air pump

[redws6]

is there any benefit of removing the A.I.R system. dont you need that for emissions?

[MurphysLaw]

you really dont need it...you can get it fix by reprogramming your car, you'll also need some plugs in the exhaust manifolds at the top where the tubes inject "fresh" air into the manifolds.

[Rob B (shoebox)]

Whether you can remove it, depends on the emissions testing laws in your area.

[Injuneer]

There is absoutely no performance gain from removing the AIR pump system, other than saving about 7# of weight. It only runs at startup to help the cat(s) warm up faster. It's not likely that your local rolling emissions check would include a cold start. But if they do a "visual" inspection for emissions equipment, you could fail. If they do an OBD-II ALDL connector test, in lieu of a dyno test, it will fail for the missing AIR system, which sets codes and the SES light. You would have to have the system "programmed out" of the PCM, and you might still get into trouble depending on how many "system readiness" failures they allow.

When my car was street driven, even at the 800HP level, I ran full emissions, including dual cats, AIR, EGR, EEC and closed PCV. It did not hurt the car's performance in any way.

[LS1 TA]

I removed everything that had anything to do with emmisions and I noticed a considerable gain. Of course I live in new mexico, and they have no emissions laws here. I took of the air pump, exaust manifolds, catalytic converters, etc,etc. This didn't piss my computer off or anything, well except for the short time I ran it without the O2 sensor.

[Jeff_in_Atl]

I removed everything that had anything to do with emmisions and I noticed a considerable gain. Of course I live in new mexico, and they have no emissions laws here. I took of the air pump, exaust manifolds, catalytic converters, etc,etc. This didn't piss my computer off or anything, well except for the short time I ran it without the O2 sensor.

And the worst smog problem on the planet.

[Injuneer]

I removed everything that had anything to do with emmisions and I noticed a considerable gain. Of course I live in new mexico, and they have no emissions laws here. I took of the air pump, exaust manifolds, catalytic converters, etc,etc. This didn't piss my computer off or anything, well except for the short time I ran it without the O2 sensor.

3rd Gens and 4th Gens may be different. He's asking about, and my response was about 4th Gen LT1's. My data is based on dyno testing of my engine, both on an engine dyno and chasis dyno. Also checked performance with a Vericom. What basis do you have for seeing a "considerable gain"? Dyno test? Drag strip times? The ever reliable SOTP? Exactly how much HP gain did you see?

The computers have become much more sophisticated than the one in your 3rd Gen. Much harder to beat them. And, catalytic convertors have reached the point where they produce minimal pressure loss, and with proper location can actually enhance the performance of the exhaust system. Even with the best headers with the correct selection of primary and collector lengths, the system needs an expansion chamber to decouple the headers from the balance of the exhaust system. The cat can provide that. The guys at Mufflex exhaust did a pair of high flow cats for a buddy of mine, to replace the "off road" pipes on his 98 LS1 T/A. He picked up 2 MPH, with the cats in place.

While New Mexico may have "no emissions laws", there are Federal laws that apply to the entire country. Its your choice.... hopefully your dearest family members aren't in the car behind you breathing your exhaust .

[LS1 TA]

That's the down side to living in New Mexico. While there are no real state emissions laws, there are also no places around to have a dyno test done, or any other kind of tests for that matter. Kind of primative out here as far as that kind of stuff is concerned. I guess I contribute the "considerable gain" statement based on cars that I raced before and after I replaced my engine and took of all off the emmisions parts. I'm plannng on going to the track here in a month or so when it opens to get a more accurate idea of the gains.
This is also a pain here because the nearest "legal" drag strip is 180 miles away.

[redws6]

can anyone suggest a good pair of headers for my car, im tryin to keep it dual cat, just so i wont have any inspection headaches.

[MurphysLaw]

well...theres a few ways around that "federal" thing. I have no emissions, or any of that stuff and I live in NC where they do the OBDII testing where you can have 2 out of the 5 (i think theres 5) emissions not working properly. So I said screw it, paid for the car in full and then got a show car registration and tags. So the ONLY thing I have to pass is the safety test. I can run straight pipes, cats, no cats, etc...Theres ALWAYS a loop hole somewhere. I dont drive the car but 40 miles a year. Hopefully maybe a little more this year but we'll see.

