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I've installed a 2004 5.3 LY7 in a 1978 Caprice. This engine does not have anything attached to the throttle body. Is the harness going to have a plug that will have to be installed in whatever air intake system I put in front of the throttle body? I've seen a lot of these tubes that have plugs in them, but not all of them do so I'm confused.
If it's a DBW TB there should be a plug for it, plus a plug for the MAF upstream of the TB. Maybe even a IAT sensor somewhere in there...
If it's DBC then there would be a IAC plug.
I'm guessing that you're referring to the "card-style" MAF sensor? If your engine doesn't have the cylindrical MAF sensor that's in-line with the intake tract (like earlier GM engines), then it's likely to have the card-style MAF. And yes, your harness should have a provision for whichever type of MAF sensor that's appropriate for your LY7. Hope this helps.
Every harness has a plug for the throttle body whether it’s for the position sensor or for the throttle body itself - but you talk about this like you don’t have a harness yet. The harnesses are all different depending on which type of throttle body you have, as well as other sensors and their locations changing throughout the years.
Sorry guys, I did a very poor job of explaining this. Below is a picture of my setup. My engine didn't come with any kind of air intake, so there is no tubing for air on the front of my throttle body at all. When I add a tube to the front to mount an air filter, will I have to drill a hole and add some kind of plug in that mounts inside the air intake tube?
In the picture below, there is a plug in mounted on the intake tube, but I also see a lot of kits offered or built that don't seem to have any plug-ins, so I'm not sure how to know if I'm supposed to have one or not.
That plug-in in the bottom picture is the blade-type MAF used in late setups. Yours might use the black tube-type MAF. Did you get one from the donor vehicle? If not they're easy to get.
Yep, what G Atsma said, that pic you posted is of a GenIV LS3, not what you have. You need a MAF sensor for a truck engine, they are very easy to find in the junk yards.
Or if you have the setup tuned as Speed Density, you won't need the MAF. Some people/tubes, also have the temp sensor in them. The 5 wire truck style MAF, has the temp sensor built in it.
In the picture below, there is a plug in mounted on the intake tube, but I also see a lot of kits offered or built that don't seem to have any plug-ins, so I'm not sure how to know if I'm supposed to have one or not.
Yep, that is what I was referring to as the "card-style" MAF sensor.
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Plug in required in air intake? 
