C3 Tech/Performance V8 Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine, Basic Tech and Maintenance for the C3 Corvette
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Old Sep 16, 2023 | 09:11 PM
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Is there anything special I would have to do to remove the smog pump on a 81 Base?
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Old Sep 16, 2023 | 10:16 PM
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Nothing special...
Remove all components and get some brass plugs from Home Depot to put in the holes in the exhaust manifold...
Then box all those parts up and send them to me!
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Old Sep 17, 2023 | 12:02 AM
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Originally Posted by n2h2o2
Nothing special...
Remove all components and get some brass plugs from Home Depot to put in the holes in the exhaust manifold...
Then box all those parts up and send them to me!
What would you want with them?
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Old Sep 17, 2023 | 12:11 AM
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The systems were routinely removed and thrown in the trash...
It was the quickest and cheapest performance upgrade...
I am guilty of doing this as well to a '74 L82 in 1982
Restorer's are always looking for A.I.R systems and parts...
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Old Sep 17, 2023 | 02:50 AM
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Is there any power increase from doing so? Verifiable proof?
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Old Sep 17, 2023 | 04:38 AM
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Wouldn't be much. Removing a tiny bit of drag. All they do is inject air into the exhaust to dilute the exhaust, and supposedly help burn off any unburnt fuel. Mostly a gimmick.
clean up the engine compartment getting rid of a useless component? I think yes.
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Old Sep 17, 2023 | 09:28 AM
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The pump is a drag on the engine...not much, but does.
The injected air back into the exhaust was an attempt to reburn unburnt fuel...for cleaner emissions.
In reality, it interrupted the natural flow in the cylinder from scavenging.
The hot exhaust blown back into the cylinder would reduce the amount of cool air and fuel coming in...
Could probably get a similar effect by sticking a potato up the exhaust...
Measurable? I am sure someone, at some point quantified it on a dyno or on a quarter mile.
Probably written up long ago in a performance magazine...
And they take up room where a turbo belongs....
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Old Sep 17, 2023 | 02:43 PM
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An engine builder that I used about 25 years ago had a dynamometer… I always wanted to know what that A.I. R. pump cost in the way of horsepower. So we tested it…

Three (3) horsepower on a 380+ horsepower engine. That’s less than 1% and probably within the margin of error… Which means it is so minimal that it can’t be measured accurately.

Don’t worry about the A.I.R. system, it’s not worth the effort.

Regards,

Stan Falenski
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Old Sep 17, 2023 | 02:59 PM
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I say if you are going for originality, leave it alone.
If you are going for performance...you want that mouse to BREATHE...
You take off the AIR, put on a big carb & intake, heads, headers and exhaust on it and get a good cam to feed that beast...
THEN take it to the dyno...
OR perhaps take the AIR off and replace it with a Procharger...
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