I installed the headers and removed the AIR tubes. I took the electric wires off the AIR pump and then removed the tubes coming off of it. Well last night I went out to my car and I heard this ticking sound. Needless to say first thought was a rod or lifter. Turns out to be the air pump. This is the first time it has done this. Is there any way I can get the noise to stop again??

 

If you did'nt cover the holes where the air tubes were, you may be hearing what you did'nt hear before when the tubes were there.

:hail:IROC-Z

 

The noise is coming from the AIR pump, not the headers. I can feel the sir coming out. I am just wondering what I can do to seal/stop the problem.

 

I wasn't talking about the headers. I was talking about the rear of the AIR pump. I cut out a piece of metal with a dremel multitool and put it over the hole on the back of the pump. Before that I ripped all the crap out of the pump that makes it produce air.

:hail:IROC-Z

 

If I block the hole off is that going to cause a problem?? How hard was it to rip out all of the guts and keep the pulley working right??

 

I had the EXACT same problem. I had to remove the AIR pump. The bearing in it was shot or something. Anyways, I removed it and re routed the belt.
All is fine now.
S

 

Its been a while since I've done it, but you just take the back cover off and there will be (I think) 3 brown plates or blades (for lack of a better word). Those moving around is what generates the air. They are made of some tough type of particle or fiber board. They are kind of hard to break, but you can do it. After you break off each piece, pull the piece out. It doesnt affect the pully...mine's fine and it's been a year. If I had to do it again, I would.

:hail:IROC-Z

 

It looks like the air pump is a big pump. Does it go to the ac bracket and the self tens? How hard was it to take off the car. I think there is a tech art on how to remove it, I may just have to give that a shot.

 

What is a self tens?

It's not hard at all to take off.

:hail:IROC-Z

 

The self tensioner. The part that keeps the belt tight. I looked at the tech artical and swa that is shouldn't be to hard to take off the smog pump. Just a little bit of time and a cool motor!!