It all started when I was cruising up a mountain and I started hearing a "ticking" sound coming from the engine.  I am familiar with exhaust manifold issues.  When I opened the hood, though, what I found was the distribution valve assy and the rubber hose leading to it melted into a lump.  The check valve on the passenger side burned open, so hot exhaust made it upstream.

 

Since I no longer have to pass emmisions inspections I decided to remove all the air-related stuff rather than fix it.  In my mind, it takes up room, is inneficient 1980's technology, and provides very little.  I think it was there because the government said so, regardless of the benefits.  I found 1/2" threaded pipe caps fit right on the ends of the manifold air tubes when I removed the check valves.  I cut the tube leading to the cat close to the cat, then crimped and sealed the end.  I removed the pump, the melted valve body, all the hoses and piping.  All of it was in pretty bad shape, anyway.  Later that summer, the driver's side air injection tube blew open on acceleration.  It just blew competely open at the inside two ports.  I cut the tubes with a bolt cutter, then crimped the stubs on the end tubes.  I applied some hi-temp epoxy on the ends to be sure.  For the middle two tubes, which broke off even with the manifold, I drove in a self-tapping screw in each hole, and sealed around the heads with the hi-temp epoxy.

 

No noises, no fumes, more room under the hood, and easier access to engine components.  Once I replaced my belt-driven fan with a dual electric kit, and tossed the fan shroud, it started looking more like an engine, and less like a government project.  I tell ya, it just gets me off fixing, modifying, and driving this thing.

Can you post a picture of the results?

 

Steve

 

Steve

Thanks for the kind words. The engine bay is mostly stock, just prettied up a little. It still can use some more detailing.

 

That hose in the middle is supposed to be attached to that rusted part. (click here to see close-up)

 

That pipe runs down and back to the Cat. It might have broke off when I was changing my exhaust and the pipe was just hanging.

Or it might have broke when I was down the the National Corvette Museum last fall. That's when my "Check Engine" light started coming on.

Hopefully I can get a replacement part and that will take care of the problem.

 

Now the 64 thousand dollar question.

 

What is the technical name for that part?