Can anyone explain to me what an MAF adapter is and how it works?

 

are you talking about the piece that you connect to the MAF and then the air cone ? if it is then you need that to connect a cone instead of your stock air box.

 

A MAF adapter allows you to install different size piping or a different configuration to your existing MAF. Nothing fancy about it. It doesn't do any 'work' per se.

If you need one, try to get a metal one as the plastic ones tend to break/leak.

 

So if I were to get a short ram, I would still be using my stock MAF sensor, but this MAF adapter would allow this new intake to connect?

 

correct. if you need an adopter message me i have a metal one i dont use