notnuts16

I have a 66 convertible that was originally a California car and was built with the AIR (RPO: K-19) I would like to find one and reinstall it to get back to as close to factory as I can. What are the down sides to doing this, if any? It still has the correct exhaust manifolds.

66jack

Hope you got DEEP pockets...

As far as down side, small power loss, but if you want you can gut the inside of the pump so its not 'turning' the guts if you will and where the tubes are in the manifolds.

You will need to come up with some sort of plug and...maybe a hex button plug that will go deep inside and still be able to put the thread tubes on manifold...

Will still look original...

MikeM

If you use the K-19 distributor and carburetor, you probably won't like the way the car runs.

Just the pump itself won't matter enough to tell any difference.

Powershift

Most of us run away from these "California only" parts. Your cost will likely be $$$$ for the parts and your performance will most likely be

Larry

65silververt

More prone to vacuum leaks, hard to change battery, looks ugly and will overall take away from your enjoyment of the car. Just my .02.

tuxnharley

The full set up will result in:
- leaner fuel mixture
- less spark advance
- lean surge at cruising conditions
- reduced power
- higher operating temperature

Not sure why you would want to do this? Judging? Original appearance?
If so, Mike has the right idea - just go with an empty shell pump and block the tubes internally.

SI67

Is the leaner mixture caused solely by the smaller primary jets of the A.I.R. carb (R3605A in this case if it's the original, or does the pump system contribute leanness as well?



Steve

MikeM

The pump doesn't have anything to do with the fuel mixture INSIDE the combustion chamber. Only from the exhaust manifold back.

tuxnharley

This!

SI67

Thanks, Mike and Glenn. That's what I figured, but I wanted make sure my limited understanding was correct.

That being the case, original poster Tim may already be living with the leaner mixture.



Steve

vark_wso

ST-72 ('66 Service Manual) & ST-73 ('66 Overhaul Manual) do not depict any primary jet size change for Holley carbs when equipped with A.I.R. Standard #65 size for the 300 & 350HP 327's. The only primary jet size reduction shown with A.I.R. equipment is with Rochester carbs on 283's.

tuxnharley

I can't refute that with any documentation or facts other than anecdotal memories, but IIRC my California spec '67 327/350 did have smaller primary jets and ran lean and hot.

OTOH, its been 44 years since I pulled out that crap - and ultimately later that year the entire engine to put in a '70 LT1 350/370. I threw all the old stuff away for scrap............ Who knew?

notnuts16

thanks for all the input. I knew it would cost quite a bit to restore it to original but wasn't sure about the performance effects. Not sure which avenue I will take . The car runs so good now. The old adage, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" seems to apply here.

SI67

I read SOMEWHERE (Yeah, I know that sounds really authoritative!) that the '66 A.I.R. 3605 and the '67 A.I.R. 3814 use the #122-63 primary jet, as opposed to the #122-65 used in the 3367 and 3810. Holley's online numerical carb listing doesn't list the 3605 and 3814, so no help there. In my limited search I could neither confirm nor refute.

Anyway, for Tim--if it's running well, don't mess with it!

Steve

SI67

Just out of "idle curiosity" do you know if you have the R3605 carb on it?

Steve

MikeM

Don't know about the jets but the A.I.R. carbs carry a different part #.

93RubyRedCoupe

FYI - I have an original 66 SMOG air cleaner base with the stud, etc....if you are interested. ARA

62corvette

You have an HH suffix on your block, I'm guessing. If that's the case, finally it comes down to how you feel about how "right" your car needs to be. None of us can make that decision for you--we can only give you input.
I have a 67 300hp HH car that is very original. When I got it, the smog stuff was removed, but a lot of it was included, and the PO had bought a fair amount of NOS smog stuff as well. I still had to go out and get some pieces, because to me, with the HH on the block, I needed the K19 stuff to be on the car.
I have no issues with overheating or surging. I played with the distributor and the timing a bit, and am happy with the way it runs--no issues at all.
66-67 smog stuff can be pricey.
The smog tubes really don't come into play when you are changing the battery--the heater hoses and expansion tank is much more of an issue.
I did not devane the pump, and it functions fine for me.
It's all a matter of taste--would I rather it have come with finned valve covers and other "exotica"? Yes, but it didn't. I've taken it back to factory appearance and I, personally, like it.
The first picture is of the side of the block after careful minimal cleaning. I like the HH because it can be upside down or rightside up and no one can dispute which is which.

SI67

Very nice. Super clean!

Is that an orange bracket with a yellow sticker (black HH) it, coming down from where the right vertical shield beats the distributor shield. behind the hairpin-bend big hose?
I've never seen that before, not that I'm any kind of expert.

I have a '67 which didn't have A.I.R. on it when I got it. I was eventually forced to have a system installed, and my mechanic cobbled up a workable system of period-correct and later available parts. Don't have a bracket (if that's what it is) as in your picture.

Just curious, as always.

Steve

JohnZ

That's not an orange bracket - it's the polished stainless steel RH vertical ignition shield, reflecting the orange paint on the back of the cylinder head and valve cover (the "HH" sticker is on the back of the valve cover).