A.I.R. VEHICLES

[Tom S.]

I have a 69 L-46, all numbers match except alternator,intake and carburator. The exhaust manifolds do not have any plugs or holes for the piping for a air system.I cannot read the part # on the ex manifold, but in my judging manual if I read it correctly all 69's had an air system.I know it was common to take these off as I had a 69 El camino that I removed it from and put pipe plugs in the holes.I find no evidence of this car having an air system.please advise!
p.s. I am trying to get everything back to origonal, De buubazized !

tHANKS IN ADVANCE Tom

[Harmon C.]

Re: A.I.R. VEHICLES

The emission label under the hood usally will say A.I.R.equipped if it is required. You are correct the TIM&JG says 100% air in 68-69. Lyle

[Rob A.]

Re: A.I.R. VEHICLES

If you're looking for AIR parts, manifolds, etc. try J&D in Bellflower CA., they have a yard full of them. 800-838-8353

[Jim T.]

Re: A.I.R. VEHICLES

Might check out Auto Zone for a rebuilt AIR air pump. I picked up replacement for my original owner 68's air pump for a reasonable price and it matches the original one that came my car.

[Don Z.]

Re: A.I.R. VEHICLES

Do you know if J & D in Bellflower, Ca has a Web page?

[Rob A.]

Re: A.I.R. VEHICLES

That I don't know, but they have an incredible yard of rust-free, original parts.

[Gregory G.]

Re: A.I.R. VEHICLES

Call John Greenhoe's Corvette Supplies out of Ohio excellent parts inventory excellent quality.

[Tom S.]

Re: A.I.R. VEHICLES

Lyle
I checked the emmisions sticker under the hood, it says nothing about air pumps or the lines or different timing due to a pump.I geuss bubba did a good job striping it because I can not find a trace of smog equipment anywhere. Thanks for all the response everyone.

Tom

[Chuck S.]

Re: A.I.R. VEHICLES

Tom, other sources confirm that 69s, even the base engine, had A.I.R.

Your exhaust manifold casting numbers should be 3872765 (LH) and 3932461 (RH). The fact that your car has another intake and carburetor (assuming they are GM parts) may indicate that a former owner had a donor parts source; it would be interesting to see if your exhaust manifold and intake PNs match with a later year that didn't use A.I.R. After 69, and through 72, LT-1s were the only small blocks that used A.I.R. for Fed emissions.

[Joe L.]

Re: A.I.R. VEHICLES

Tom-----

I can absolutely assure you that ALL 1969 Corvettes were equipped with AIR. If this car does not have it, regardless of how original it might look, someone's been there before and removed it. That could have included changing the exhaust manifolds, too. In fact, if the manifolds do not have AIR fittings, then someone DEFINITELY DID change them, at some point. Period!

One thing to check for: 1969 Corvettes with base engine, L-46, and L-36 used an external fuel filter, a GF-432, which was mounted to a bracket which attached near the AIR pump bracket. On small blocks, if the AIR pump bracket is removed, then the filter and its bracket just kind of "hang out there" in a manner that GM would NEVER have used in PRODUCTION. So, check for the presence of the filter and bracket AND for a correct, FACTORY-LIKE CONFIGURED fuel line from the pump to the carburetor. Of all the folks that insisted to me that there were some 1969s built without AIR, NO ONE has ever shown me a factory-like fuel line configured for use without the AIR pump bracket.

While AIR was used for all 1969 Corvettes (and, 1968's, too), it was NOT used for all 1968-69 models of other Chevrolets. This fact creates some of the confusion. For other Chevrolet models, generally those equipped with manual transmission had AIR and those equipped with automatic transmissions had the "controlled combustion system" for exhaust emissions control.

[Paul B.]

Re: A.I.R. VEHICLES

These manifolds also could have come from a '74 L-48 AUTOMATIC car(no factory A.I.R.)or like a '78/'79 L-48 automatic which did not have "A.I.R." Would be curious to see if "your" manifolds had a "pad" or "boss" where the A.I.R. fitting hole would have been tapped OR maybe they are pre-'68 manifolds?

[Tom S.]

Re: A.I.R. VEHICLES

I think they are pre-68, the intake is 66-67 327-350hp, so i'm thinking the ex manifolds might be the same.

Tom