Im running an off road H for now, might get a catted something later if they start doing testing here, and was thinking about dumping the smog pump. Would there be any problems doing this or is it as easy as unbolting it and putting on a new belt?
You need to get a smog pump idler pulley, to take the place of the pump. This will work better than a shorter belt. There are also metal tubes, that go to the back of each head, that will need to be removed, or at least capped off. Finally, there is a the tube that goes to your exhaust pipe, that will need to be trimmed and capped off. I know that these tubes can be simply left in place, but that is just taking the easy way out.
easy way out(probably best way) is go to the hardware store and buy a pipe cap threaded same size as the metal tube with the nut, extending by the passanger side. No need to hassle with trying to remove the dang crossover tube from the heads. Use I shorted belt. Persnally. I am running a 73" belt with underdrive pullies, stock water pump pullie and a sn95 3g Alt, and the belt itself is still plenty loose. The tensioner range is barely pointing into the looser side. My car definitely feels a little more responsive, however I also eliminated the stock fan and went with an sn95 E-fan with a controller since I did the 3G swap at the same time.
What do you think will happen? I'll give you a hint.............
NOTHING!
The pump won't be turning, and the check valves keep exhaust gas from coming back from the heads or the h pipe. No harm will be done.
Now it's common knowledge that you should have a functional smog pump if you are still running cats because they may plug up without fresh air being pumped into them....... but I personally have been daily driving one of my '86 Capris with cats and no smog pump for over 10 years with no problems with the cats. So you decide.
God man, just get a shorter belt and re-route it and be done.... you're over thinking this.
It's how my car has been setup for the last year. I have cats on my car, so i rebuilt my smog pump, blasted it, painted it and remounted it with all new hoses.
I just haven't bought the belt yet to get it functional. The entire setup weighs 6.5 pounds...and prob takes 0.25HP to spin.
The best way to remove the pump is a short belt. No need for an idler pulley UNLESS you are running a supercharger kit that requires stock belt running. No point in introducing a potential pulley failure by running an idler pulley.
The cost is the same...belt vs idler pulley, but less inherent risk with a short belt vs an aftermarket idler pulley.
It's how my car has been setup for the last year. I have cats on my car, so i rebuilt my smog pump, blasted it, painted it and remounted it with all new hoses.
I just haven't bought the belt yet to get it functional. The entire setup weighs 6.5 pounds...and prob takes 0.25HP to spin.
The best way to remove the pump is a short belt. No need for an idler pulley UNLESS you are running a supercharger kit that requires stock belt running. No point in introducing a potential pulley failure by running an idler pulley.
The cost is the same...belt vs idler pulley, but less inherent risk with a short belt vs an aftermarket idler pulley.
for some reason i was thinking the pump was like 20 pounds, if its only 6-7 pounds and requires that low power to turn it i may not even mess with it and turn to the AC delete that ive been wanting to do. AC has never worked on the car and it always seems to be in the way.