just wanted some opinions. I'm not all that knowledgeable about cars, bit I was wondering...is it worth the time and effort to remove the "Rats Nest"?? Thanks for your imput guys

 

bump

 

Well it does simplify the engine control system, making it more reliable and easier to maintain. But if you have emissions testing, then you must keep it.

 

I don't have emissions control, but does it add any extra umph??

 

It simplifies the system, and you can remove your cat and straightpipe it.... Correct me if I'm wrong, but yeah, I think it actually *does* do some good whenit comes to oomph... but not having had the chance to try it yet, I dunno... Carl? Pratch?

 

how do you go about removing the rats nest?

 

Try right hrere this is the tutorial

http://maz_tutorials.totalimmage.com/

I read it yesterday, good luck...

 

When the rat's nest is functioning properly without any of the myriad of vacuum lines leaking, it doesn't affect performance in any appreciable way. The problem is that if any of it's many components has a problem, it can be quite hard to diagnose. Removing the rat's nest makes the motor "clean", virtually eliminating any possibility of vacuum leaks, faulty solenoids, etc. Makes it easier to tune the motor properly. My motor has one hose that goes from the nipple on the oil filler tube to the carbon canister in the aircleaner lid. There is a tee in the middle of that hose which goes to the tank purge line. That's it, nothing more. It's a beautiful thing!

 

I removed my Rats nest and it had better idle and seemed to have better response. I think in addition to the previous posters line you need to run vacuum to the distributer (advance and trailing advance), at least thats what I did.

 

I tried it both ways, and the car runs as good using just the mechanical advance, so I even omitted the vacuum advance lines to the distributor. Most people report that the engine idles better after the rast nest is removed, I believe that is due to a slight increase in signal suction.
When I pulled the rat's nest on my '80, I also installed a RB header and presilencer, ditching the airpump, ACV, heat exchanger, EGR valve, and the dreaded thermal reactor at that time. So the difference in performance was really too great to quantify the effects of removing the rat's nest by itself. All the stock emissions components were working perfectly on the car before I installed the header, it almost seemed a shame to change it as it's rare to find a totally original emissions setup in perfect working order.

 

Well My '84 GSL seems to have one that is completely intacted, and there does not seem to be any malfunctions or deminished performace.