Hey guys, I have a quick question. I began the removal of my AIR system and it turns out I can't remove the passenger side tubes from the manifold until I get the air conditioning system out (which I plan to, its broken and in the way). Everything is unhooked except the line to the cats, and the tubes to the manifold. Putting this back together is not an option because when I went to remove the AIR check valve and the threads on the AIR tube completely rusted off (on both sides). Also, the connections to the manifold are rusted in there, so I strip the bolt if I use anything less than socket wrench (I have to cut the tubes off with a dremel prior to fitting the socket wrench on there. As you can tell, my car was abused before I got it. My question is, can I leave it how it is, or should I block off the tubes some how until I remove the whole thing (within the next week or two)?

 

If you still have the main AIR system attached to the exhaust manifolds you can block off the junction where the four tubes join. You can remove the AIR pump, and AIR line from the cat without any adverse effects. The key is to make sure you don't have any exhaust leaks from AIR parts that have been cut off of the exhaust manifolds.

 

Alright, thanks.

 

I hope you learn your lesson.

 

What lesson was there to be learned?

 

1. Removing something you don't know anything about.
2. Removing something you don't know anything about because it looks better.
3. Removing something you don't know anything about because other people do it.
4. Removing something you don't know anything about because it's broken and the price to fix it you don't think is worth it.
5. Removing something you don't know anything about because people say it will increase horsepower.
6. Removing something you don't know anything about because it will reduce weight which will make the car go faster.
7. Removing something you don't know anything about because it's an emissions item and "your state" doesn't do emissions testing.

etc, etc...because if you knew what it was designed to do and what it affects in performance, it's not worth removing, and it IS worth fixing.

 

on the tube set at the top of it where the rubber hose connects theres a fitting that unthreads off the top of the tube set there, it is threaded with regular plumber's pipe threads, you can for now go to local hardware or plumbing shop and get a cap plug to cap it off til you remove the set


good luck

 

I'm gonna have to disagree with you there, but I'm going to do it in a civilized manner as not to start a flame war. I do know about the AIR system and what it does so that takes out #1. I was doing it so I could access the spark plugs better and to clear up my engine bay. Not to make it look cleaner so that takes 2 out. Number 3 is just rediculous, I'm not even going to argue towards that one. It wasn't broken (to my knowledge), but if I was going to replace the check valve, it would have become broken. I wasn't doing it for an increase in horsepower, as I said before I'm doin it to get crap out of my engine bay so I can actually work on it. Whether it decreases horsepower or increases horsepower I honestly don't care. If it increases it, its not enough to notice and if it decreases it well like I said its not enough to notice.
For weight (number 6 if you're keeping track), it would be foolish of me to think I was going to reduce noticable weight on this. First of all, the whole system (smog pump included) can't weight more than 25lbs. On a ~3500 pound car, that doesn't make a heck of a lot of difference.
Number 7 was not a reason, it was a supporting factor. There is emmissions testing in my state, just not my county. People have passed emmissions testing with the AIR system removed, its not like I'm going to jam a pipe through the cats or anything though. I support emmissions stuff, just not when its in my way.

I don't know if you have beef with me or what but it certainly seems like you don't have a positive attitude towards me.


As for you Fast68, thank you for that information. I was wondering if they were standard NPT threads

 

Its actually spelled "emissions"

 

"I was doing it so I could access the spark plugs better and to clear up my engine bay. Not to make it look cleaner so that takes 2 out"

This sentence actually rules in #2. Clearing up and Cleaning up and making something look better would be the same thing.

"Number 7 was not a reason, it was a supporting factor"

This would rule in #7


I don't have a beef with you. It's just hard to believe so many people on this site have to remove emission systems that do not affect driveability. Most have no idea what they do, and once you start removing them, things break, bolts strip, replacement parts don't fit, etc. It's hard to understand why so much money is wasted on aftermarket parts that don't improve anything but someone elses wallet. Your's is just a typical thing that I see on a day to day basis. When you get older, and wiser, it will become clear. You learn from mistakes made. The best ones are someone elses mistakes.