Maybe I missed something, but I haven't seen anything about plugging the hole in the exhaust manifold after removing the preheater hose and thermac device, and does this effect emissions legality? If so, is there a way to still use these with an open element, like getting longer ducting and sticking it to the side of the air filter? Just an idea.

 

I just pulled the hose off mine and did away with it. I heard it was better to take it off anyways, robs horsepower. i dont think it has anything to do with emissions

 

what I'm asking about is the gaping hole in the exhaust manifold

 

that hole is not in the exhaust manifold itself its just a piece above the manifold. What its purpose is is on cold starts it will transfer air from directly above the exhaust manifold which will obviously be hot right into the intake to warm up the engine quicker. You don't need to do anything about plugging it.

 

What about its effect on emissions?

PS: Sorry if I annoyed anybody with this question, but I couldn't see how a hole in the exhast could just be ignored.

 

Don't worry about annoying anyone on here questions are what we're here for. For emissions you are goign to want to swap your stock setup back on when you have to take the test because if you have to pass a visual you need it and actually in my case I failed the sniffer with an open element then put the stock one back on with a new filter and passed.