need for tcs

[wavbyby]

I just removed the engine from my '70 LS5-4speed and I am curently going through all the wiring while the engine is being rebuilt. I noticed that the TCS system is partialy disconnected and missing. How important is this component to the cars performance and operation. This is a 95% stock, snumbers car. Can someone help?

 

[Vettehead Mikey]

Agree with c5d.

Tell your shop not to deck your block! You'll lose all your stamp pad info and broachmarks!:eek

 

[GATOR454]

wavbyby, It looks like you are also missing the AIR pump and hoses.
The reason someone disabled your TCS and removed the AIR pump was to make the car go faster.
If your worried about NCRS points but you want the car to perform better, then hook up the TCS as original then plug the hole to the solenoid.
If your not worried about NCRS points tear it out you don't need it. I don't think one old car is going to destroy the environment. Anyway if your car melts the ice caps I'll have waterfront property.

BTW I really like your engine compartment.

Oh yea the haynes manual explains the system pretty good, if you have one it's on page 6-6

 

[wavbyby]

As far as I know, this LS5 was not equiped with A.I.R. I have read an TCS article on NCRS claiming to improve the idle?
Also, I have only seen these parts for sale on ebay.
Thanks for the tip on the block decking.

 

[Stallion]

I wouldn't think that a '70 would be full of emissions. Did they have anything of that sort?

 

[GATOR454]

Here is a 1970 LS6 CHEVELLE SS

I'm pretty sure that's an A.I.R. pump and air injectors feeding the exhaust manifold.

I don't think TCS would have any effect on idle since the vacuum advance would be connected to the ported vacuum on the carb. which would not have any vacuum at idle anyway. It's when you push the gas pedal that you would see the difference.

 

[Stallion]

Yes, that definitely looks like an A.I.R. pump. But why would a '70 have emissions on it? Is this when they started packing them with the ozone-protection nonsense?

 

[red70vette]

If it was originally a California car it should have an AIR pmp and assorted other pollution controls. If you are fortunate enough to have a car delivered in the rest of the real world you won't have most of the BS. Just a TCS switch and a PCV valve.

My TCS valve has been disconnected since I purchased the car and it runs fine. I still have the hardwear and electrical connections but they are not connected.

 

[GATOR454]

It all started with the 1965 Motor Vehicle Air Pollution Control Act an amendment to the 1963 Clean Air Act. It set the first federal emissions standards beginning with the 1968 models (which were the same standards California had set for their 1966 models).

The 1970 Clean Air Act gave use Unleaded Gasoline and eventually Catalitic Converters and is what killed the LS5 and ultimately killed the Big Block Corvette completely.

My bad about the 1970, I was misinformed.

 

[red70vette]

I don't have an AIR pump on my 70 and have never seen one here on the east coast. I checked the AIM and no reference of it under emissions controls. I believe this was a later adittion to emissions controls.

 

[Vettehead Mikey]

That would mean that all C3's from the 1969 model year on were originally equipped with A.I.R. pumps. If you don't have one then it has been removed.

Not entirely true. There's the odd exception to the rule, in that some engine and transmission options on certain year cars met pollution standards without needing an AIR pump, 1978 49-state L-48 with auto trans for example. Fooled me during a NCRS judging meet where I was convinced that the car should have one.

 

[Stallion]

Well...1978 L-48. Auto or 4-speed. My 4-speed doesn't have the pump either.

 

[gooney0]

As far as I know my 72 doesn't have one. I though the AIR pump started in 1973?


humm

Gööney0

 

[JohnZ]

A.I.R. pump usage on Corvettes started in 1966 on some California cars. Most 72's (except base 350/200hp Federal automatics and 4-speeds) had A.I.R.

TR, your '78 didn't come with an A.I.R. pump.

 

[wavbyby]

As I understand it, Red 70vette is correct only California cars were delivered with the A.I.R. option. The rest of us did not get that option.

 

[Vettehead Mikey]

As I understand it, Red 70vette is correct only California cars were delivered with the A.I.R. option. The rest of us did not get that option.

Not true either, as are most other 'blanket' statements. You really need to get into the AIM or NCRS books to see if your particular year/engine/transmission/delivery location combination required an AIR pump or not. There's very few C3 combos that did NOT have an AIR piump.

 

[JohnZ]

Here's a general summary of Corvette A.I.R. system usage - there are some special cases, but this pretty much covers it:

1966 - All California-delivered cars (except L-72)
1967 - All California-delivered cars.
1968-69 - All Corvettes, regardless of where delivered.
1970 - LT-1's
1971 - LT-1's and LS-6's
1972 - All except Federal base (L-48) auto and 4-speed.
1973-75 - All except '74 L-48 Federal automatics.
1976 - All California-delivered cars.
1977 - All California and High-Altitude cars.
1978-79 - All California and High-Altitude cars and all L-82's (L-82 wasn't available on California or High-Altitude cars in '78-'79).
1980-87 - All Corvettes.
1988-96 - All Corvettes (some used electric A.I.R. pumps)