chromebumperC3

does anyone still have the A.I.R on their car?

fauxrs

Yeah....no choice in the matter..besides its parasitic drag is minimal....a water pump takes more effort to spin.

mvftw

Just removed it. I still have the tubes going into the manifold, I just plugged them for now. I don't want to remove them with the motor still in the car. Car runs better with it removed.

AGVI

Forgive my ignorance, but what is the purpose of this thing and why would someone have no option but to keep it?

thanks, Les :D

Paul L

On my former 1979, yes. The car is now owned by my Brother.

mvftw

It pumps air into the exhaust for emissions.

robertmc48

Yes....the complete set-up is still installed.

AGVI

Thanks MVFTW. Now that I know the purpose, why would I keep it on if I don't really need it? :D

Fevre

By law it should not be removed, it is illegal to remove any emmission equipment orig installed in a vehicle, some states have visual, as well as sniffer, tests so you have to have all the orig emmissions equip installed to plate (or re-new) a car.

BTW Believe by injecting air into the exhaust as it exits the head it helps burn some of the pollutants (or it may be any unburned fuel, can't remember which).

Biker

Besides eliminating a nominal amount of drag on the engine (via pulley), are there any performance gains by removing the AIR?

Fevre

Loss of weight, all the that smog stuff adds up.

DJ Dep

Some reasons to remove it:
It's a PITA to install the AIR crap on headers.
It's another belt that can fly off and tangle up with the important belts.
It's an expensive hunk of junk to replace or get fixed.
It does NOTHING to improve the performance of the engine.
The hoses sometimes (?) make it difficult to change plugs.
It's dead weight.

Dep

AGVI

When the hoses are removed what should be plugged up and what can be left alone?

DJ Dep

The pump and all hoses metal and rubber connected to it. They used to make a kit tehy sold at auto parts stores that had brass plugs to thread into the holes in the exhaust manifolds. Real old/rusty manifolds are kinda iffy as far as unthreading the tubes. Might be better to just snip and crimp them.

Dep

TedH

I retained the A.I.R. system on my car in event either Florida re-instates inspections or I move to a state that requires them. A few other changes I'd have to make include re-jetting, retarding timing and cat converters (all changed/removed in favor of performance).

NOTE: Back in the mid-80's, an aquaintance hopped up his '80 in Virginia and ditched all of the emissions equipment, installed an LT1 and added sidepipes. The car now sits in a barn in W Va since it can't be licensed in Va without wholesale replacement of parts and de-tuning.

Moral of the story: Unless you plan to drive your vette off-road ONLY, emissions equipment should be retained (on car or in boxes) if possible.


[Modified by TedH, 3:15 PM 2/24/2004]

JJ Deuce

mine was long gone when I got the car. The holes in the exhaust manifolds are plugged. I don't plan on replacing it.

SuprJames

Nope, still on the old Crossfire engine. Anyone want to buy it (and the engine)?

bigvette1

If you have or plan on pulling off the A.I.R. system keep the parts. You may need them for future inspections or they go for some big bucks in Hemmings etc.. A complete setup for a specific year can fetch $400-600 as is and $700-800 restored. Check out AST on the net for an idea or look in Hemmings. BB's are worse. A goofy divertrer valve is $250-350 with a restored setup about $1000.

Corvette ED

Mine was long gone when I got my car.

AGVI

I think I'll remove it and retain the system in a box somewhere just in case I need it in the future.

Thanks for the help and sorry about the thread hijack!! :lol: