Early last month I bought an '85 GSL-SE cheap off a guy who was trying to hot rod it. After spending nearly four bills on replacing the springs he cut to lower the car (I was shocked to find only three coils left on the springs at all four corners) with all new Eibach coil overs, poly bushings and the like. Now I don't need the neck brace to ride. Next big project I tackled was the irregular idle surges. I worked those out with tuning the throttle sensor, rheostat and AAS. Unfortunately once I got those right (I think?) the car started backfiring very badly on deceleration. After much reading and research I got the idea of hooking back up the air pump (another teenage hot rod idea I inherited.) Once I did that and re-tuned the fuel/air and shot the timing everything seemed normal.

I guess my question is, does my particular FI and exhaust system require the air pump to run properly? I had always thrown emissions stuff away on piston pushers before and everything got better not worse.
Am I doomed to run emissions equipment just to drive the car without making everyone on the sidewalk dive for cover?

 

No. I ran my beloved and much missed SE with the fantabulous Racing Beat performance exhaust system including header, presilencer, and power pulse muffler, and it came with a block-off plate to remove the airpump with no averse effects. I did pick up gobs of power, though - racing beat claims about a 25hp gain and it seems likely, after feeling the difference.

 

You need to retain the airpump if you are running catalytic converters.

 

Block off plate? Link?

Zachstylez

 

Zachstylez - I'm not sure what you're asking?

I do have one Cat in the system. Haynes and Chilton tell me I'm supposed to have three. Two pre-cats and the main unit. I only have the main cat.

What can I do to optimize this system? Sounds like I'm stuck with the air pump for now right?

BTW I live in an emissions test free zone. Anything goes.

 

That's simple, ditch the cat and then the airpump.

 

What is that? Is there a link to a pic or something?

Zachstylez