Not sure if this has been noted, but that pipe injects air generated by the air pump into the outer chamber of the thermo reactor. So air flows into the thermo reactor pushing exhaust away from the joint in question.

 

Is your engine bay noisy ? It shouldn't make much noise up front, If it does your thermal reactor gasket is shot and maybe that's why their sniffer picked the leak up there .

 

Interesting, well to note, the air pump isn't hooked up to anything currently, there is no belt that leads to it.

Should I reconnect it? It's been disconnected since I got the car. The car currently does run and drive reliably as well.

 

If you have the thermal reactor, you really do need the air pump. It helps keep temps down and burn the leftover fuel in the exhaust. That in itself could be a cause of the smell.

 

I'm surprised your car runs well as the thermal reactor preety much forced your car to re combust semi spent gasses , the air pump gives it oxygen.

 

Oh man, what started out as buying some gaskets around the tail lights has turned into something way deeper.

I just got home and inspected the air pump and its completely seized, cannot budge it a single bit, is it toast? There is a replacement pump on rockauto I could purchase but I fear if i begin taking things apart I'll run into more problems rather than fixing the problems.

Should I ignore the air pump and attempt to remove the thermal reactor and replace the exhaust manifold? or remove the TR and cap it off? I've seen some discussion on both scenarios in the forums, but I'd love to hear further thoughts on it. I like driving the car more than tinkering with it.

 

You can take to bolts off the backside of the air pump and see if you can free it up. Air pumps can be found for a reasonable price used. Any 1979-1985 12A air pump will work. I have some spare ones.