I recently acquired a mostly original '72 LT1 Coupe - and I'm loving it! I've been perusing various forums trying to better understand the A.I.R. system/smog pump - which my car does not have. It's listed in the NCRS Corvette Specification Guide as an added-cost option in 1972 (item K19 which seems to have been ordered/installed on 3088 Coupes that model year). I've got a great deal of original documentation on my car, including the dealer order form and the tank sticker, but there's no line item for the A.I.R. However, I can see plugs where it would've mounted to the exhaust manifolds. So my question is did my car arrive from the factory with the A.I.R. system (I've read some articles stating that all Corvettes except exports had that system installed at the factory)? Or did it not? My car was ordered by the original purchaser who at the time was stationed overseas with a military branch, but delivery was taken at a Chevy dealer in St. Louis adjacent to the assembly plant. I'd like to return my car to something close to its original form and I can source a proper smog system from a reputable source, but not sure if my car even came with one in the first place. What say the experts? Thx in advance for your input.
Corvette Black Book shows K19 as a no cost option on 3513 cars.
There used to be a guy from Arkansas that would bring his Steel Cities Gray LT-1 coupe to the Lone Star Classic show here in DFW. He always maintained that he bought the car all original from the first owner and it never had an air pump.
Not sure but I think it was a '72.
Manifolds had the threaded holes for the AIR tubes regardless of the presence of the smog system. The holes were pugged with fittings.
Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56
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"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"