Turns out the engine on the 1980 I bought was seized (no surprise there) so I purchased a used 12a.
The 12a I bought has the air pump and rats nest removed and everything already capped off. It did not come with a header though. Do I need to install the air pump off my old engine since I am going to have to use the thermal reactor with the new one for now?
Thanks

 

might as well... the reactor wont work unless you have the air pump

 

OK, but does that actually hurt anything? Other than emissions?

 

Just emissions...You don't even need the thermal to be honest...you can run the car without it..just need to be blocked off is all...

 

It would probably lead to premature burnout of the reactor inner shell or the front exhaust segment (called an "Air Duct") if yours is still stock; The airpump and ACV are designed to switch cooling air into the front feed tube of the reactor above around 3000 RPM; this air flows between the reactor inner and outer shell, thru the outer coaxial connection into the air duct, and then is stripped off just aft of the main bend & dumped out that long tube that goes out next to the muffler.

The air duct is welded together at the main bend; I've seen a number of them where the weld had failed and sometimes melted & burned away... spent most of last year looking for a good one, as they are smog-required here in Cali.

If you're not going to use the air pump, take it and the ACV off, block the ACV hole with a blockoff plate, and switch to a header and presilencer, or at least the 81-up manifold that doesn't need the cooling airflow..

 

umm, if you block off the thermal reactor, you'll be blocking the exhaust ports...

if you are running the thermal reactor you do need the air pump. without it, the reactor will overheat and crack.