A little background. I've installed a 95 LT1 out of a buick roadmaster into my 99 wrangler. I ditched all the emissions via Dana at lt1350.com. I'm running shorty block hugger headers currently with no exhaust as I haven't reached that point yet in this build so I have no O2 sensors either.

I am running the stock harness with the computer that came out of the roady. Only other changes are simple stuff. I deleted the A/C compressor, I'm running the 1LE intake elbow with IAT sensor and a shorty cone style K&N filter. Now for my questions.

I've fired up my motor a couple times over the past couple days. It feels really strong and fires up the first time. Complete drivetrain has 82K miles. While idling the motor sounds really well. It is only when I give it a little throttle that the engine backs off. I can get the motor into the higher RPMs with working the throttle and once up top it will really open up. Last night I was searching O2 and MAF related threads to verify my thoughts were correct that without the O2 sensors installed the motor is running really rich. I can smell the excess unburnt fuel as is but there were a couple threads that lead me to believe the O2 sensors were not even used and that the MAF controls fuel until it gets to closed loop.

Here is a video to listen to the motor. The stutter at 12 seconds in the video is the first attempt at giving it some gas. If you go slow into the throttle it will climb up and thats when it will open up.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=hf4Yazvw0ss

I'm going to clean my MAF today after reading some of the other threads about the delicacy of that particular part. Any suggestions on the current condition of my install? If the MAF will control fuel should it stutter at first? I am still a couple weeks out on exhaust as I've been waiting for parts to show up so I can drive it. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Here is a picture of the unfinished product. I still have tons of clean up to do under the engine bay.

 

The MAF measures the air flow at all times. The PCM divides the mass air flow by the target A/F ratio to determine the required fuel flow. Doesn't matter whether its in open loop, closed loop, with O2 sensors or without O2 sensors. The MAF is always used.

The PCM may not be achieving the target A/F ratio, but with no O2 sensors it has no way of finding that out, and hence the PCM can not correct the fuel flow in closed loop.