smog pump question..

[1988ssp50]

When i put on my O/R h-pipe a while back, i cut and plugged the tube coming from the pipe to the smog pump. I have been driving the car with that hose and check valve just hanging off the back of the smog pump with the rest of the smog pump plumbing still hooked up.(pipes that go to rear of heads). Will this cause any drivability problems? Is it hurting anything by not being connected to the exhaust? What is the purpose of the system? I know this is a dumb question, but thanks for your help!
-Chris

 

[Daggar]

The pump provides clean air to the catalysts so that they can do their job better. If you're running stock cats, you run the risk of excessive heating of the catalytic converters by not having the pump hooked up. It should not however, damage the pump. I have seized up a pump by having it all hooked up and short belting it (skipping over the smog pump pulley) but having it just spinning won't cause it any harm.

 

[Rock777]

So with an o/r pipe, would it hurt anything if I cut the pipe going to the midpipe and then clamped both sides. I have to remove my x-pipe soon and don't have a welder, will it hurt anything?

 

[Daggar]

You don't even really need to close off the smog pump's output pipe. You can leave the thing open and let it pump to atmosphere. That's how I left mine while I lived in Delaware so that I could easily swap my stock H-pipe in for inspections every 2 years.

 

[vristang]

I would think you would be better off with the output of the pump left open. If it is plugged there would be more resistance seen by the pump, resulting in more drag on the crank, and shortening the life of the pump. When the pump seizes it will destroy the belt.

That's just my opinion, I could be wrong.