smog pump

[mayesdl]

I have a 1968 f100 with a 240 original engine. I am new to this site but have been reading and learning alot. My question is what is the smog pump I think setting above the alternator do? It is driven by a belt from the engine. Do I need it or is it just using my hp. If I remove do I remove the tube that runs along the head and cap the hole? Once it gone is there any adjustment that need to be made? Any suggestions would be appreciated.

[fordman]

it isnt needed. unless you are in a state that requires smogging your truck to pass the tests. the smog pump i think takes the exhaust and reintrodues it into the air intake for the engine. so that less bad exhaust emmisions will escape.

[Eric L]

what it does is .. pumps air into the exhaust to help burn any unburned fuel before it get into the atmosphere causing all the critters to die and global warming blah blah blah

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secondary_air_injection

doesn't hurt much power wise.. but you dont "really" need it either.

odd though, all 3 of my '71-'72 california 6's dont have smog (air) pumps. you sure its original?

[mayesdl]

Many thanks for the information. No smog pump required in the state I live in, Georgia. My 1968 was my dad's. He brought it in 1969 from a neighbor friend with 1,500 miles. Dad never drove the old truck much so I got it a couple of years ago with 39,000 miles. Had to do some work on it (raditor, water pump, plugs, wiring, fuel pump, hoses, etc. but have it running now. I am reading and learning a lot about my truck from this website. The truck has a 240 with three speed manual shift on the column. No power of any kind not even a radio. I understand why dad did not drive it, no power steering. I am planning to fix it up and add a couple of items like radio and power steering. The best I can figure is it has a 3.50 ring and pinion gear. However, it seems the engine is running fast on the interstate at 60 to 65. Any suggestions on a better gear for highway driving?

[cdeal28078]

Did they even use smog pumps back then? Maybe it is a newer engine?
clint

[Hawkrod]

68's do use a smog pump system if they had a stick shift. It was standard on all 68's no matter where they were built of shipped to. It just "was". It does not burn any noticable power as it is just a low pressure pump that introduces cooler fresh air into the hot exhast stream allowing any hydrocarbons to be consumed. Study's and adyno tests show less than 5hp usage at over 5000 RPM so around town in might cost you 1 or 2 HP! There is a big upside as it does actually work and in CA it is illegal to add them to a pollution controlled motor vehicle as it hides alot of misadjustment and wear! Basically if your engine is not performing properly a smog pump can hide it from the machine! If an car/engine was designed with it originally it must be there but if you put one on a car/engine that did not have one it is illegal. Now, having written all of that it is up to you to decide if you want to remove it or not but it will not affect anything at all. If anybody has any extra smog parts and wants to sell them, I am always buying. I buy hoses, brackets pulleys (especially V* water pump pulleys), smog rails etc... just about anything. Hawkrod