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

Air Pump Question

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Old Feb 24, 2003 | 01:31 AM
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Default Air Pump Question

What is the function of the air pump? I had an 88 iroc with a tpi motor and it didn't have one but my 85 vette does. Is there any side effect to replacing it w/ an AIR PUMP REPLACEMENT PULLEY KIT?
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Old Feb 24, 2003 | 01:49 AM
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Default Re: Air Pump Question (Ray383)

The AIR pump pumps fresh air to the main cat behind the transmission. That cat is specifically for taking care of HC emissions. By removing the AIR pump, you'll make it harder to pass emissions, as the cat won't have enough fresh oxygen to fully burn the unburnt fuel passing through it.

FWI, the precats are designed for NOx emissions, and the main one is for HC. They are not there for redundancy in the system.
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Old Feb 24, 2003 | 02:06 AM
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Default Re: Air Pump Question (CorvetteZ51Racer)

thanks for the info. I have a question about your 358 motor. I have a friend who is thinking of getting into bush racing. What is the deal with the 358ci motor size. Where can he find chassis and drivetrain parts
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Old Feb 24, 2003 | 02:25 AM
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Default Re: Air Pump Question (Ray383)

thanks for the info. I have a question about your 358 motor. I have a friend who is thinking of getting into bush racing. What is the deal with the 358ci motor size. Where can he find chassis and drivetrain parts
Unfortunately, I don't have the 358 yet....that's coming soon, hopefully. We DO, however, have 2 Hendrick's Winston Cup motors at the engine shop. Typically these days, the Chevy's tend to run a 4.125" bore and 3.33" stroke combination for a 356 CID motor. As far as the components go, they can most all be bought from GM. DO NOT buy heads from a used parts reseller. There is one very good reason a set of $5000 cylinder heads goes up for sale...the chambers have gone soft and the heads make nice paper weights.

Basically, the list of internals for most of the Chevy's is
1) Sonny Bryant forged crank (usually 38-42 lbs, depending on setup...the heavier cranks for the open motors, lighter for plate motors)
~$3000
2) Carillo rods
~$1000
3) JE Pistons
~$600
4) SB2.2 heads (best source is Chapman Heads...BIG $$$)
~$5000-$6000
5) Wilson intake manifold
~$700
6) BLP carb
~$1300
7) T&D or Jesel shaft rockers
~$1000
8) titanium valves
~don't remember
9) GM NASCAR Block
~$4000

Basically, once you're all said and done, if he can build it himself for under $25k, he's done well.

Thank God we don't pay full price for parts every time we blow the motors up.....
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Old Feb 24, 2003 | 02:31 AM
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Default Re: Air Pump Question (CorvetteZ51Racer)

Do you think the end power output justifies 25k for a 358 motor?
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Old Feb 24, 2003 | 02:45 AM
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Default Re: Air Pump Question (Ray383)

Do you think the end power output justifies 25k for a 358 motor?
Well, let me put it this way...if he's going to race Busch and wants to be competitive, he'll HAVE to spend $25k for the motor, because everyone else is spending *at least* that amount on motors. I happen to know what top Winston Cup teams charge Busch teams and Truck teams for their motors, and I can tell you that $25k will buy a used motor in desperate need of a rebuild from one of those guys. Let me put it this way, you can make 800 HP @ 9500 RPM out of a 358 for less money, but you won't make it for the entire race. Also, we currently have 4 Winston Cup engines here at the shop. All 4 of them rebuilt and fresh would fetch ~$225k total (assuming values if the motors were all 2003s, which they're not...only 1 is)
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Old Feb 24, 2003 | 06:54 AM
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Default Re: Air Pump Question (CorvetteZ51Racer)

Sorry for interrupting in your 358 conversation. ;)

I have a question about the AIR pump removal. My pump is still there but I have new catalytic converters, without the airtubes and the car did pass the emissions last year, so I figure that I don’t need the air pump anymore?

Or does the air pump do anything else for the emission system, like pumping air into the egr or something?
:cheers:
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Old Feb 24, 2003 | 01:03 PM
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Default Re: Air Pump Question (Cratzy)

I'm not at my resource manuals, but I think I remember reading that the AIR pump only operates when the car is warming up during open loop. I have an 85, which has only one cat. Someone else will chime in I'm sure. :seeya
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Old Feb 24, 2003 | 01:21 PM
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Default Re: Air Pump Question (jmrl98)

I'm not at my resource manuals, but I think I remember reading that the AIR pump only operates when the car is warming up during open loop. I have an 85, which has only one cat. Someone else will chime in I'm sure. :seeya
I'm not sure exactly when the in-line solenoid opens and allows air to pass through.

As far as the car without the AIR tubes going to the cats, if you still have the stock manifold or have headers with AIR tube provisions, you are still getting an emissions benefit from the AIR pump, as it's also pumping air into the headers right at the heads.
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