Is the intake screen important?

I was doing a BG fuel induction service, and in the process had to remove a c-clip that was holding in a flimsy screen that is in front of the mass air flow sensor.
I can think of three possible reasons for it being there:
Cut down on intake noise
Stop large particles that may have circumvented the air filter
Diffuse the air coming in, so that it blows onto the mass air flow sensor at an even rate as the rest of the intake.

If it is there for the latter reason I should leave it. The other two reasons I'm not worried about.

What is your take?

It is the latter reason, leave it in, just clean it gently with Mass Airflow Sensor Cleaner (aerosol can) and a soft toothbrush if it is very dirty. I have used this cleaner made by CRC.

What Rick said. Be careful not to touch the sensor wire inside the MAF body when you spray it clean. Let it dry completely before installing, it dries quickly though.

EatDirtFartDust wrote:

Diffuse the air coming in, so that it blows onto the mass air flow sensor at an even rate as the rest of the intake.

ding ding ding

That's why it's there. Better off to leave it there.

Is there a part number for this? discovered mine has a few little dings in it and it screws with my A.D.D knowing its like that. Tried looking at the "holy grail" and did not see it.

You could probably pop it off and flatten it out. Mine has a few dings too, but I don't mind too much. I'm not sure as to how you would get it off though. Maybe somebody like ZZP sells them



Edit: I found this. http://www.gmforum.com/performance-brainstorming-tuning-96/remove-throttle-body-screen-removal-281867/

96_Juggernaut wrote:

Is there a part number for this? discovered mine has a few little dings in it and it screws with my A.D.D knowing its like that. Tried looking at the "holy grail" and did not see it.

http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/moreinfo.php?pk=88565&cc=1022050

RockAuto....$20

Abaddon wrote:

96_Juggernaut wrote:

Is there a part number for this? discovered mine has a few little dings in it and it screws with my A.D.D knowing its like that. Tried looking at the "holy grail" and did not see it.

http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/moreinfo.php?pk=88565&cc=1022050

RockAuto....$20

Awesome, thanks guys

I popped mine out and was able to straighten out all the holes with a paper clip.

Go to amazon.com its like 18 dollars or go to a local junk yard and snatch one off a 96 or better

I think it's one of those things that you should just get new if you're not going to fix yours. You would be lucky to find a perfect one AND not to mess it up.