whats the best way to tune the truck?

 

I have never dynoed anything, but I have taken the screen out in at least 4 trucks, and I have felt like the truck has run better. It has to be getting more air. That screen takes up mass. Yes it is a honeycomb, but it still is reducing the opening by a huge amount. If you were to colapse that screen down flat, I bet it would block 40% of the opening. I think at low RPM it does very little. But when you are WOT, or the upper 1/3 of the RPM band, I think it does help. It definitely makes it talk when you step down on it. That thing bellars loud when you get on it.

I have not seen any ill effects from any of the trucks that I have done it to. I have run about 190,000 miles with the trucks I have done it to, and never had one issue at all.
Why do people put CAI on their trucks? To get more air into the engine. You are only as good as your weakest link, and in this case you are only going to flow as much air as your smallest orifice. That MAF with the screen in it, is the smallest area in the entire intake system, save for the Throttle body, and at wot, it still might.

The Dmax's don't use that MAF. They use one like the Ferds use. There is a reason they don't use that type and that is because you couldn't draw enough air through it to run a diesel.

 

I highly disagree with this! The fact is that the screen is there to direct airflow. If you remove it you will create turbulance and an unstable A/F ratio. This backyard mechanicing is fine if you have a stock tune and a stock rig, and a cat back is basically stock IMO. The truth is it is next to impossible to tune a descreened MAF sensor. The stock sensor is good till about 500 HP. I don't think he has the capability to tune his own truck and that is what he'll need to get it dialed in. A couple of grand would do alot of good to your rig. Start with a tune and use a sponsor like Nelson Performance. Then get a good cat-back exhaust, with a x-pipe to keep equal pressure, Long tube headers (No Shorties). A cold air intake will also show noticable gains and improve the sound. That alone will take your truck to a new level.

By the way, good choice in vehicles

 

I've heard and read the same thing, the screen is there to keep the air flow linear. Without you're just creating turbulence and actually decreasing the efficiency

 

Dont remove the screen. Its a "parent bought" high school kid mod that does nothing and could reduce the performance (consistency) of the maf.