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

Crazy air pump idea....possible?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Mar 22, 2003 | 01:25 AM
  #1  
USAsOnlyWay's Avatar
USAsOnlyWay
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 5,270
Likes: 3
From: Seattle Area WA
Default Crazy air pump idea....possible?

The idea is, rather than buying a pulley elimination kit and all that jazz, just take an air pump and sort of gut it so it appears to be an air pump but it is light and free spinning. :confused:
I don't know if this is possible nor have I ever taken an air pump apart before I just know I have access to an old one, and thought it might be a similar idea as to sleeving a cat... anyway if anyone has tried this or knows its definitly not possible, cool. If not I might just have another seemingly free mod on my hands (minus cost for reprogramming. . .)
I'm gonna try to pick it up tomorrow so I'll let you know what happens. . .
Reply
Old Mar 22, 2003 | 01:31 AM
  #2  
Goody's Avatar
Goody
Le Mans Master
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 6,362
Likes: 30
From: Oak Harbor WA
Default Re: Crazy air pump idea....possible? (USAsOnlyWay)

Mines electric so I just unplug it. :D ...I don't see a problem with your idea, but why? Visual smog inspections?... :seeya
Reply
Old Mar 22, 2003 | 01:44 AM
  #3  
VetteNoob's Avatar
VetteNoob
Le Mans Master
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 5,320
Likes: 4
From: Kyle TX (Because Mojo Made me fill it in)
Default Re: Crazy air pump idea....possible? (USAsOnlyWay)

yes it is possible and has been done. I havent personally done it, but have a friend that has. Do a search for topics created by 85WhiteZ51 in the archived section. I think he posted what he did. I went the route of the elim kit and should have it in the next week. i think the elim kit cleans up the engine compartment a lot so it served a dual purpose.
Reply
Old Mar 22, 2003 | 01:47 AM
  #4  
USAsOnlyWay's Avatar
USAsOnlyWay
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 5,270
Likes: 3
From: Seattle Area WA
Default Re: Crazy air pump idea....possible? (Goody)

Hmmm...what are those? :crazy:

Yeah pretty much, I was also thinking it might be less pull on the engine and minor things like that... but yeah if it doesn't work I'm sure I could just disconnect stuff. Thanks.
:seeya

Yeah, I agree the elim kit does make it look quite a bit cleaner. I first saw it in a friend of mine's vette along w/yellow SR, black headers/valvecovers/elim kit etc... The whole engine was done up in black and yellow to go with the car (yellow vert). It was gorgeous!
But, I just am a pansie about not wanting the cops to suspect I have no emissions equipment hooked up. And I will check out the archives. Thanks!
:thumbs:


[Modified by USAsOnlyWay, 6:56 AM 3/22/2003]
Reply
Old Mar 22, 2003 | 10:05 AM
  #5  
6spd89's Avatar
6spd89
Burning Brakes
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 1,206
Likes: 0
From: USA USA
Cruise-In II Veteran
Default Re: Crazy air pump idea....possible? (USAsOnlyWay)

I gutted mine years ago w/ no probs. Take it apart ,knock out the cardboardlike wafers and clean it up . Then reinstall and free spin and it cost
me like NOTHIN!!!!!!
Matt
Reply
Old Mar 22, 2003 | 05:37 PM
  #6  
CFI-EFI's Avatar
CFI-EFI
Race Director
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 17,298
Likes: 33
From: The Top of Utah
Default Re: Crazy air pump idea....possible? (USAsOnlyWay)

This is a good project for when you have nothing else to do. It will lighten the load on your front tires by 3-4 ounces (the weight of the vanes in the pump) and reduce the parasitic accessory drive load by 3-5 hp. While your at it, you might consider removing the altenator. IT sucks more power than the smog pump, and the cops won't care about it. Then there's the water pump. There are electric water pumps. How about an electric driven altenator? Seriously, it could provide an very minor advantage. At least it'll keep you out of the bar for an afternoon. Have fun, and...

