I removed mine from our motorhome. Kind of depends on your state inspection requirements and what you are willing/want to do to your exhaust system. My AIR system was failing and KY doesn't have emissions testing so I removed the AIR system (top pump, left lower pump for belt routing purposes) along with the valves and manifolds and replaced everything with headers and a free flow exhaust.
Hello David Alan,
the smog pumps job is to inject air into the exhaust stream as it leaves the exhaust port actually injecting into the port thru the tubes in the exhaust manifold there by helping to burn off unburned hydrocarbons that were not
burned completely in the combustion process .So from a smog stand point
it helps pretty good ,but not great ,and add on for these non fuel injected
engines to help with the smog .I just wanted to explain the reason that its on your engine in the first place .Anyway ,personall decision as to remove it
or not as its a required emissions device legally ,but if your going headers
and such and it for some reason doesn't make it back on .........well it won't
hurt anything ,the headers will scavange the exhaust out as well as providing
better torque and help the power ,abit more rumble for the exhaust tone.
the only other thought is do you have emissions testing where you live? and
some parts are hard to get ,although the smog pump is quite easy to find
so best not to throw anything away ,keep the brackets and all the smog hardware should it somwhow find its way in the garage ...... lastely it
doesn't hurt to leave it in place and it does help emissions .
Removal of the pump is a personal choice; however, it is required in all 50 states. That said, if you don't remove the exaust manifolds and simply plug the injection tube fittings you are setting yourself up for a fall in the unlikely event some legal force looks under your engine cowl. To clean up the engine compartment properly and reduce the failure potential of an off-chance inspection you need non-smog headers without the AIR fittings. Make sure there are no decals in any engine (air cleaner comes to mind) components indicating an AIR injection system.
Bottom line: it affects the overall running of the engine little, keeps the air a little cleaner, and can be a sore spot for some MV inspector.
The decision is an exercise left up to the reader.
Take care,
__________________ Old trucks and old trailers . . . a comfortable combination! AIR 1446
W5CDR A-6E All Weather Attack Driver, BUFF USN Aircraft Maintenance Officer, Ret. '91 Suburban R-2500 w/BBC '78 Honda GL-1000 '72 Triumph T-100R Daytona
David, as Florida did away with it's annual vehicle inspection process years ago, you're in the clear... just don't move to an inspection state. That said most of the inspection states are only going to test via the tail pipe probe for your exhaust system.
I removed my pump, manifolds and air cleaner in favor of more room in the engine bay, better torque and mileage, and more air into the fuel/air system.
Check out my photos of the air cleaner redo.
__________________
Glen Coombe AIR #8416
1984 28' Funeral Coach
Golf Professional Sales Rolling Showroom
"I'm not an expert. But I did sleep in an Airstream last night."
David, as Florida did away with it's annual vehicle inspection process years ago, you're in the clear... just don't move to an inspection state. That said most of the inspection states are only going to test via the tail pipe probe for your exhaust system.
I removed my pump, manifolds and air cleaner in favor of more room in the engine bay, better torque and mileage, and more air into the fuel/air system.
Check out my photos of the air cleaner redo.
I have been admiring your air supply system for some time resulting in my interest in removing the air pump. My unit runs fine now and is stock but when my 1st engine replacement comes due I want to make afew mods - headers for sure and better breathing -
My smog pump is still there because I agree with its original design purpose.
At present, it is only feeding the driver's side exhaust manifold because, when the passenger side's manifold was replaced, all the smog fittings sheared off, and Genuine GM's parts desk did not list a new AIR distribution manifold part number for an '84 454.
I bought my MH in Washington and it did not have the smog stuff due to no inpection there. I brought it to California and had it pass the inspection the first time (CA is a smog state). Two years later, I went to get it smogged again and the company I had gone to before was out of business, so I went elsewhere. They looked under the "hood" and saw the decal on the air cleaner. They would not smog it until I got all the parts back on! It took several weeks to find them and several hundred dollars to do it. I had heard that it affects engine performance somewhat but I don't notice any yet. I was pissed that they made me do it due to the age of the unit, but it was law. The mechanic who did it all for me was so good that he's still my main man for engine stuff. I have headers on mine but they have the AIR nozzles on them for the smog equipment. I would keep it on for resale value if someone in a smog state would want it in the future. If not, keep ALL the parts for future install.
