M30 AFM swap (pics)

Bullet Ride · 12-07-2009, 09:41 AM

So I did the M30 (#027) swap this past weekend. I haven't played around with the spring tension on the vane yet, but for the record it may have already been adjusted for it was clear that the black plastic cover had been removed before. The car idles normally (idle adjustment screw all the way closed) without throwing any codes and according to the wideband the injectors (which I'm assuming are stock size) seem to be keeping up with the extra air (reads around 13:1 @ WOT @ 5000rpm). I'm going to play around with the spring tension still to determine if the current setting is optimal. I'm also going to install the 19lb injectors I rebuilt just for kicks (going to need them next year for a MarkD chip anyways). Finally, I will build a heat shield at some point, but now that it's snowing I don't feel that intake heat soak is a big issue lol.

Pics

Before

Comparison

Mounting bracket

After

cormier · 12-07-2009, 09:49 AM

how much of a gain are you looking at with the injectors/HFM/tune? and are you going to leave the new airbox or change back to a cone filter?

Bullet Ride · 12-07-2009, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cormier

how much of a gain are you looking at with the injectors/HFM/tune? and are you going to leave the new airbox or change back to a cone filter?

I have a cone filter set-up now with the M30 afm. The big black air box is the stock M20 unit. The cone filter set-up gives the car a nice throaty intake sound and above 3500rpm the engine really starts to scream, it sounds great. In terms of gains, MarkD has a chip for the M20 + 19lb injectors combo and from what I understand the gains are somewhere in the order of 15+hp (need to run 91 octane fuel). It would be better to ask him directly and he probably has dyno charts to back up his claims.

Achieving gains from modifying the intake side of the motor is all about eliminating bottlenecks. A cone filter and larger AFM won't do much if the throttle body, intake manifold and head are limiting the air flow. A MAP sensor as well as an IAT sensor would help determine what the benefits are if any. Other mods such as a big bore throttle body, extrude honing the intake manifold ($$$), port and polish on the head, and a higher duration cam would definitely benefit from the larger AFM and cone filter, but without those mods the gains from the AFM and cone filter will probably be minimal. For what it's worth I'd like to say that the car feels more eager now but it's probably all just in my head. Overall though, it's a fairly cheap mod that makes your engine bay look nice, your motor sound awesome, and gives you some head room for future mods, so to me it was worth it even if I'm not seeing any immediate performance benefits.

msinger · 12-07-2009, 02:53 PM

should have just thrown the whole M30 in with it! you should make some nice quick and easy gains though

Bullet Ride · 12-07-2009, 03:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by msinger

should have just thrown the whole M30 in with it! you should make some nice quick and easy gains though

Haha, If I happened to have an M30 lying around in my garage I'd consider it.

e30_kid89 · 12-07-2009, 06:06 PM

What's a AFM?

Bullet Ride · 12-07-2009, 09:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by e30_kid89

What's a AFM?

It's like a MAF but you just rearrange the letters

Axxe · 12-07-2009, 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bullet Ride

Haha, If I happened to have an M30 lying around in my garage I'd consider it.

Stop making me feel like shit. I have everything in my garage to make an M30E30. I think I'm turning into Zimmie, garage full of balling parts.

Bullet Ride · 12-08-2009, 08:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Axxe

Stop making me feel like shit. I have everything in my garage to make an M30E30. I think I'm turning into Zimmie, garage full of balling parts.

I never said I'd do it in a heart beat. I said I'd consider it.
Consider yourself considering it since you have all the parts in your garage lol.

JINT · 12-08-2009, 03:44 PM

i have an M30 afm lying around, anyone wants it, 60$ and it's yours. It's off a 93', so it's still CLEAN.

Bullet Ride · 12-08-2009, 05:41 PM

Just an update. After driving the car for a couple more days I can definitely say that the car has more top end response now. Past 4500rpm the revs pick up much quicker than with the stock airbox and AFM.

JINT · 12-08-2009, 06:37 PM

I'll try that

persian451 · 05-10-2010, 12:43 AM

I think thread is kinda old, but do you happen to have the schematics/dimensions to your mounting bracket? or make one? i'll paypal ya too

Bullet Ride · 05-10-2010, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by persian451

I think thread is kinda old, but do you happen to have the schematics/dimensions to your mounting bracket? or make one? i'll paypal ya too

I might have the sketch around somewhere, I'll look for it tonight.

HavocSteve · 05-10-2010, 11:27 AM

Mine has the M30 AFM when I picked up the car. Would this upgrade make the car run rich? Mines running rich for some reason but I'm thinking a new o2 sensor and some other little things might fix the problem.