emission removal
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,665
Likes: 1
From: Ontario
A lot of states have a law that says any emission devices that were originally on the vehicle must remain there even if you are exempt from emissions tests. Its kinda hard to enforce this law but still you should know what you are getting yourself into, could result in hefty fines.
Keep catalytic convertor(s) in your exhaust system. The performance gains of no cats is negligable unless you have a ton of horsepower. Having no cats also makes your exhaust stink. Replacing the 25 year old stock cat with new 'high flow cats' would make a difference in performance if your old cat is full of crud.
Keep the PCV valve. Your engine will die a lot faster without it.
If you unplug vacuum lines from anything they must be plugged somehow or else you will have a vacuum leak (you switch to headers and you remove the EFE actuator for example).
Some guys remove the EGR valve when they switch to an aftermarket intake manifold that doesn't have a provision for this valve. There are arguements for and against this.
I agree with 88'Cubka if your car is from CA don't mess with it. 1980 cars from CA had the computer controlled catalytic convertor system aka C4 system. Its controlled by an ECM and its full of sensors. You could easily screw up the way your car runs if you start messing around with it.
Keep catalytic convertor(s) in your exhaust system. The performance gains of no cats is negligable unless you have a ton of horsepower. Having no cats also makes your exhaust stink. Replacing the 25 year old stock cat with new 'high flow cats' would make a difference in performance if your old cat is full of crud.
Keep the PCV valve. Your engine will die a lot faster without it.
If you unplug vacuum lines from anything they must be plugged somehow or else you will have a vacuum leak (you switch to headers and you remove the EFE actuator for example).
Some guys remove the EGR valve when they switch to an aftermarket intake manifold that doesn't have a provision for this valve. There are arguements for and against this.
I agree with 88'Cubka if your car is from CA don't mess with it. 1980 cars from CA had the computer controlled catalytic convertor system aka C4 system. Its controlled by an ECM and its full of sensors. You could easily screw up the way your car runs if you start messing around with it.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,738
Likes: 2
From: San diego ca
Originally Posted by busterpelvis
Would disconnecting emission equipment be a good idea ? My 80 does not need testing since it is 25 years old. What & how should it be unhooked?
Egr, no noticable gain if removed...one less vacuum hose to leak
Efe, noticable gain in the morning when its cold - after warm up - no benefit, one less vacuum hose to leak
AiR, no noticable gain but it sure cleans up the engine bay alot. one les series of vacuum hoses to leak
PCV, much better to have than not have
Charcoal cannister - a bunch of hoses but no gain at all.
There are so many more things on the later C3 engines choking them down that the removal of emissions gear is almost pointless...change out the CAT for a modern one..keep the engine tuned...then start making real mods - like headers - exhaust - intake - cam...
Then of course, there is the headache of reselling in some states you must have all factory emissions gear on to resell the car - what if you move someday?...
Anyway, there really isnt a ton to gain other than prettying up th engine bay, but there are plenty og guys here who have done that with their factory systems that even that can be done if you're creative.
Whatever you decide - good luck
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Instructor
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 213
Likes: 1
From: zanesville ohio
I live in Ohio,droped all of my emisions 3 years ago. Dont really worry about it as you said,25 yrs old most people wouldnt know if it ever had them or not. Removed the cat.also then just drove it to a muffler shop and had true duals installed,never asked any questions as to what year it was.So i vote for drop it.
