I was installing a set of twin EGTs for the race car and I noticed this open area below the carb. Straight back from that is a bunch of black soot on the firewall. So, I assume this is somehow emissions related? Pardon my ignorance.

Being that this is not a street car - what should I do with this?

A. Cap it off
B. Route it under the car
C. Route it where its supposed to go (wherever that may be?!)

 

That is the air outlet port that would normally go to the catalytic converter. Just cap it off.

 

It looks to me like that is your hook up for one of the lines running to yout cat. In which case, yes its emissions related and yes you should block it off.

*edit* doh, doc beat me to it

 

Thanks!

If I block it off - this shouldnt create any sort of backpressure internally or otherwise bad performance?

 

You mentioned that this is your race car. If so I assume you are not running catalytic converters? If you don't have that line hooked up to your catalytic converter it will cause the cat to clog up and fail, causing problems.

If your cars running without the cats your good to go block it off.

 

It has Zero effect on the running of the motor.

 

Yes - zero cats, so I'll block it off.

Thanks for the assistance on this. I've got a 4 day driver's school starting this Thur - so I really appreciate the timely help.

Thanks!

 

You have already blocked off the other end of the passage, but it is still allowing exhaust to leak. Likely due to either no gasket, or a bad gasket under the ACV blockoff plate (Big blue plate visible in the pics).
Blocking it off will have no effect on the engine.

 

Wulff -

I havent checked for soot around the other passage, but I'll look it over and see if its leaking. And maybe replace the gasket. Its good to know blocking off the smaller passage wont hinder performance.