Has anyone ever removed this pipe thing off their exhaust manifold? I can't get my manifold off (couple bolts in the back are missing the heads) so could I plug the holes with washers and screws?

 

If your talking about the air tubes on the manifold, you can try soaking them in penatrating oil first. I find the best way is to break the tubes off and then put a socket over them and get them off that way. You can plug them, but if you live where your car has emission tests you will probably want to replace them. Thats my two cents.

 

That's part of the smog assembley, you can remove the pipes and plug the holes with
bolts, but there are specially made plugs, (5/8ths I think) that will go in there nicely. Check the auto parts store. When I did this the guy knew exactly what I was doing and said that he used to do this to thier jeeps. It will route all of your exhaust gasses throught the pipes and make more power. It is illegal though, in emmesions controlled cars. Since you are in Canada it should'nt matter though right? You will also save weight, but be sure to block off the tube going to the cat, and get a smog pump delete pulley to get the full effect.

 

Lots n lots of PB blast, soak it down for several days. Every time you stop at work or a store, soak em down some more. it will stink a bit but the heat and time will help it get down in there.

Also things tend to come lose easier hot. so if you can try to remove them warm.

 

Which pipe are you talking about going to the cat? I had swapped this motor into my firebird. My bird didn't have any of this smog stuff on it so I need to get rid of it (motor is running a little rough, not sure if this tube is causing problem). I have no smog pump just this thing hooked into the manifold and capped off on the other side. Luckily, the bolts holding it into manifold seem to be loose.

 

It is a pipe, similar looking to those going into the exhaust manifolds, but a little bigger. It's welded into the cat and connects into the smog system. On my motor it came up on the passenger side in the back near the exh. manifold and kinda near the dist.......

EDIT: IS there a pipe welded to the cat? I just re-read your post, but you say there were no emissions when you did the swap...but the tubes in question is part of the smog system...so....

 

isn't that a check valve right after the big nut on the pipe? that should prevent the exhaust from getting to the cat that way. IF this is he case, then it shouldn't affect the car. Didi you do a tune up on the engine you swapped in? rechecked timing and all that?

 

Search for TomP's tuneup and do that, does wonders. I have a smog pump in my car but there was never any pipe welded to my cat.

 

Ok, let's start here...technically, removing the AIR injection manifold is a Federal offense and a $10,000/day fine, but depending on where you live, it's almost never enforced for either penalty. Second, removing this system will not gain you any noticable power because it only takes about 1/2hp to run it...if that. The check valve is to keep exhaust from going back toward the pump incase of a backfire for the most part, but generally helps keep exhaust gas from traveling up the tube when the AIR system is diverting to atmosphere and damaging the switching/diverter valve and pump.

if you have a downstream system, I've never seen one that did, but it's possible, then you will also have a pipe that leads to the CAT and that is the downstream system. If anyone would lke info on how the system works, you know, just for your knowledge on the emission system, feel free to let me know. I'll give you all the info I have.

Use LOTS of PB blaster to get them loose, that way you can put them back on when you're done.

 

He lives in Canada so it's all good. He WILL notice more power especially if the motor is stock or close to stock.

sixbanger: Let us know how it goes.

 

how will he notice more power??? You can notice 1/4 hp driving around? damn...

 

More then 1/4 hp Dude. Alot of exhaust is routed through those air tubes.

 

AIR is pumped INTO the manifolds through those tubes, like you have already been told, the system isnt killing off power except the tiny bit required to drive the pump.

 

Double post...

 

Did you used to have a 6...no smog stuff?

Why not just swap the exhaust manifolds from the other engine onto this one? Will be cleaner looking...

To remove bolts...Soak in PB Blaster to loosen the bolts...

If you have bolt heads missing off the manifold bolts already, you should be able to remove the ones with heads and pull off the manifold over the shafts left behind. I imagine you have a heck of an exhaust leak. Thats never good. Try to get some header gaskets, those are better & last longer then normal manifold gaskets. The header gaskets are much thicker!