I Have a 1987 Maxima.I tuned it up and punched out the converter so far to try and fix this problem.the exhaust manifolds gets cherry red and it pops and backfires when trying to drive it.it is backfiring through the intake manifold.It has no power.Could it be the mass air flow sensor?Any help is greatly appreciated....

 

Your exhaust is clogged.

 

where would it be clogged at the manifolds??

 

at the cat converter

happened to me once you can empty it out or get a new one

 

Or the chunks of the cat have clogged the rear muffler.