C4 Tech/Performance L98 Corvette and LT1 Corvette Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine

Corvette Running Rich

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Old Jan 21, 2011 | 10:28 PM
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Default Corvette Running Rich

My god has it been a while!! Well lets start with this, over the last few months I dropped the exhaust, gutted the precats, replaced the main cat (magnaflow), replaced the 02 sensor, and welded in a pair of cutouts (ill post pics tomorrow or so). Well thats pretty much it. Tomorrow should be the big day that everything is bolted togeather and it sees the road. I have started it a few times in the garage (never really more then a few minutes) and I can smell a heavy scent of gas as if it rich (it is fairly cold at this point in time down here).

So here are my questions.
1. does it seem like im running rich? or the car just hasnt reached optimum temp.

2. Prior to the list of fixes the car was jerking violently at idle (in 1st gear, clutch out), almost hunting up and down for proper idle after running for a while. Im hoping it was just running hot due to a bad cat. Is it possiable?

3. Is there any harm done with disconnecting the air line that runs to the main cat? from what I hear that have delete kits all togeather for that air line.

I really hope you guys be understanding about all the questions, im just trying to get this car running. All help is appreciated. BTW its an 1989 corvette.
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Old Jan 22, 2011 | 01:22 AM
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Get 'er fired up to closed loop temp and see if the symptom goes away.

The air line to the cat helps to heat it up. Shouldn't be a factor once she's hot.

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Old Jan 22, 2011 | 10:18 AM
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Originally Posted by JrRifleCoach
Get 'er fired up to closed loop temp and see if the symptom goes away.

The air line to the cat helps to heat it up. Shouldn't be a factor once she's hot.

Thank ya Sir! Im fixin to go and bolt everything up now and try and see if she passes inspection, Ill post back with how it goes. I will also upload the picture of the cut outs, and how they are squeezed up under there if yall are interested.
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Old Jan 22, 2011 | 10:43 AM
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Cars do run a little bit rich when they are cold. Kind of like the choke being on. Not near as fat as a carb car, but still a little on the rich side.
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Old Jan 22, 2011 | 03:35 PM
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Ok, well we took the vette out and it runs amazing. I dont know what else to say!!
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Old Jan 22, 2011 | 09:12 PM
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Old Jan 22, 2011 | 09:14 PM
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dont think the pics of the cutouts made it through, but here is a link.

http://img838.imageshack.us/g/img0001gd.jpg/
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Old Jan 23, 2011 | 02:22 AM
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Originally Posted by C4 Monster
Ok, well we took the vette out and it runs amazing. I dont know what else to say!!
good job!! well done

they do run rich when cold,, have you thought of removing the entire smog/egr stuff? it easy to do.. : check this out

JUST INSTALLED AIR PUMP ELIMINATOR
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Old Jan 23, 2011 | 08:22 AM
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Originally Posted by korvette4u
good job!! well done

they do run rich when cold,, have you thought of removing the entire smog/egr stuff? it easy to do.. : check this out

JUST INSTALLED AIR PUMP ELIMINATOR
If he removes the egr he will need a retune, if he doesnt retune he will probably get pinging....WW

Last edited by WW7; Jan 23, 2011 at 08:24 AM.
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Old Jan 24, 2011 | 04:22 PM
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Hey I have another question back to the air pump deal, whats its purpose? Does it pump air into the cat so you can pass inspection, cause this year it took him twice as longe to get it to pass. The guy had to restart 2 or 3 times, and that was with that line unhooked.
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Old Jan 24, 2011 | 04:24 PM
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Originally Posted by korvette4u
good job!! well done

they do run rich when cold,, have you thought of removing the entire smog/egr stuff? it easy to do.. : check this out

JUST INSTALLED AIR PUMP ELIMINATOR
Iv wanted to, but forgive me for asking what might be a stupid question, but whats the purpose? Is there a HP gain? Iv read about a lot of people doing it.
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Old Jan 24, 2011 | 04:51 PM
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Originally Posted by C4 Monster
Hey I have another question back to the air pump deal, whats its purpose? Does it pump air into the cat so you can pass inspection, cause this year it took him twice as longe to get it to pass. The guy had to restart 2 or 3 times, and that was with that line unhooked.
All these air pumps and its associated pluming is to cut down emissions when the engine is cold. When it gets hot on my 94 the electric air pump does not even run. So when it's hot it should not be a factor as JrRifleCoach indicated. I don’t know the exact pluming of the 89 but there is probably a system that shuts down the pump action.

I would suspect the running rich problem is related to your new set up on the exhaust. If the O2s are not heating as before, and the ECM expected certain conditions per the original exhaust, it may be adjusting the A/F ratio to rich. A tune may be required to adjust the fuel trim (BLM) numbers in relation to the new exhaust system.
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Old Jan 24, 2011 | 05:13 PM
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Originally Posted by pcolt94
All these air pumps and its associated pluming is to cut down emissions when the engine is cold. When it gets hot on my 94 the electric air pump does not even run. So when it's hot it should not be a factor as JrRifleCoach indicated. I don’t know the exact pluming of the 89 but there is probably a system that shuts down the pump action.

I would suspect the running rich problem is related to your new set up on the exhaust. If the O2s are not heating as before, and the ECM expected certain conditions per the original exhaust, it may be adjusting the A/F ratio to rich. A tune may be required to adjust the fuel trim (BLM) numbers in relation to the new exhaust system.
Cool, Thanks for the info
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Old Jan 24, 2011 | 06:24 PM
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Originally Posted by C4 Monster
Hey I have another question back to the air pump deal, whats its purpose? Does it pump air into the cat so you can pass inspection, cause this year it took him twice as longe to get it to pass. The guy had to restart 2 or 3 times, and that was with that line unhooked.
The air pump pumps air into the exhaust manifolds right after a cold start. Once things warms up, it doesn't do anything. Helps with emissions. Some years the pump does pump air to the cat.
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