Have you got a copy of the FSM? This as a reference will answer most of your questions about sensors as it describes each one. You just have to look up the relevant chapter.
ie: for the air temp sensor, go to the engine systems chapter and have a browse through there.
Are you mounting your pod straight onto the AFM? or are you making an intake system? I just remounted the sensor in my CAI system, not really that hard to do, but as Habib says, many people have run without one with no dramas.