I am having a discussion with my brother about removing the Air Injection Reactor (AIR) pump on the 75 Vette. I recently put side pipes on the vett so to my way of thinking I don't really need the AIR any more since the main benefit of the AIR system is to ensure the catalytic converters work right. My brother states that I should still keep the AIR system on the engine as it also helps when the car is cold.

Any thoughts on this subject would be greatly appreciated.

Kevin

All I can tell you is the AIR pump was missing off my '78 when I bought it and I went ahead and removed the rest of the system inclduing the EGR for it when I replaced the cat with a true dual exhaust. The only difference I noticed is the car ran better (the EGR was malfunctioning anyway) and ran a bit cooler. Cleaning up the appearance under the hood was a plus as well.

BTW - if you do remove the AIR...save all the parts. Those parts are going for some pretty fair $ for anyone restoring a car to original specs.   Gunslinger38926.7827199074

Take it all off, wrap it up nicely, put it in a box.
Then proceed to ask yourself why you've kept that crap for all these years!
G-slinger is right...any good, original smog equipment is like gold for Corvette restorers. A "correct" diverter valve is worth big bucks now...just think what it will be worth 10-20 years from now. Not to mention, if you ever decide to sell the car, having the orig. smog stuff will add to the value.

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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"

Let us know if it makes any difference.
I want to put true dual chamber exhaust, without any pollution junk, on mine as soon as she turns 25.

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The AIR system does help create a quicker warm up for the engine. 

The rich mixture required for cold operation does not completely burn.  The unburned fuel leave the cylinder and dumps into the exhaust manifold.  Here the AIR pump adds air into the manifolds.  The combination of fuel and oxygen causes the fuel to light in the very hot manifolds.  This does clean up cold emissions, but the resulting heat helps to warm up the cylinder heads and in turn the enigne faster than it would without the AIR. 

The difference is small.  Although it does warm up faster, most people won't notice the difference.   It is not really worth keeping the AIR for that reason alone.  It's too minor.

Other than that, with no converter, the AIR is of no use.  Do save the parts.  They are hard to find if you want to put it back.  Or maybe someone will need them and send you a few bucks.

Thanks for the info. The system is coming off.