smog removal and tab/tad help

Its been a loooong time, but I believe the back of my heads are plugged with brass pipe thread plugs, haha. Really, as long as the bypass on the EGR spacer is plugged (with a plate that can be bought from 5.0 Resto or Mustangs Unlimited, etc), I don't know that plugging the heads is even necessary.

Someone will chime in on this, I’m sure.

44 = Thermactor System Inoperative (Right side)

NikwoaC is confused about the difference between the EGR system and the Thermactor Air Injection system. Installing a block off plate on the EGR spacer will not do anything to affect the code 44 you have.

I don't remember whether "Right Side" means its the TAB or TAD part of the Thermactor system, but please read on before you decide to do anything like "ripping that smog junk off".

The Thermactor Air Injection system is made up of 2 solenoids, 2 valves, the smog pump of course, and two pipes.

From the smog pump there is a very short section of hose that connects to the first valve, called the Thermactor Air Bypass (TAB) Valve. Of the two valves, this one only has two large nipples on it, the other has three. The purpose of the TAB valve is to either vent the air from the smog pump to atmosphere, or allow it to pass on through to the next valve. From the TAB valve there is an S shaped hose that goes on up to the second valve, which is by the passenger side exhaust manifold/header. This second valve is the Thermactor Air Diverter Valve (TAD). It has 3 nipples. One nipple receives air from the TAB valve hose, and the other two are for diverting air either to the cylinder heads, OR down to the catalytic converters.

The TAD and TAB solenoids are mounted on the passenger side strut tower on a bracket, and are directly beneath yet another unrelated single solenoid for the EGR system. As I hope you might guess, each of the solenoids regulate their specific valve of the same name. They do this via vacuum, which is why there is a vacuum hose running to each of the valves.

Before you start thinking about disabling your thermactor air injection system, remember that if you still run catalytic converters, that you can damage the cats if they do not receive fresh air from the TAD valve. Keep that in mind before you start removing things.

I would check to see if any of the vacuum lines going to the TAB or TAD valves, or the TAB or TAD solenoids were broken, and if so, splice with rubber vacuum hose. I would also check the electric connectors on the two solenoids. That's a good place to start.

you can plug the heads with spark plugs, cut the bases off the existing tubing and flip them and bolt back on, or plug them with 5/8x11tpi ~1" long bolts.... carbon buildup may be an issue, but they will fit. it's not that hard. i just ran mine in like you would a tap, back and forth till they were set decent. i'm too lazy to try the the solenoid elim right now. i just ignore the codes...

I have the same code, to my knowledge it does not affect driveability or performance, only throws the code. I need to make the eliminators.