To all the knowlegable experts on here,did all 1969s have emissions on them?air pumps?My car didnt have it,just wondering if it was taken off.I didnt think emissions junk was added until the early 70s.

 

I had a 70 SB and now have a 70 BB. Neither of them have a smog pump...but then neither of them were California cars.

 

All 68s had the AIR pump, even the L-88s had em. I believe it was the same deal with the 69 model year. After that it became a some do/ some don't depending on options and location.... quite a matrix... but I think 69 they all had em, and it was one of the first things people took off and threw in the trash!


I'm not sure when the first AIR pump appeared on a corvette. I believe it was an option in 67 (I don't know why anyone would actually select it as an option)... anyone?

 

Also i would like to add when i bought my car the guy said it was all original ,it was totally redone like new . And i have corvette books which do not show air pumps and emissions on them.

 

The Air Injector Reactor system was standard on all 1969 models, although there were two different types of smog pumps used. One for the small block and another for the 427, L88 or ZL1 models.

 

All 1969s had A.I.R. from the factory even the L88.

 

Billysvette, I will spare you the obvious explanations for what you have observed, but you just reminded me - a couple of years ago at an NCRS regional meet I was really surprised to see a 69 smallblock being judged with no AIR pump. It was a rather glaring omission when you are looking at a bunch of vettes that as a group are near perfect. A couple of weeks later I saw the guy at a carshow and he was proudly displaying his Top Flight award. I asked him how he managed to get a Top Flight and he told me he did take the full hit for missing AIR pump but the car was correct in just about every other way so he still had enough points for Top Flight.

 

Well i guess i just learned something

 

Yep. You can absorb the point deduction for no A.I.R if you're good to go on almost everything else.

 

I also figured that emission crap didnt come until 70s.i guess with the vette they started in 68 right?And im not concerned about it being original ,its just what i was told when i bought it.im getting ready to customize my car, it already is somewhat,blower through the hood ,richmond trans ,fat tires and mags,bubble tail lights,etc.It is a little disapointing that chevy had emissions stuff on it back then

 

...A.I.R. was option K-19 in 1966. Probably required in CA, but not limited to CA??? Guess you coulda ordered it, if you "wanted" it.

...all '68, '69, '73, '75, '80, '81 & '82 Corvettes came with A.I.R. from St. Louis.

 

This could be confusing to some, for it was the early seventies when this confusion occurred. In 1970 ZQ3, L46 & LS5 all used the TCS system of emissions, the LT-1 used the A.I.R. system.

In 1971, ZQ3, LS5 used CEC system and LT-1, LS-6 used A.I.R. system.

In 1972, ZQ3 used TCS system, LS5 & LT-1 used A.I.R. system.

To make this issue EVEN more confusing is the EXCEPTIONS to this. 1970 NA9 equipped base engine Corvettes and 1972 NB2 equipped base engine Corvettes that were California delivered, used A.I.R.

 

Here is what I have for A.I.R. useage in the Vettes. I may have obtained this information from Saginaw Steering Gear who manufactured the original A.I.R. pumps.

1966 California delivered Vettes used the A.I.R. (RPO K-19) system except for L-72.

1967 All California delivered Vettes used the A.I.R. (RPO K-19) system.

1968 & 1969 All Corvettes used the A.I.R. system regardless of engine or transmission.

1970 Chevrolet went to the CCS (Controlled Combustion System) for emissions control on most Vettes except the LT-1s which used A.I.R.

1971 Corvettes continued with CCS (except LT-1s and LS-6s which used A.I.R.

1972 The A.I.R. system returned for most Vettes except L48s with the "CKW" and "CKX" codes.

1973-1975 All Vettes used A.I.R. except for the 1974 L48 with automatic and Federal emissions which used CSS.

1976 All Vettes returned to CCS except California certified cars which used A.I.R.

1977 All Vettes used CCS except California and "High Altitude" delivered cars which used A.I.R.
(Not sure on the 1976 and 1977 Vettes with L82s, they might have used A.I.R.)

1978 & 1979 All Corvettes used CCS except California cars, "high altitude" and all L82s which used A.I.R. L82s were not available in California or "high altitude" areas during these years.

1980-1987 All Vettes used A.I.R.

Hope this helps,
Jim

 

Sorry Jim, but not from Saginaw, that is from a post of mine that I stole from Joe Lucia over on the NCRS board (http://www.ncrs.org/forum/archive8.cgi?review=40098)

tom...

 

I met a fellow at a car show. He said his car was Top Flighted by NCRS. It was a small block 1970 350. I asked him where the air pump was. He said '70 didn't come with it. I ALMOST took the bet knowing 68,69 HAD the air pump. He told me to check it out. I did. Checked with NCRS. I asked. They responded he was correct. He later posted, "Told ya not to take the bet Ken!" I know not to bet on other years. I'm still learning MY year.

 

Can someone post a pic of the air pump,just curious what it looks like since my car didnt have it on it when i bought it.