Removing "the useless" emissions
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 5,783
Likes: 400
From: Paoli, IN
St. Jude Donor '17, '19
I'm FAR from an eco-freak but the emission controls are not "useless"!
The EVAP (fuel vapor recovery system) has zero impact on performance, requires only rare maintenance (typically hoses) and actually recovers the fuel that used to evaporate into the atmosphere to be used to run the engine. There is truly no reason not to keep the EVAP system working properly!
EGR (exhaust gas recirculation) is an effective system that greatly decreases unburned or partially burned fuel in the exhaust. Debate rages regarding how much (if any) negative effect it has on performance but for a street car it is negligible. EGR valves do fail and the system requires cleaning every decade or so but new valves are readily available.
A.I.R. (Air Injection Reaction) is nothing but a pump that forces atmospheric air into the exhaust manifold where the temperature is still hot enough that the added oxygen helps burn away any remaining fuel in the exhaust. Yes, the air pump takes some power to operate but not enough to matter for a street car yet it really does reduce fuel emissions from the exhaust.
The catalytic converter in 1980 was quite restrictive and definitely reduced power at WOT. In theory it nearly eliminates some forms of pollutants even if much/most of the worst pollutants were already removed by the above systems. Without a functioning A.I.R. system on these non-electronic cars the catalytic converter will rapidly destroy itself. Less restrictive cats are available that have little or no performance hit with a stock motor.
Even if you remove the catalytic converter, reset timing/distributor curve for higher performance, use a more aggressive cam shaft, etc. there is very little to gain by not keeping the EGR and A.I.R. systems working while still making a significant reduction in pollutants.
The EVAP (fuel vapor recovery system) has zero impact on performance, requires only rare maintenance (typically hoses) and actually recovers the fuel that used to evaporate into the atmosphere to be used to run the engine. There is truly no reason not to keep the EVAP system working properly!
EGR (exhaust gas recirculation) is an effective system that greatly decreases unburned or partially burned fuel in the exhaust. Debate rages regarding how much (if any) negative effect it has on performance but for a street car it is negligible. EGR valves do fail and the system requires cleaning every decade or so but new valves are readily available.
A.I.R. (Air Injection Reaction) is nothing but a pump that forces atmospheric air into the exhaust manifold where the temperature is still hot enough that the added oxygen helps burn away any remaining fuel in the exhaust. Yes, the air pump takes some power to operate but not enough to matter for a street car yet it really does reduce fuel emissions from the exhaust.
The catalytic converter in 1980 was quite restrictive and definitely reduced power at WOT. In theory it nearly eliminates some forms of pollutants even if much/most of the worst pollutants were already removed by the above systems. Without a functioning A.I.R. system on these non-electronic cars the catalytic converter will rapidly destroy itself. Less restrictive cats are available that have little or no performance hit with a stock motor.
Even if you remove the catalytic converter, reset timing/distributor curve for higher performance, use a more aggressive cam shaft, etc. there is very little to gain by not keeping the EGR and A.I.R. systems working while still making a significant reduction in pollutants.
The guy i bought it from had the air pump disconnected a long time ago and put on mag-flow exhaust, with no catalytic converters. And its been running like that for years. At this point, I am removing clutter and parts that are starting to look bad from just sitting. If everything was working, I would leave it alone. No need to fix what is not broken.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 5,783
Likes: 400
From: Paoli, IN
St. Jude Donor '17, '19
Might do this this weekend. If I plug the air pump holes with bolts, can I put plummer tape on them to help seal them up or would that be bad considering how close to the engine it would be? I didn't know if heat would be an issue.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 5,236
Likes: 898
From: Myrtle Beach SC
I'm FAR from an eco-freak but the emission controls are not "useless"!
The EVAP (fuel vapor recovery system) has zero impact on performance, requires only rare maintenance (typically hoses) and actually recovers the fuel that used to evaporate into the atmosphere to be used to run the engine. There is truly no reason not to keep the EVAP system working properly!
EGR (exhaust gas recirculation) is an effective system that greatly decreases unburned or partially burned fuel in the exhaust. Debate rages regarding how much (if any) negative effect it has on performance but for a street car it is negligible. EGR valves do fail and the system requires cleaning every decade or so but new valves are readily available.
