Air Pump and Exhaust Manifolds

[Feltman]

Air Pump and Manifolds

I have searched the forum and have a couple of questions.

1. If removing the air pump and plugging all the lines, what effect does that have on the performance or engine operation....will there be a horsepower gain?

2. I took the cats off...will stock 80 exhaust manifolds work on an 81 if the air pum and all air lines are removed

3. Any special tools needed to remove the air pump?

Sorry if this is a duplication

PS....if replacing the stock (Rochester) carburator with a new Rochester, is it a bolt on and start up replacement, or will it need to be tuned


Any help will greatly be appreciated...

 

[Sensei]

I took mine off and plugged the lines with no problems. No special tools needed, but I did not get a noticable power increase until I got rid of the whole stock exhaust system and put on a set of shorty headers and 2.5" duals (no cats). The carb should be a bolt on if it is the same exact model. If you are tossing your old carb let me know, I'd like to have one for parts.

 

[Feltman]

Thanks Sensei--I plan on keeping the carb for the same reasons. Have a great day!!

 

[smithjw]

I removed my air pump and plugged all lines also. I'm sure there are HP gains but nothing that you would feel. You would have to dyno before and after to see. Makes sense that you gain a little as the engine no longer has to drive a belt and pulley. You would also gain a little by disconnecting and/or removing the AC if you have one.
You say you removed the 'cats'. Did you have more than one? Mine was plugged a while back and I replaced it with a high flow from random technology. That gave me some extra seat of the pants power I could feel because the original cat was so badly damaged that it was really robbing a lot of power.
Can't answer your manifold question. I would think that if you replaced the carb, you would need to have it tuned.

 

[CoachS]

80 manifolds will work on an 81.

If you replace your carb, are you keeping the ECM hooked up ? If not, you'll get more gains by adding a vacuum advanced distributer to the package.

 

[Feltman]

Thanks for all the responses.

1. I removed the stock exhaust and installed Mid America's "True Dual" exhaust system

2. Carburater is a NOS replacemnt quadrajet. I plan on keeping everything as stock as I can, since I don't want to remove the ECM and its componets.