We were on the way to wild adventures in Valdosta- shake down number 2- when we heard this squeeling noise from the doghouse.
Turns out the belt that runs H20, Alternator and smog pump broke.
The smog pump had locked up. I totally agree about leaving on the pump to conform to its original design, however mine is causing problems.
I tried a shorter belt (15460) bypassing the smog pump, but it's pulley wheel is slightly in the way by about 1/8 inch. So tried removing the pulley wheel. In loosenening the 3 bolts I got the pulley wheel rotating. Back on with the 15500 belt, but the smog pump rattles and threatens to lock up again.
Any suggestions to it's stepwise removal for fixing?
My prior mechanical background is on motorcycles where every thing is on the outside. Getting to this 454 engine has had me in contortions through the doghouse, on the floor looking up through tiny gaps with rust and stuff falling on my face trying to adjust all these bolts (1/2" 7,16" and 10mm!) and my arms look like they've been playing hardball with the cats all day! Oh for the love of aluminum.
The "Smog Pump" is actually called The A.I.R pump (Air Injected Reactor) Is used to pump fresh air into the exhaust. This will burn most of the un-burnt fuel that is present at the exhaust port. The pump freezing up is a very common failure. I have seen the belt fail and wrap up the fan and launch it through the radiator, very bad thing to happen. The pump can be removed with out causing damage to the engine, it will actually improve your mileage. The down side is it is part of the emmission sytem of the vehicle and is not leagle to remove emmissions equipment in some states. The pump is available from parts houses and is easy to replace. When you do replace it you will want to pull the tubing between the pump and injector manifold and check for carbon clogging. Replace all hoses and pull the injector manifold and clean. At the same time pull the EGR valve and check it for carbon, replace as necessary. Your PCV valve is also proably clogged so replace it. All of these items seem to go at the same time so look closely at them.
Ill add a bit to Garys post ,in that if you pull the air pump off and leave it ,
in time the exhaust that now is going into the little tubes in the exhaust manifolds that normally have posative pressure from the air pump,will be damaged by the hot exhaust ,more specifically the air injection manifolds
air check valve .It takes time for this to happen ,but it will destroy the valve and manifold tubes ,but if you have to travel without the air pump on the engine even for an extended period of time ,make sure you get the air pump reinstalled when you can .
here are napa part #'s for belts w & w/o smog pump running if anyone needs:
#25-060560: cc/wp/alt & smog pump
#25-060523: with smog pump in place but bypassed
on our 89 345 w/454 the smog pump froze up while on the road so i bypassed the pump using the shorter belt. napa had a pump in stock which i purchased but probably wont install until next inspection is due. thinking i'm getting a little better mpg is prolonging putting the new pump on.
Hi, there are a few different things to concider if you remove the "Smog Pump" also known as "Thermactor". If you remove the pump, you also need to remove everything connected to the pump. As Scott was saying, in time the exhaust will get past the check valve, but what he didn't mention is that many vehicles have burned up from the exhaust heat leaking past the check valves and catching plug wires, heater hoses, vacuum lines, and anything else on fire. I did a complete removal many years ago, but was lucky because when I sold the vehicle it was going to Germany and the buyer didn't care about smog systems. This is something to consider if you ever plan on selling the vehicle; You the seller, not the buyer, are responsible to make the vehicle comply with the smog laws and "as is" won't get you off the hook.
I installed fuel injection on my 454. Called the salesman about where all the smog tubes went. He said, "Your engine is fuel injected, and injected engines don't have all those smog tubes." Got that junk in a box in the barn.
mel
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AIR #8416
Hi, there are a few different things to concider if you remove the "Smog Pump" also known as "Thermactor". If you remove the pump, you also need to remove everything connected to the pump. As Scott was saying, in time the exhaust will get past the check valve, but what he didn't mention is that many vehicles have burned up from the exhaust heat leaking past the check valves and catching plug wires, heater hoses, vacuum lines, and anything else on fire. I did a complete removal many years ago, but was lucky because when I sold the vehicle it was going to Germany and the buyer didn't care about smog systems. This is something to consider if you ever plan on selling the vehicle; You the seller, not the buyer, are responsible to make the vehicle comply with the smog laws and "as is" won't get you off the hook.
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