About the headers, it all depends on where you live. Some states WILL check the location of you cats. If they have been relocated, you will fail. If you are indeed able to relocate them then there are a few that still allow you to keep emissions.

If you want long tubes, then Jet Hot makes Hooker style headers with provisions for AIR. SLP will keep cats in place, and also have the AIR hook ups. What kind are you looking for?? LTs or shorties??

[DeWynter]

Third gens will see a gain as the AIR pump runs non stop and as they get older they become harder to turn as the filter never gets repalced and they work harder. I pulled all the AIR stuff off of mine and it works great and I still get a A1 rating at the emissions test (optional).

[redws6]

well...theres a few ways around that "federal" thing. I have no emissions, or any of that stuff and I live in NC where they do the OBDII testing where you can have 2 out of the 5 (i think theres 5) emissions not working properly. So I said screw it, paid for the car in full and then got a show car registration and tags. So the ONLY thing I have to pass is the safety test. I can run straight pipes, cats, no cats, etc...Theres ALWAYS a loop hole somewhere. I dont drive the car but 40 miles a year. Hopefully maybe a little more this year but we'll see.

About the headers, it all depends on where you live. Some states WILL check the location of you cats. If they have been relocated, you will fail. If you are indeed able to relocate them then there are a few that still allow you to keep emissions.

If you want long tubes, then Jet Hot makes Hooker style headers with provisions for AIR. SLP will keep cats in place, and also have the AIR hook ups. What kind are you looking for?? LTs or shorties??

im tryin to get LTs.

[Injuneer]

well...theres a few ways around that "federal" thing....

Yeh.... I'm not too stupid to know that. You missed the point. The emissions stuff is there for a reason. I'm old enough to remember when the average car got 10mpg and poured out pollution. I had both parents die from lung cancer.

I've taken the position, for my own car, that it will comply with the intent of the requirements. When it can't perform well enough and still comply, it will be (and was) removed from the public streets. My personal view.... you can have yours. But just don't think I do what I do because I'm too stupid to figure out there are ways around it.

[MurphysLaw]

is it a daily driver? i would go with the new kook stepped headers if you had the money. I "hear" they are pretty nice, personally havent seen them. I have Hooker Super Comp LTs on my 1996 right now and they are pretty nice too. Everyone LOVES the plug access, I cant get to a few of mine but I bought this little rachet that fits the plugs and it works ok.

the reason I was asking if it was a daily driver or not is because daily drivers MUST have ceramic coated headers. I can see on a car that gets driven 40 miles a year not getting coated but not a daily driver.

Fred, yeah ummm, I think I did miss the point. I was giving another route that not a lot of people know about. Hell, I didnt even know that so I got it and now I can drive the car to the track and then race if I wanted to. I wasnt calling you stupid or anything like that just giving out information to someone who would want a way to "work" around emission laws. I know what its like being young and not having a lot of money but still wanted to "trick" out their car. I'm sure you might have been the same way. Again, the DMV told me I could do this so I did. Its not a whos smarter or whos more dumb, just tellin the guy that there are other options out there.

[DeWynter]

the reason I was asking if it was a daily driver or not is because daily drivers MUST have ceramic coated headers.

I would disagree with this statement. Cars have come with cast Iron manifolds for years. The only difference between bare manifolds and headers is that headers heat up faster, due to the thickness of the material. With an average commute of one hour to work the temp difference under hood is going to be negligible compared to a stock manifold. The heat inside the manifold is no different than a header, it’s just the difference in time it takes to heat soak the metal. The reason coated headers are cooler is the ceramic which reflects the heat back into the header. A header with coating on the outside only will still be cooler but not to the same extent as a fully coated header (inside and out) as the heat will still be allowed to soak into the actual metal of the header. Yes the outside coating will help reduce radiant heat but its really the reflective properties that gain you all the reductions in heat under hood.