Hi guys, will a catalytic converter still function okay with no smog pump? I have a 1987 305 TPI engine that is going into a 1983 Firebird. For the time being I am going to use a Qjet. If I use a CCC Qjet I will have a computer to control the smog (air) pump diverter valve, but if not I won't be able to use the smog pump. I figure it shouldn't be too hard to get an entirely stock 305 TPI to pass 1983 305 carb. spec'd. emissions with a cat. converter (new) and EGR still intact and functioning. My alternate route is to go spend an entire day in a truck U pull it junkyard and find a carbed, non computer controlled V8 van with AIR injection, get the vacuum controlled diverter that activate the AIR system (this is sounding like a better and better idea every time I look at CCC Qjet crap)

 

a cat will work ok without air injection, it just won't work quite as good.

you can run a plain non-computer controlled carb with a cat just fine, the factory did it for years.
it just needs to be as close as possible as far as the air/fuel ratio goes, too rich & the cat will melt down.
it also needs to be as close as possible so your tail pipe emissions aren't too high, which may be hard to do without access to a 5 gas analyzer.

as far as the EGR valve goes, use a ported vacuum source off the carb & run the vacuum line through a temperature controlled vacuum switch to the EGR valve, you don't want to have EGR when the motor is cold.
you may want to use one of the afermarket EGR valves that uses the orifice washers to control how much it flows.

i don't remember if i asked you or not, where you live at, do you have to pass a visual inspection?

 

The car will be registered in Virginia. It has to pass a visual check that looks like it won't be that thorough. I am going to keep the air pump -- it turns out the ECM from the 1983 2.8 V6 firebird is the same part # as the ECM from a 1983 5.0 CCC Qjet'ed Firebird. All I have to do is get a 305 prom and all the wiring is set up for a computer controlled carb and all emissions equipment (which is intact on the car anyway). Thanks anyway for the response!

 

cool

no problem