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View Full Version : HOW TO: MAF screen reinforcement with epoxy



KevOVIII
11-08-2008, 03:38 AM
Remove the MAF housing from your intake tube (or stock airbox) and air filter. The MAF sensor housing is connected to the left of the red air filter in the picture.
http://home.comcast.net/~y2kevse/images/evolution/MAF_reinforcement/1_s.jpg


This is the MAF sensor housing with the MAF screen (honeycomb) facing us. If the hexagons are not straight, you can use a 3mm hex key to straigten them out. Just poke through the screen but make sure you match the edge of the key with the hexagons or else you'll deform them. Remove the rubber gasket that sits around the MAF screen cover. Notice the screen is sort of deformed? That's what I get for trying to pay attention to the wifey while doing the next step.
http://home.comcast.net/~y2kevse/images/evolution/MAF_reinforcement/2_s.jpg


Next you have to pry off the MAF screen cover. This part is SCARY because it's bonded to the MAF housing. Use a small flathead screwdriver and pry the cover off. You'll hear the plastic pop and crackle, so please be gentle or you might break the cover beyond repair. You might also want to use a wider flathead to get more leverage. Use up/down or twisting motion to loosen the cover. Below, you see marks between the gap.
http://home.comcast.net/~y2kevse/images/evolution/MAF_reinforcement/3_s.jpg


Once successful, you'll see this. This is the side that touches the MAF screen. Note the longer inner edge goes to the side of the MAF housing with the box.
http://home.comcast.net/~y2kevse/images/evolution/MAF_reinforcement/4_s.jpg


To safely remove the MAF screen, use a socket that's connected to an extension and GENTLY poke it out. Go from the backside (opposite side of were the screen was) but be careful of the MAF sensor (it's a small tube-like thing that's connected to shiny metal pieces at the ends). You might need to poke the screen at several spots before it comes out.
http://home.comcast.net/~y2kevse/images/evolution/MAF_reinforcement/7_s.jpg


Here is the MAF screen. Notice the top edge is longer than the bottom edge. The longer edge goes to the top of the MAF housing... the side with the black box thing.
http://home.comcast.net/~y2kevse/images/evolution/MAF_reinforcement/6_s.jpg


This is the MAF housing without the screen and cover.
http://home.comcast.net/~y2kevse/images/evolution/MAF_reinforcement/5_s.jpg


Next, you'll have to scuff the sides/edges on the MAF housing and cover that touches the MAF screen so that the epoxy will work better. The picture below is not that clear, but you might notice "whiteness" on some areas. I used 120 grit sandpaper.
http://home.comcast.net/~y2kevse/images/evolution/MAF_reinforcement/8_s.jpg


I highlighted that areas that need scuffing. The red represents the edge that touches the side of the MAF screen. It's about 1/2" thick. The yellow represents the VERY small "ledge" that touches the backside of the MAF screen. When I say small, I mean SMALL but make sure you scuff it anyway. The blue represents the part that touches the center area of the screen. The green represents the area that touches the back of the cover.
http://home.comcast.net/~y2kevse/images/evolution/MAF_reinforcement/9_s.jpg


Here's a close-up of the top area after scuffing.
http://home.comcast.net/~y2kevse/images/evolution/MAF_reinforcement/10_s.jpg


Here's a close-up of the bottom area after scuffing.
http://home.comcast.net/~y2kevse/images/evolution/MAF_reinforcement/11_s.jpg


Don't forget to scuff the back of the cover as well. The red part touches the screen and the green part touches the MAF housing.
http://home.comcast.net/~y2kevse/images/evolution/MAF_reinforcement/12_s.jpg


Once you're done scuffing, use a cleaner to clean out the MAF housing and cover. I used CRC MAF Sensor Cleaner. You can get this at almost all local auto parts store.
http://home.comcast.net/~y2kevse/images/evolution/MAF_reinforcement/13_s.jpg


Find an applicator for the epoxy... I used the end of a zip tie. Dispense your 2-part epoxy on a discardable container and mix... I used a paper plate. Epoxy can be purchased from Home Depot or any local hardware store. Notice the 3mm hex key in the lower left? :)
http://home.comcast.net/~y2kevse/images/evolution/MAF_reinforcement/14_s.jpg


Apply epoxy on the red, yellow, blue, and green areas of the MAF housing... and the red and green on the back of the MAF screen cover. Depending on how quickly your epoxy sets, you might have to work FAST. Put a thin bead or thin layer on the areas. More is NOT better! Again, don't forget about the cover.
http://home.comcast.net/~y2kevse/images/evolution/MAF_reinforcement/15_s.jpg


Once the epoxy has been applied put the MAF screen back on. Make sure the longer edge goes to the side of the housing that has the box. This also applies to the cover... longer edge to the side with the box. When everything is put back together, your MAF will look like the second picture in this post. Let it cure (see epoxy instructions for cure time), reinstall the rubber gasket and MAF housing... and you're done!


http://home.comcast.net/~y2kevse/images/evolution/MAF_reinforcement/16_s.jpg

Ben
12-04-2008, 11:33 PM
So howcome you needed to do this mod? At your Evo's level of power do you start to run a risk of blowing that little piece up?





Oh and damn that's a sleeper setup.

KevOVIII
12-04-2008, 11:46 PM
That's correct. I don't want to risk having the honeycomb get sucked into the turbo and destroy it... and possibly other things along the way.

Thanks. :) It looks stock from the outside except for the exhaust and IC. I like how the Buschur cast manifold allows the stock heat shield to be installed.

evocowboy
12-13-2008, 11:36 AM
why not go speed density?

KevOVIII
12-15-2008, 12:00 AM
Because it hasn't been ported over to my ROM yet.