Mass air meter senses the amount of air coming in, instead of relying on the map sensor . Typically people change over to mass air when they want to do a cam change because sometimes speed density doesnt react well to cam changes. Technically your car will no longer be "smog legal" visually, but most dont notice. You could always convert and have it checked out at a referee station. Which should be easy since 88 California cars came with mass air, but you "may" also need the "correct" computer to also make it "smog legal" by a referee.
I am assuming since you live in san diego according to your "location" that you still need to pass smog.
Well if you need any help doing the conversion let me know.
Shawn