I was able to find out that the Hedman Exhaust company makes separate smog tube kits.
You drill a hole in each of the header’s runner-tubes, then weld the smog tube kit to it and attach the hose to the smog pump. I bought ‘em on Ebay for $10 bucks. Now I have to find a shop who can do a real good welding job, because I fear if those welds ever break, raw exhaust flame could shoot-out and start a fire. I contacted a few exhaust shops, but they wont guarantee anything. I was then thinking of attaching those tubes using screw-together connections, like the OEM factory tubes are screwed into the GM iron manifolds. But fabricating that is even more complicated. So I put the project on hold for now.
Here’s the deal. My 1980 vehicle was designed to pass federal emissions at no more than 500 parts per million of HC. And it always did. I could even disconnect ALL the pollution equip, with the exception of the Cat converter and still pass with 475. Then about 1995, the state of NJ (where I live) decided to LOWER the minimum to 300!. After the I had to re-connect the smog pump and was able to pass at 295ppm.
But it turns out the smog pump actually does the most amount of cleaning, for the least amount of power draw. It pumps fresh ait directly at the exhaust flame, making it very hot (like adding oxygen to a welder) this vaporizes any unburnt fuel particles. It also helps the Cat converter work more efficiently too. (I also use a hi-flow performance Cat, that’s not very restrictive). And, unlike an AC compressor, the smog pump is very easy to turn. Just running that pump lowers the emissions by almost 200ppm! So if I pump fresh air into the exhaust, I can get away with neutralizing the more power-draining devices like the EGR, timing delay, lower compression, etc. So that’s why I want to keep the Air Injection System.
Ok, since my last post, I also installed a NEW 4bbl carburetor & manifold. Its one of those “50 state legal” combos from Edelbrock. I now put-out only 65ppm! I want my local private inspection mechanic to see if I can now run lower than the 300ppm minimum WITHOUT the smog pump. Then I can use the headers without having to drill them for the smog tubes. But he doesn’t want to venture to the grey area of what’s marginally legal.
So that’s where I stand so far?