i have heard that taking off your emissions equipment will do some good. I have also heard that it will do more damage than good on a engine. I have a 350 TPI and my auto shop teacher said don't mess with the A.I.R. equipment and that taking it off will do nothing. He said the smog pump is just a idler and does not leach any noticable power. He also said that if you take the AIR off it will kill top end and the engine might even fall on its face. I have heard lots of conflicting stuff, anyone care to share opinions?

 

Ok, you asked for opinions.

I figure since you're in shop class, this is probably your daily transportation and pretty important to you. That said, if it were me, I'd leave it as stock as you dare. I don't have any hard data, but it's my opinion that you're better off just leaving it all there and keeping the ecm happy. If you keep everything maintained and functioning properly, you shouldn't have any problems. You can even do some upgrades and it will all work together (if you've got an '89 or earlier). If you rip stuff apart, you're gonna run into problems with the computer throwing codes (possibly), which means the engine will not be running properly. I don't really even need to mention the smog police...but I just did



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Clem
SCCA TransAm Series Race Mechanic/CrewChief
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1983 Z28 with LG4, 5 speed, and (unfortunately) T-tops
1983 Z28, NO T-tops, (unfortunately) Auto Transmission (hopefully not for long)

 

The purpose of the smog pump is dilute the exhaust at cold startup, since cold starts produce the most pollution. The smog pump helps burn unspent fuels that the "cold" combustion chambers cannot burn. Also A.I.R aids the cat so it can achieve an effective operating temp sooner. Other than cold start up, the smog pump has no functionality or affect on the engine whatsoever and is non testable during a smog check (only the EPA tests cold start up pollution when an auto manufacturer produces a vehicle). Although some states have to visually confirm its existance.

In my state, they see so many cars and have absolutely no clue what and where the smog pump is, as long as there is a cat and you pass the smog check, no problems. My last smog check with a cat and no AIR pump was only 15ppm with a limit of 170ppm.

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Hybrid Black 5.7L 5 Speed
'95 Competition Yellow Corvette Coupe ZF6

[This message has been edited by blak92! (edited May 23, 2001).]

 

I took my smog pump off and plugged all the holes and hoses after 190,000 miles of near trouble free service. Now I get a rougher idle, less performance, poorer gas milage and Code 44 all the dang time. Maybe the engine is just plain wore out though. I've since added headres and removed the cat, things got worse if anything. I have 209,000 on it now.

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1986 Black/Gold LG4 Z28
Original Owner, 200,000+ near trouble free miles.
Mostly Stock.

1995 Dark Red Metallic Corvette Coupe Original Owner

[This message has been edited by Joey1986Z (edited May 23, 2001).]

 

So is there any gain for all this trouble of taking the smog pump\AIR off? the bearing on my pump is making annoying noises and needs to be changed. That is why i questioned removing the stupid thing. I was also wanting to put on headers, and the Edelbrock is like 300 bucks with AIR connections, while the Hookers are like under 200 bucks without AIR connections. So im not quite too sure what to do. Any feedback would be great, thanks for all the info too!

 

I want to remove my AIR stuff badly. Not for the performance, but I'm tired of leaving tons of skin all over it when changing plugs, etc.

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91 TA 5.7 TPI Automatic.
w/WS6 Suspension
K&N Air Filter,Hypertech Coil,Moroso Blue Max Wires, Bosch Platinum plugs gapped at .050,
JET fan switch,JET air foil,Dual cats with Flowmaster 3" exhaust (Headers coming soon),
Complete PST components on front suspension, Spohn LCAs/Panhard bar.
It's not much, but it's a start and I have a Summit catalog! :-)

 

You can get any aftermarket thirdgen headers with or without AIR tubes. I capped my edelbrock ones with a nylon pipe plug from home depot, screws right on.

Joey1986Z, your motor has a lot of miles, its not the AIR pump. Check your TPS, set your idle, and check your timing.

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Hybrid Black 5.7L 5 Speed
'95 Competition Yellow Corvette Coupe ZF6

 

If I'm not mistaken the cat converter's will plug up with out the extra air from the air pump.

 

Not all f-bodies and vehicles have an air tube in the cat, mine never had. Currently 40,000 miles on the catco converter.

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Hybrid Black 5.7L 5 Speed
'95 Competition Yellow Corvette Coupe ZF6

 

There are two different styles of cat...

One needs the extra air to help in the catalyst production, and the other doesn't...

If you have to buy a new cat, get one that does not need the extra air injected into it.

And remove the smog pump and tubes. It cleans the engine bay up pretty nice too. helps in changing both sides of spark plugs...

 

As far as the difference in price in hooker headers and the edelbrock TES. I'm not sure, but I think you're talking about plain hooker headers that won't bolt up to your stock exhaust (?). If that's the case, add a few hunded dollars worth of exhaust work to the price tag and then compare them. If I'm mistaken then sorry, disregard

later
Clem