A.I.R. (Air Injection Reaction) is nothing but a pump that forces atmospheric air into the exhaust manifold where the temperature is still hot enough that the added oxygen helps burn away any remaining fuel in the exhaust. Yes, the air pump takes some power to operate but not enough to matter for a street car yet it really does reduce fuel emissions from the exhaust.
The catalytic converter in 1980 was quite restrictive and definitely reduced power at WOT. In theory it nearly eliminates some forms of pollutants even if much/most of the worst pollutants were already removed by the above systems. Without a functioning A.I.R. system on these non-electronic cars the catalytic converter will rapidly destroy itself. Less restrictive cats are available that have little or no performance hit with a stock motor.
Even if you remove the catalytic converter, reset timing/distributor curve for higher performance, use a more aggressive cam shaft, etc. there is very little to gain by not keeping the EGR and A.I.R. systems working while still making a significant reduction in pollutants.
The EVAP (fuel vapor recovery system) has zero impact on performance, requires only rare maintenance (typically hoses) and actually recovers the fuel that used to evaporate into the atmosphere to be used to run the engine. There is truly no reason not to keep the EVAP system working properly!
EGR (exhaust gas recirculation) is an effective system that greatly decreases unburned or partially burned fuel in the exhaust. Debate rages regarding how much (if any) negative effect it has on performance but for a street car it is negligible. EGR valves do fail and the system requires cleaning every decade or so but new valves are readily available.
A.I.R. (Air Injection Reaction) is nothing but a pump that forces atmospheric air into the exhaust manifold where the temperature is still hot enough that the added oxygen helps burn away any remaining fuel in the exhaust. Yes, the air pump takes some power to operate but not enough to matter for a street car yet it really does reduce fuel emissions from the exhaust.
The catalytic converter in 1980 was quite restrictive and definitely reduced power at WOT. In theory it nearly eliminates some forms of pollutants even if much/most of the worst pollutants were already removed by the above systems. Without a functioning A.I.R. system on these non-electronic cars the catalytic converter will rapidly destroy itself. Less restrictive cats are available that have little or no performance hit with a stock motor.
Even if you remove the catalytic converter, reset timing/distributor curve for higher performance, use a more aggressive cam shaft, etc. there is very little to gain by not keeping the EGR and A.I.R. systems working while still making a significant reduction in pollutants.
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 211
Likes: 20
From: Raleigh NC
I'm putting my engine back together now. New flat top pistons, rings, XE274H (I struggled and struggled with this but if it wipes I'll sell my desirable 4 bolt main [to offset the cost] and buy a roller/stroker crate and be done with it, Performer EPS, and carb.
I'm keeping the stock, smogger exhaust manifolds. I cut off the internal and external portions of the tubes and welded them shut from the outside. They have gentle bends and I can't believe they are severely restrictive. Hell, I used stock iron manifolds on the '79 Z-28 I redid a few yrs ago (almost same engine specs and components) and was extremely pleased wrenching my buddies necks.
Getting rid of the air pump and inspections are not required here in NC for cars this old (1980). I believe I won't have to plug many vacuum lines since I'm going with an Edelbrock vortec eps and a Edel carb. They'll just be removed altogether (like the ap).
I'm keeping the stock, smogger exhaust manifolds. I cut off the internal and external portions of the tubes and welded them shut from the outside. They have gentle bends and I can't believe they are severely restrictive. Hell, I used stock iron manifolds on the '79 Z-28 I redid a few yrs ago (almost same engine specs and components) and was extremely pleased wrenching my buddies necks.
Getting rid of the air pump and inspections are not required here in NC for cars this old (1980). I believe I won't have to plug many vacuum lines since I'm going with an Edelbrock vortec eps and a Edel carb. They'll just be removed altogether (like the ap).
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,873
Likes: 27
From: Sonora CA
That's what they said on the early shark cars. I helped throw a few units away. Now those smog units that were thrown in the trash bring $1500+.
Never toss original stuff. You don't have to photo document it if you don't want to, but put it in a box. You will sell the car someday.
Never toss original stuff. You don't have to photo document it if you don't want to, but put it in a box. You will sell the car someday.
I sold my original smog pump, hoses, manifolds and all other related items for well over $600. Someone, somewhere will want this stuff.