RACE ON!!!
Reply
Old Mar 22, 2003 | 08:48 PM
  #7  
USAsOnlyWay's Avatar
USAsOnlyWay
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 5,270
Likes: 3
From: Seattle Area WA
Default Re: Crazy air pump idea....possible? (CFI-EFI)

Unfortunately I have other stuff to do.. . .
But I am going to gut the air pump for sure....

The other stuff I have to do, my serpentine belt is off!!!! :confused: :confused:
Just on the AIR pump everywhere else is fine, it is threading one notch up and so it is off just a little....
how should I correct this?
Can I move the tensioner, reset it and see if that works?

Help!!! I know its OT but TIA!
Reply
Old Mar 22, 2003 | 09:11 PM
  #8  
VetteNoob's Avatar
VetteNoob
Le Mans Master
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 5,320
Likes: 4
From: Kyle TX (Because Mojo Made me fill it in)
Default Re: Crazy air pump idea....possible? (USAsOnlyWay)

Does the belt stay on correctly when you are doing normal driving and only comes off if you go for a few WOT runs? Mine did that on the AC compressor for some bizarre reason. I fixed it be going with the next smaller sized Gates belt. It was 5mm shorter. I had to loop it over the alt pulley since it was the smallest pulley, but I have not had a problem with it since. I did also replace the idler pulley at the same time since the idler pulley was near frozen. Im not saying that will fix the problem you have, but it helped mine. Good luck.
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

 Joe Kucinski
story-2

Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-3

Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

 Joe Kucinski
story-4

150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

 Joe Kucinski
story-7

Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

 Brett Foote
story-9

Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

 Michael S. Palmer
Old Mar 22, 2003 | 09:19 PM
  #9  
CFI-EFI's Avatar
CFI-EFI
Race Director
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 17,298
Likes: 33
From: The Top of Utah
Default Re: Crazy air pump idea....possible? (USAsOnlyWay)

You might want to make sure ALL the belt driven accessory bolts are tight. This includes the fan pulley nuts. Anything loose could throw off the belt alignment. I have had the bearings in the idler go bad. If the pulley has play, consider addressing that. Good luck, and...

RACE ON!!!

[EDIT]PS. Even with all the accessorys tight, a bad bearing in something other than the idler could cause an alignment problem, too. If needed a front bearing for that smog pump, ought to fairly inexpensive, and you'll have it apart, to boot.


[Modified by CFI-EFI, 7:26 PM 3/22/2003]
Reply
Old Mar 22, 2003 | 10:27 PM
  #10  
USAsOnlyWay's Avatar
USAsOnlyWay
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 5,270
Likes: 3
From: Seattle Area WA
Default Re: Crazy air pump idea....possible? (CFI-EFI)

Hmm, I am going to check all the bolts tonight. . .
and its like this all the time. . .
looks like I might be doing some repair/gutting. . .

Luckily though, the I am also putting the tranny in today so I am still not in too much of a rush to get it back out. . .

I'll get back to you guys on how things turn out tonight, thanks for all the help so far! :grouphug:
P.S. Really quite disturbing that that little smiley group is called "grouphug" I always thought it was huddle. . .well time to go look at car and feel manly again. . . :lol:
Reply
Old Mar 23, 2003 | 03:49 AM
  #11  
CentralCoaster's Avatar
CentralCoaster
Team Owner
 
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 24,337
Likes: 25
From: San Diego , CA Double Yellow DirtBags 1985..Z51..6-speed
Default Re: Crazy air pump idea....possible? (USAsOnlyWay)

Electrically driven alternator? I really hope that was a joke. :smash:

What effect will gutting the air pump have on emissions? I could use the search function... but


[Modified by CentralCoaster, 12:50 AM 3/23/2003]
Reply
Old Mar 23, 2003 | 06:51 AM
  #12  
darkredlt1's Avatar
darkredlt1
Instructor
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 170
Likes: 0
Default Re: Crazy air pump idea....possible? (USAsOnlyWay)

I believe it is Honda that that is getting triple use out of the starter. After you start, the device is electrically converted to an alternator and in high throttle positions, it reverses and contributes to the power demand.
Reply
Old Mar 24, 2003 | 03:17 AM
  #13  
USAsOnlyWay's Avatar
USAsOnlyWay
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 5,270
Likes: 3
From: Seattle Area WA
Default Re: Crazy air pump idea....possible? (darkredlt1)

I believe it is Honda that that is getting triple use out of the starter. After you start, the device is electrically converted to an alternator and in high throttle positions, it reverses and contributes to the power demand.
:lol: Thats a little too intense for me, didn't know that was for real though. . . interesting tid bit.

