68 Smog Pump

[Kurt B.]

Was this pump used on any other GM vehicle in that time period?
Is there any chance that I might find one in a recycle (junk) yard from another 68 vehicle?
I was quoted a price of $1800.00 and since I can't afford a divorce right now I wanted to try and find one in a junk yard.
I know the plastic pulley should be white and the holes in the pulley should be square. What else should I look for? Are there specific part numbers and date codes I need to be aware of? Just thought I would take a chance and try to find one but want to make sure I look for something that is facotry correct for my car. (L79 small block)
Thank you in advance,
Kurt

[Joe L.]

Re: 68 Smog Pump

Kurt-----

$1800!!!!!!! For just the pump? The 1968 Corvette AIR pump was used on virtually every 1968 Chevrolet model that was equipped with the AIR system. By-and-large this was all manual transmission models, although some automatic-equipped models were included, too.

The pump is NOT rare, at all. In fact, go down to your friendly auto parts store and order an A-1 Cardone brand rebuilt pump of their number 32-105. Chances are VERY great that you'll have exactly what you need. Cost? About 50 bucks + about a 10 buck core charge. Plus, it will be rebuilt and carry a 1 year warranty.

You'll likely have to detail the pump yourself. That means painting the rear plate low gloss black and changing the centrifugal filter ("fan") from black to white. Also, the pump you'll get may have a bead blasted case which won't be the original finish which was a smooth aluminum die casting.

Now, if you're talking about a COMPLETE 1968 AIR system, that's another story entirely. The diverter valve is quite rare and difficult to find. The hoses are available in reproduction from Dr. Rebuild. The anti back-flow valves are not that hard to find in used/restored condition (about 50 bucks, each, restored and replated). The pump bracket is a Corvette-only piece, but they are not too hard to find. They appear all the time on eBay in good used condition and usually sell for about $50-100.

As I say, the hardest part of the system to come up with is the diverter valve. The rest is pretty much a "piece of cake".

[Kurt B.]

Re: 68 Smog Pump

Joe,
Thanks for the reply.
The only part I have is the mounting bracket, I have two of those. Is the pump date coded in any way or have an numbers on it for identifcation?
When you say local parts store, is there any particular chain you would recommend that would carry this Cardone brand of pump? (NAPA, AutoZone, CAP are all we have here in Massachusetts.
Also, how do I go about getting the white centrifugal filter so I can change it out if I find a pump. Who sells the filter with the correct square rather than round holes?
Thanks as always for your help,
Kurt

[Mark #28455]

Like Joe says

The pump is easy - I went to the local Advance Auto Parts and bought 2 that were rebuilt. Both had vintage date codes - one about April 1968, the other like Sept 1968 - can't believe my luck, both are acceptable dates for my cars!

There is a small rectangular boss cast into the pump body, about 1/4" x 1 3/4" with a machined semicircle on it. For the 1968 model year, the date was stamped on the cast boss near the machined semicircle, for the 1969 model year, it was stamped in the machined area. The date is Julian, for example 12381Y means the 123rd day of 1968, 1st shift, pump type "Y". The "Y" type pump has the pressure relief valve pressed into the pump casting. That is the 1968 style which was also used on the 1969 L88. The 1969 style pump is apparently harder to get. My parts store doesn't have them.

All the rebuilt pumps have the wrong filter, but you can get the "correct" white one from shops like Paragon for about $75.

Mark

[Terry F.]

Re: 68 Smog Pump

The pump bracket is being reproduced now. Not sure if they guy is selling to catalogs or not but they are being made and sold on ebay. Terry

[Jim T.]

Re: 68 Smog Pump

Kurt I bought a replacement air injector pump to use on my 68 from Auto Zone. Looks just like the original one I removed,I will sell you the original one $1800.00 and it has the original white filter with since new dirt etc. for the aged look. Not really, but I did keep it.