Hi Vette Lovers!
Can any one tell me the real story on removal of air pump on my 81? Looks ez enough to do, plug headers, replace cat etc. But will this make my engine run hotter? Or miss up performance? I've head so many storys! Thanks in advance.
Roxy

Hi, roxysvette, I'm curious as to why you want to remove the air pump.

In any case, doing so WILL NOT make your engine run hotter. You can remove the distribution pipes from the exhaust manifolds and use pipe plugs to seal the holes in the runners. Or, you can remove the "nuts" from the distribution pipes, have them welded closed and use them. But whatever you do, be sure to save all the stuff you remove in case someone wants to return the car to stock someday.

The air pump is strictly an emission device. It will not affect the performance of the car at all when it is working correctly. IF it it blowing air up stream to the exhaust manifolds when the engine is fully warmed up, the engine will run hotter. Not good.
Up stream with an oxygen sensor will make it run rich.

Otherwise, it will have not affect on performance, except for the horsepower required to run it. Which is not much.

'81's have factory stainless shorty headers, and the AIR pump tubes are welded into the pipes as one unit. You would have to cut them off flush and have the holes filled in with stainless weld.
Those shorty headers are worth a few bucks. (My opinion) I would locate a set of old "ramhorn" manifolds with plugged up ports or no ports. They will fit in the same as the factory header. I did this switch over on mine before I went to full length headers.
Sarge

BTW, I have the set of "ramhorn" manifolds that came off of my car. They are plugged off and in good shape. If your interested let me know. I can send pics. And...they are even modified to fit a Vortec style head, if you go that route someday.

Hi Sarge,
Thanks for your advice. What modification I've made I kept the factory stuff. I'm interested in your plug manifords, what do you want for them? My reason for removing is less weight and more room under the hood, vette has air conditioning too.
Can you tell if I'll see more HP or smoother running?
Please send pics to: roxyfjlb@comcast.net
Thanks,
Roxy

You'll definitely have a lot more room under the hood. As far as saving weight, the "ramhorn" manifolds are slightly heavier.
Unless you are going to drag race the car, that small amount of weight is not going to make a big difference. Rule of thumb in racing. Every 100 lbs. off a car is worth about 1/10th of a second in 1/4 mile et's.
I will sent pics out later tonight.
Sarge

Roxy - you've got mail!

|UPDATED|10/31/2004 1:26:16 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|