 3-valve engine and thus has the new MAF sensor style, as well as the throttle by wire and some other changes - and there is no need or benefit from changing it's MAF sensor to anything other than the factory unit.
For VAUGHN22, if you would like more detailed info on this, or if you just want to be sure, please feel free to give us a call at our number listed below & we'll be happy to go over this with you, and let you know what is really appropriate for your vehicle, and what is not, and the most cost-effective ways to achieve whatever you want to accomplish - we specialize in the F-150, as you may know, and we're happy to help.
Thanks for your posts everyone, hope this info helps a bit & good luck!
First, I agree in general that in the 1999 & newer F-150 that uses the old barrel-style MAF meter there is generally no need or real benefit to upgrading the MAF unless you have made enough mods to also require larger fuel injectors, too. They just happen to work out that way, it's not because you must have larger injectors to do a MAF change.
The gentleman who started the thread has a 2004 F-150 - now if that is the new body style 2004 truck, then his 5.4 would be the newer 3V engine, and there is no reason, even at 500+ horsepower, to change the stock factory MAF sensor on those vehicles. It has *plenty* of range, and is not the old restrictive barrel-style MAF meter, but instead, is the newer slide-in style of MAF sensor used on many modern vehicles. And, it's range can be VASTLY increased if need be by simply increasing the diameter of the air handling tube in which it is located. That is accomplished with something as simple as installing an Air Force One aftermarket air intake kit (as well as get the power gains from that intake kit).
See, in the new body style 2004 & up F-150's it's not like it used to be, where you went out and bought a Granatelli or Pro-M 80mm MAF meter and hoped you got some HP gain because they claimed you would (remember, the stock MAF meter on the 1999-2003 5.4 2V's was already 80 mm, so installing an aftermarket 80mm unit only gained power by leaning out the engine, as it was the same size).
So the correct advice really depends on what vehicle you have, what model year, etc., as the 2004 & newer F-150's have a different type of MAF that is not a traditional MAF meter like the 2003 & earlier mass-air F-150's, but instead is just the sensor and it's electronics slid into an air handling tube - thus the sensor itself requires no upgrading, nor is there any power to be gained by doing so.
Now when we are talking about the 2003 & earlier MAF-equipped F-150's (as well as the old body style 2004 "Heritage" models), the time to upgrade their MAF meter, generally speaking, is as was mentioned - when you need to upgrade the stock injectors. That is usually a good time to also do the MAF meter and pick up a few more ponies from a larger MAF housing diameter. For example, let's say you have done enough bolt-on mods on a 2003 5.4 2V F-150 so that it now makes in excess of about 310 HP - well, it's at about that point that it's time to ditch the stock 19# injector for larger units, and that is going to require custom tuning - so it also makes sense to upgrade the MAF meter as well, and do all that tuning at the same time. But do NOT use an aftermarket MAF, use instead the Ford 90 mm MAF meter that came on the 2001-2004 SVT Lightning - it's cheap, works well, it's consistent, and tunes right in properly and reliably.
The only 2004 F-150's that would potentially want to have the MAF upgraded (and only then when you are making so much power that there is an actual benefit to installing a physically larger unit, since the stock unit is already 80mm) would be the old body style 2004 "Heritage" models, which carry over everything from 2003, basically - so if *that* is what the gentleman has, then he should follow the recommendation we made above, regarding the 2003 & earlier F-150's, as was expressed by another poster - but if he has the new body style truck, then his 5.4 is the newer 3-valve engine and thus has the new MAF sensor style, as well as the throttle by wire and some other changes - and there is no need or benefit from changing it's MAF sensor to anything other than the factory unit.
For VAUGHN22, if you would like more detailed info on this, or if you just want to be sure, please feel free to give us a call at our number listed below & we'll be happy to go over this with you, and let you know what is really appropriate for your vehicle, and what is not, and the most cost-effective ways to achieve whatever you want to accomplish - we specialize in the F-150, as you may know, and we're happy to help.
Thanks for your posts everyone, hope this info helps a bit & good luck!
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
I can't seem to find anyone who sells just a MAF sensor housing for the 2005 F150 (5.4L) by itself. Everyone sells the "kits", but I would like to do a custom setup and don't need to pay for the extra parts (air tube, filter, ect...). Any ideas?
Suspended
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 151
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by DirtStomper
I can't seem to find anyone who sells just a MAF sensor housing for the 2005 F150 (5.4L) by itself. Everyone sells the "kits", but I would like to do a custom setup and don't need to pay for the extra parts (air tube, filter, ect...). Any ideas?
If you are just looking for a way to mount the sensor we carry a variety of flanges to insert the sensor into your own tubing. We also have housings ranging from 75mm, 83MM, 88MM and 115MM, 115MM is a little overkill though, unless you are making close to 700 at the wheels and over 800 at the crank like my shelby.
http://www.vmptuning.com/store/index...parent=31&pg=1
http://www.vmptuning.com/store/index...parent=99&pg=1
Now I will add, this type of stuff is usually reserved for custom blower and turbo installations. Any time you put that sensor into a different housing or tube a new tune is required, and the most important part, the MAF transfer function, must be set up correctly.