Well, I purchased this item during the first couple days that it was available from remchargers. The cost was $207 shipped, plus I bought a brand new 3" MAF for $98 from GM parts direct. You can, of course, buy a used one from a junkyard for $30 or so I would imagine. Anyways, I just chose to buy a brand new one. In terms of choosing the 3" over the 3.5" MAF, I just don't see a need for the 3.5" I doubt it would have provided any benefit, after all, I'm just running a little 16G. Save the 3.5" for a bigger turbo that has a big compressor inlet.
So, I installed it pretty quickly, the most difficult part was tapping into the RPM wire on the CAS to get a signal. I just took the CAS off completely and soldered it in (I only trust solder connections). I then hooked everything up, very simple, plug into original MAS plug, then plug other part into the new GM MAF. I just used the stock 1G intake tube, put the MAF in, tightened it down, and got a cone air filter to fit the other end. (Be careful! make sure and take the MAF with you to the store when you buy the filter to be SURE it fits. The MAF is, overall, a very weird size like 3.25", most all of the filters I tried didn't fit).
Anyway, So I get everything in, reset the ECU and set the base knob according to the instructions and my injector size. Start the car up, and one of the lights (the "mid" light) is on that isn't suppoused to be. I call up Ramchargers and tell them. He asks me for the version number written on the cover. I tell him I have version 1.0. So, he says they'll send me the update that gets rid of the light issue, but that I can use the translator without worry.
So...I take the car for a drive and immediately notice that the car feels different in normal driving, altogether smoother. I couldn't put my finger on it, maybe it was a smoother transition into engine braking. However, I also notice a horrible problem with slow throttle response. I would assume it can be tuned out, but I couldn't get rid of it. I think most of the battle is just driving your car, since you ought to reset the ecu each time you adjust the MAFT, and it takes the ecu quite a few miles to adjust. This was half my problem @ throttle tip-in. Since it would get a little bit better as I would drive, I could tell the ECU was learning, but the problem never went away completely. If nothing else, the translator gets rid of fuel cut of it's a problem and lets the motor breathe easier sinceour stock MAS is so crappy in terms of CFM flow. If you're into the rice-effect, then this makes the turbo/intake noise louder.
I should also add that my best 1/4 time was with the 1G MAS, and not with the Translator. I'm pretty sure it was my fault, I hadn't really figured out how to tune it yet.
Now, I have finished welding up a beautiful new upper IC pipe to mount it as a blow-through to see what that does for me (besides venting the blowoff valve to atm w/o running rich), but need to tune it if I ever get a chance to go home and play with the car. So, when I get to go home during thanksgiving, I'll put in the new updated version of the chip that Ramchargers sent me a good while back, and pull out the laptop, make a few runs see how it does. I also should post some pictures then, cause the new setup I made is really really pretty.
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