I have an 87 LG4. What will be the end result of taking the AIR pump off? I took it off and could feel a little extra power int the midrange. Without the pump, will it be harder to start, or will it lean out the cc q-jet? How extensive is the "computer controlled" aspect of the q-jet? Also does anybody know what kind of free power I just picked up?

 

the only thing it does is pump air into the catalytic converter. as far as power gains i never noticed any, only logical that the motor doesn't have to work as hard without it. also drops weight from the front end, those little things are heavy aren't they.

 

Doesn't it also pump air into the exhaust manifold to burn excess fuel as it exits the engine? It would clean up the engine compartment somewhat and give you more room to work... i was thinking about it myself, well actaully, just removing the air lines running into the exhaust manifold and redirecting the air all into the cat. good idea? bad idea?

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Owner of a 1989 IROC-Z Camaro, a.k.a. "The Babe Magnet". Painted a cheap metallic blue that chips off all too easily and covers over the IROC-Z decals on the doors, also has non-leaking T-tops, ps, pw, power rear hatch, working A/C. Mods: SLP intake runners, gutted MAF sensor, adjustable fuel pressure regulator, modified air spoil, 3.27 posi rear end.
Broken stuff: rear spoiler brake light, driver side lock, power antenna, tilt steering, rear end bushings, cracked passanger side ground effect, washer fluid tab, leaking exhaust and a rotted through muffler that sparks when the car bottoms out while driving like any 17 year old does.

 

Yes. The A.I.R. (Air Injection Reaction) system injects air (O2) into the manifolds when the car is first started to help burn up the raw HC's that the engine is producing before it goes into closed loop. Once the car goes into closed loop, the diverter valve switches the A.I.R. output to the converter to aid in the burning of unused HC's down in the converter itself. The system is also there to help warm up the O2 sensor during cold starts.

Removing it is only a good idea. The system was GM's version of a band aid. They didn't know how to actually make a car pass the emissions tests that the EPA was coming up with, so they looked at ways to make the cars appear to have better emissions. The A.I.R. system does clean up the emissions of the car, but it is also a drag on the car itself requiring it to burn more fuel per time unit that it is running which results in more exhaust volume. On newer systems, GM has used the engine management systems to control emissions which has resulted in lower emissions and better fuel economy AND better performance.

Anywaysss..... The pump and its related componants are just worthless weight unless your states' emissions laws are so strict that they will know if you remove it. You won't really feel the minute gain in HP that skipping the pump gives you but it definately cleans up the underhood area a ton.

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Matt

1987 GTA L98 MD8 GW6

"Stop Lights timed for 35Mph are also timed for 70Mph"