smog/air pump elimination on 5.0L
 

The air injection tube has rotted off my exhaust. So, I was thinking of eliminating the air pump all together. I have a Mustang eliminator pulley and bracket, but it doesn't look like it will fit.

Has anyone ever done this? Can I just remove it and get a shorter belt? Will the Mustang unit fit?

93 XLT 4x4 5.0L
Thanks for any help on this.

Has anyone ever replaced thier air tubes that go to the exhaust? I think the diverter valve is chirping, is this common?

i don't see why the mustang pulley wont fit. it should be the same. the only thing different on the truck engine should be the heads. you can get a shorter belt. everyone does it with the mustangs.

The Mustang pulley is smaller than the truck pulley. I've only held up and eye balled the bracket and it didn't look right. I guess I'll take a closer look as soon as this "winter" storm is past.

When people use shorter belts, do they just head to the parts store and try a few? I imagine the length changes quite a bit once an air pump or alternator is eliminated.

inski21:

Please keep us (me) udpated, as my smog pump just went, too. I want to do the same thing you do on a '95 and am deciding between trying to gut the pump and re-install and using a 'stang elimination pully (may require shorter belt). I won't be at it for a week or two, but any input/advice from your experience would be a huge help!

PS--do our smog pumps have any electrical connections? I don't think so, but I'm not totally sure.

Thanks, good luck.

-Scott

I'll keep this topic updated.
I have had expirience with this before on my 86 Mustang Gt. I siezed the pump while cleaning engine components during a complete engine rebuild. I wussed out and just got a new one($90). A buddy I used to work with has a very hi-po 93 Stang 5.0L and used to use the eliminator pulley I currently have. He now has no air pump eliminator. He said he had to buy a mess of Ford serp belts until he got one that was right. I'd like to avoid buying a load of belts.

The Mustang pulley is smaller than the truck, but I might be able to swap the pullies. The bracket the pully is on is cast aluminum- but rugged-so I cant just weld something on if it doesn't fit just right.

I'll try to get serious this weekend or sooner.

Not sure about the electrical connections. If the pump is gone there is alot of diverter tubes and valves and crap that can be canned. And I can finally plug that finger sized hole in my exhaust in between the 2 cats.

FWIW, your cats rely on getting air from your smog pump. If you remove your smog pump, you should remove your cats, too. If you don't, they won't get hot enough to do their job, and the end result will be them becoming clogged, blocking your exhaust. There really aren't any performance advantages to removing the smog pump. It's purely an appearance issue.

Take care,
-Chris

Yeah, I heard that about the cats. Would this still be a problem for aftermarket high-flow cats? For example, I didn't think that the bassani high-flow Y pipe w/cat had "pre-cats," heaters, whatever (designed to heat up the cat). Just curious, as they are going in relatively soon.

Oh yeah, I know you only gain 1/2 hp or so from removing/gutting the pump, I'm just after a solution that's cheaper than replacement--I don't want to buy a pump from the junkyard, and the dealer wants $250 (!). Are there other places to go for on OEM one?

later

scott

Hi flow cats won't suffer as quickly, but they will suffer. Your exhaust will end up being richer, and unburned fuel causes a reaction with the catalyst (sp?) in the cat, and causes it to melt together, clogging the exhaust. This is accelerated because with no pump, you're not supplying the extra air into the cat, which supplies oxygen, and thus raises the temp. Cats don't do squat below 750 degrees. So, the combination of a richer exhaust and cooler running cats eventually equal a clogged exhaust. If you elect to do this, you need to remove your EGR valve as well, because the EGR cools the combustion chamber, and eventually the exhaust. You will need to be running as hot as you can. If you are sold on removing your pump, I strongly suggest that you use an off road exhaust without any cats. It's much easier, and gives you less to worry about.

Take care,
-Chris

Gotcha. Thanks for the info. I think I could run a system without cats, as we have no emissions laws where I live, but I'm not totally sure about going sans cats. Looks like I might just shell out for a new pump. At least I know it'll bolt right on.

later

scott

FYI -I bought a remanufactured smog pump with a lifetime warranty for 39.99 at a local parts store.

how do you know when your pump is gone?

I know mine is going b/c whenever it engages, it makes a god-awful sound. The pulley is not seizing, but the bearings sound like a banshee.

later

scott

I paid $90 for my Mustang smog/air pump.

Yes, my plan is for shorty headers, 3" y-pipe, one gutted cat or hi-flow cat(2way,not 3way or air injected), then a 1 to 2 muffler w/ rear exit tails. And No pump. (aka offroad exhaust). State emission laws say I have to have a cat, whether it works or not isn't mentioned in the laws, hehehe

Or, if it is too big of a project I might just fix the tube that is broken.

3/2/02 Mustang eliminator pulley fits to block. Pulley is smaller. I fixed my AIR pipe by replacing it. I know this isn't as exciting as a hi-pro mod but it was the easiest (and cheapest) way for me to eliminate an exhaust leak.
AIR pump still there.
New AIR tube-$40.
No mods done reguarding AIR system.
Replacement AIR pumps are well under 100.
Consider yourself updated.

on ton trucks without a/c have an idler pulley that is the same size as the air pump pulley and they come with a decent bracket that is easy to mount with a little work
why not cut the side open on the cats and gut the insides out then weld the side closed that way they are there visibly but not operational or subject to clogging

This summer when I can lay on the ground w/out freezing I'll use the mustang eliminator bracket and "pull" the pulley off the air pump and use that on the elim bracket....

or...

Just remove the air pump and find a belt that will fit without any pulley there at all.
In May(my b-day) I'm getting Heddman headers and y-pipe, thats when the real work and mods will start.

I might consider looking at those pulleys too.

smog pump
 

I am also eliminating my smog pump.It useless and mine makes
noise as is very annoying.Just take the pump off and get a mustang belt that is made for the 5.0 without the air pump.

Re: smog pump
 

Just make sure your cat is removed first. if you don't, it WILL clog, and your truck won't go anywhere.

Take care,
-Chris

Remove your air pump. Get a piece of string, or rope. Then route it around all your pulleys etc mark the rope where it meets. Pull it out and line the ends back up, measure it and go to your Ford dealer and get a new serpetine belt.

Now that this is taken care of you will probably need a new exhaust from the manifolds to your current exhaust, and you will need a new "y" pipe built. This is if you decide not to run cats.

The smog pump went out of my '85 but it did not have catalatic converters when we bought it so we just yanked it out of there and ran a shorter belt. Then again didn't have any problems because that pickup was carbeurated.