As for effect on emission, it would do nothing different than unplugging and disconnecting I would geuss. Just it would be hopefully just a free spinning pulley that is lighter than a non gutted not so free spinning one...see post above that mention the non-parasitic improvement.
Reply
Old Mar 24, 2003 | 08:35 AM
  #14  
arbee's Avatar
arbee
Melting Slicks
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 2,677
Likes: 811
From: Saskatoon Sask.
Default Re: Crazy air pump idea....possible? (USAsOnlyWay)

Unfortunately the laws of physics do not allow such a thing as an electrically driven alternator. You can't produce more electricity than it takes to turn it. If this were possible, electric cars would have been possible right after the Model T. In the case of the tri-mode Honda mentioned, it is still mechanically connected to the engines rotation much like the Volkswagon Beetle of years past which had a combo starter-generator.
Reply
Old Mar 24, 2003 | 12:18 PM
  #15  
Fatt Vette's Avatar
Fatt Vette
Racer
20 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 427
Likes: 0
From: Stillwater OK, Fun City USA
Default Re: Crazy air pump idea....possible? (USAsOnlyWay)

That is what I did with mine. One look at the price tag on that eliminator kit, and I figured gutting it is worth a try. I took the thing apart, took out the vanes, and reassembled. Works fine.

Matt
Reply
Old Mar 24, 2003 | 09:58 PM
  #16  
CFI-EFI's Avatar
CFI-EFI
Race Director
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 17,298
Likes: 33
From: The Top of Utah
Default Re: Crazy air pump idea....possible? (arbee)

Electrically driven alternator? I really hope that was a joke.
Unfortunately the laws of physics do not allow such a thing as an electrically driven alternator. You can't produce more electricity than it takes to turn it. If this were possible, electric cars would have been possible right after the Model T. In the case of the tri-mode Honda mentioned, it is still mechanically connected to the engines rotation much like the Volkswagon Beetle of years past which had a combo starter-generator.
Oh Oh! Look what I started! It WAS tongue in cheek. Hee Hee.

RACE ON!!!
Reply
Old Mar 24, 2003 | 10:24 PM
  #17  
VetNutJim's Avatar
VetNutJim
Safety Car
 
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 3,651
Likes: 5
From: Atlantis
Cruise-In I Veteran
Default Re: Crazy air pump idea....possible? (CFI-EFI)

If you don't KNOW the law would it work sort of like the bee and the hummingbird?

Just a thought.....
Tighten your seat belts!
We are approaching.....[b]perpetual motion /b]
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To Crazy air pump idea....possible?





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 11:02 AM.

story-0
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

Slideshow: 10 reasons why the C6 Z06 is still a performance benchmark after 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 17:20:09


VIEW MORE
story-1
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

Slideshow: How much horsepower every Corvette engine lost in 1972.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:54:53


VIEW MORE
story-2
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

Slideshow: How to Protect A Convertible Top: 10 DOs & DON'Ts

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-03 00:00:00


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

Slideshow: The 10 most explosive Corvettes ever built based on power-to-weight ratio.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-20 07:23:03


VIEW MORE
story-4
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-5
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

Slideshow: Ranking the top 10 Corvette engines by torque output.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-05 11:58:09


VIEW MORE
story-7
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

Slideshow: A Corvette pace car nearly matching IndyCar speeds sounds exaggerated, until you look at the numbers.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-04 20:03:36


VIEW MORE
story-8
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

Among a rather large group of them.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-04 13:56:44


VIEW MORE
story-9
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

Slideshow: the top 10 things Corvette owners want in the C9 Corvette

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-30 12:41:15


VIEW MORE