66 Toro AIR System -- friend or foe?

[tera155]

I have a 66 Toro that originally came from California. As a result, it has the AIR system on it for anti-pollution. I am attaching two photos for the members to see what the AIR system entails. The question for the members -- should I leave the AIR on or take it off.

On one hand, I like keeping it original -- on the other hand I live in Colorado where altitude is an issue. If I were to take off the AIR system what would be the recommendation on filling the holes in the heads? ARP bolts? And then you can see the pump which I assume would come off too and just get a new smaller fan belt. Rds, Thad Dupper

[Otto Skorzeny]

Remove that dog. You won't miss it and it's probably not working anyway.

[Otto Skorzeny]

Use regular pipe plugs to plug the holes. Probably 3/8" or 7/16" NPT.

[Otto Skorzeny]

One of the diagrams in the manual actually shows a threaded plug in the holes.

[Otto Skorzeny]

Without the AIR pump, just use the belts designed for the non AIR cars.

Which belt drives the AIR pump? On Cadillacs, the morons at GM decided to piggyback on the water pump belt. The AIR pump seizes up and kills the water pump, cooking your engine.

[Otto Skorzeny]

Just wondering, does your A.I.R. system work?

[Otto Skorzeny]

Here are A.I.R. plugs for a Corvette. I don't know if the threads are the same. I was told that the Olds are probably unique and may not be NPT either.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1966-1982-Corve ... vX&vxp=mtr

Here are some more.

https://www.paragoncorvette.com/p-35001 ... g-kit.aspx

[tera155]

Otto thanks for all the good info. to answer your questions:

1. I don't know how to tell if the AIR system is working -- the pump does turn.

2. The AIR pump is on the driver's side right below the ps pump. The belt goes around the harmonic balancer, the air pump, the ps pump and the water pump. The other belt is just for alternator (my car doesn't have ac).

3. On the bolts -- would you use permatex RTM or loctite on them (I assume teflon tape is a nogo).

Thanks, Thad

[Otto Skorzeny]

Did you already post pictures of your car? I don't remember. Do you plan on driving it like a regular car or just taking it to car shows once in a while? If it's going to see limited use and short pleasure trips, I'd leave the AIR system alone. it's unique, most people have never seen one, and it's authentic to the car.

If you're going to use the car regularly or take long trips, I'd carefully remove it and save it in a box or sell it to somebody who's restoring a California car.

Now, if you're taking it apart, I'd put thread sealer on them, not Loctite. It's a little tube of stuff I use on transmission cooler lines, etc.

Take one of the threaded tubes to the Ace Hardware and see if it's a known thread size.

[tera155]

No I only drive it very seldom -- about 500 miles a year