Recap. I went from the multi accessory belt system on my 1987 Camaro LT to the single serpentine belt system. For the life of me, I wasn't able to instal my dual snorkel air cleaner because of the new location of the A.I.R. diverted valve because of the serpentine system change. I have given up for the time being until I can devise a way to bring that stupid thing down a bit.

Until then, you're all free to yell at me for bending a perfectly good NOS dual snorkel air cleaner.

 

Cut the pipe and relocate the valve. For that matter, delete the air injection.

 

Deleting the air injection is not an option for me in So. Cal. I get enough grief from the smog check stations on my legal SLP headers with the proper C.A.R.B. decal.

Gonna have to cut the pipe then.

 

The air injection system that came with the dual snorkel system, was compatible with it.

Granted, it's a shame that some other AIR system isn't compatible; but ... that's hot-rodding via mix-and-match stock parts for ya. Sometimes it works, sometimes not so much.

Rather than hack on your accessory drive system somehow (in 87, I doubt it was "serpentine", it had a wide ribbed belt similar to "serpentine" while not in the least snake-like, but w/e), you might want to look at earlier-model AIR systems. Especially if you're in a place where that has to be maintained in operational condition and can't just be hacked off, such as for example, southern California. Oh wait...

Don't cut ANYTHING. All you'll accomplish is, to turn your car into a driveway ornament with expired license plates.

 

As said above, you can cut, move and reweld or use rubber hose to help relocate it all a bit.
Welcome to hot rodding

 

Yes, 1986 and 1987 had the same belt systems with the wider belt for the alternator. I hated the four belts but did keep all the parts. I want to say that at one point I tried to use the older pipe from the air pump of the original system but it didn't want to work to bring it down. I may have to revisit and remind myself why it didn't work.

I know it may be a long shot and extra pipe and hosework, but what do you think of me actually relocating the unit to say the area by the cruise control servo?

 

Damn, that snorkel used to point slightly down - now it points up.
Thumbs up on the taller air cleaner lid and element.
I suppose you could remove that snorkel from the air cleaner base (rivet a piece of sheet metal in it's place to block off the hole) and just go with the snorkel on the driver's side. It will still flow more air than the LG4 base.

 

I've been using a taller air cleaner lid and filter since I got my car, to the first dual snorkel, then back to the single, and back to dual. The right snorkel is more up than the left usually. I only bent the bottom portion of the inlet.

 

 

Not to point out the obvious, but this has been done before. The valve doesn't care where it's located. All it takes is cutting the hard pipe from the air pump to the valve, and reconnect it with a scrap of hose and a couple clamps.

Adapting the earlier valve would be a similar PITA because all the hoses are different, and it uses brackets that slip in behind accessory bolts/brackets that you don't have with the serpentine system. Without digging into the archives, I want to say the wiring is different on the earlier valve, and it uses a vacuum line IIRC. Which makes it more needlessly difficult than just cutting and splicing the pipe with a hose.

 

When I put an HO aircleaner on my '87, I was able to press down on the diverter valve and reposition it a bit. I got about an extra inch or so of clearance, which let me mount everything. The valve was barely touching the hose though and I had to be mindful of that. I can imagine after a few thousand miles it might have rubbed through the hose, but I had no problem with it.

 

chazman, I had no issues either with the dual snorkel before I switched over to the 1988-1992 serpentine belt system. I'm just going to buy another pipe for the mounting ends and fabricate something to bring it back lower and add some heat shielding because of the close proximity of the headers. The complete relocation is off the table for now.

 

On my 84 when i switched to said air cleaner, the early style diverter valve was also in the way when i swapped to also said serp belt set-up. Details are a bit foggy, but i remember i removed the metal tube the valve bolts to and cut like half inch off, but also cut it at an angle to pivot the valve away from the snorkle. Worked great, if you relocate the valve you have to re-route/lengthen the wires, not just the hoses. Being a smog device though not sure you can do that though. Its considered modifying, which is a no-no for emissions legality.

I did a similar relocate with my charcoal canister to the filler neck area when i discovered 4th gen cars had the canisters there. Anyway, smog man did not approve, even though the effer was working fine. Heres a pic for old time sake of my 84/serp/dual snork.