Remove smog pump?

[Denny]

I am rebuilding the top end of a 72 240Z engine. I have removed all the equipment off the block and am cleaning it for painting. (I noticed after cleaning the grease off that the block is a light blue color - I never knew that!) I have an E31 head rebuilt and ready to put on.

The last major work I had done on the car was when the Wizard of Z's (Riverside, CA) was still in business before he retired. The Wizard did a marvelous job on the engine, it really purred! Since I didn't need to smog the car any longer because of its age, the Wizard asked if I wanted the smog tube hooked back up to the intake manifold. He said it would give me more power if I didn't, so I said no, give me the power.

More than 10 years later, the engine has a blown head gasket, which is the reason I am working on it now. Since the Wizard is no longer there and to save money, I am doing it myself.

The question I have is, is there a reason to put the smog pump back on when I get ready to put it back together? If not, should I just plug the hole from the hose from the smog pump to the air intake? (That's what the Wizard did on the intake manifold.)

Thanks!

[Gary in NJ]

The question I have is, is there a reason to put the smog pump back on when I get ready to put it back together?

No

should I just plug the hole from the hose from the smog pump to the air intake?

Short answer, yes. I'd take the time to remove and plug the entire system.

[ZCurves]

NO!

Look for any other easy MODs to do as you reassemble!

:classic:

[rtaylor]

You just may want to consider the environment before pulling the smog pump.

[ZCurves]

You just may want to consider the environment before pulling the smog pump.

That is a good point, but since the smog pump had been disconnected for the last 10 years and it is no longer required by law, it seems more prudent to remove it.

A well tuned car, running today's modern fuels is likely to be easier on the environment than when the Z was new.

Here in TX, if your HC's are too high, you don't pass inspection no matter how old the car.

[Inf]

Here in TX, if your HC's are too high, you don't pass inspection no matter how old the car.

My 240 has never been subject to emissions testing in the years I've owned it. All they do at inspection is make sure all my basic safety equipment works -- seat belts, brakes, indicator lights, horn, etc.

Not sure where you've been taking your car for inspections, but the DMV says any car older than 24 years in Texas is an "antique" and exempt from emissions testing. Maybe you should drive out of Harris County (?) for your inspections.

In all counties, cars older than 24 years are considered antique and are exempt from emissions testing.

FWIW, I dumped all my smog equipment years ago and haven't looked back. That hardware was heavy enough to make for a battleship anchor. I eventually installed the MSA A/C kit, making up the difference in weight, I suppose.

[Jack T]

I have taken my Z to several places here in Spring and never been subjected to an emmissions test as well (or even a visual under the hood). When I first got the Z it ran extremely rich and burned oil because the valve seals were dried out; hard to believe they gave it a sticker. It runs much cleaner now... regular use, new plugs, adjusted valves/timing, electronic ignition, Z Theraphy carbs, etc. and all the smog stuff is now gone.

[ZCurves]

Inf & Jack, you are correct. I had that problem with an old Cadillac, the inspector was a real arsehole - super critical. I did find out that if your car is smoking too much, they give you some crap. Not too many problems with the Z though (it's all rebuilt).

[Z train]

The OP is in Kalifornia.It is ILLEGAL to remove ANY smog gear.It must be on the vehicle & working.The only exemption comes is from the testing.

And the smog pump does nothing.

[Walter Moore]

You just may want to consider the environment before pulling the smog pump.

Without a catalytic converter the air reactor is mostly just window dressing. I have searched and never been able to find any reputable source that can document that the things did anything meaningful to reduce emissions. (Other than dilute the exhaust with fresh air to give the appearance of doing SOMETHING about air pollution.) Not all cars from that era even had an air reactor pump. (All Z's apparently did, but I personally owned three other early 70's cars that came from the factory without this oddity.)

On the other hand, they were pulled off and thrown away with such abandon that they may be collector's items. You may want to hang on to it as a conversation piece.

The air reactor on my car was missing when I bought the car, and I wouldn't even know where to find one if I wanted to replace it.

[Inf]

...Other than dilute the exhaust with fresh air to give the appearance of doing SOMETHING about air pollution...

I think the idea is to mix some air (that still has oxygen) in with the hot (low-oxygen) exhaust gases, so any uncombusted fuel can burn off in the exhaust manifold (?)

Someone had posted this in a previous debate about the smog pump. Not sure how that works in practice, it would rely on the exhaust gas + fresh air mixture or manifold still being hot enough to autoignite whatever is leftover in the exhaust.