Hello,
I own a 76 el camino with a 350 in it and just bought a new intake manifold by professional products (going for the 2bbl to 4bbl swap). Low and behold the dang thing (intake manifold) doesnt have anyplace to mount one of my vacuum things. At least i believe it has something to do with vacuum. If anyone could help me identify this "object" on my intake manifold it would help. It is positioned just to the left of my carb and shaped a bit like a mushroom (okay.. okay.. sounds stupid and makes me sound like an idiot.. but this car is older than I am and my father sticks to novas) Can i go without this "thing"? or do i have to purchase a new intake manifold.. (i've already gone through 4.. three of which were found to be cracked after bead blasting.. and the last bought brand new)

thanks for the help
worldrallyoffrd

Hello Worldrallyoffrd,
The magic mushroom to which you refer sounds like the EGR (exhaust gas recirculation?) valve. I'm not yet certain how it works, but I think it has something to do with getting heat to your intake to help the engine run until it warms up well. I've removed them from stock intakes where the thing wasn't even hooked up when I got the engine. Anyway, the vehicle ran well without it.
It's possible that you may have problems passing inspection if your state requires you to have all of your emissions equipment.
Good luck! I also purchased one of the Professional Products intakes without the EGR provision. It's not yet ready to run :( since I'm working on restoring the whole truck. I'm eager to see how it will run! :-D

thanks for your help... i realize how stupid this question probably was.. but now i may be able to fix it.. you said it ran well without it?.. Maybe i can just leave it unhooked.. Anyone else have any suggestions? I dont have any emission tests planned :) so I dont see why i couldnt just go without it..
Does it have any effect on performance? also my father came to a revelation last night and said it was my vacuum advance diaphram.. does this change anything?

Worldrallyoffrd

Good morning WROR!
The vacuum advance is also mushroom shaped but it'll be attached to the distributor instead of the intake. When you said it's on the left side of the carburetor, I assume you mean it's on the passenger side behind your carb choke.
As far as performance, I don't think you'll either gain or lose performance by removing it but it may affect emissions while your car is warming up.
That's my two cents.
Like WROR, I'm interested in hearing other's suggestions / comments. By the way, I believe all questions are great as long as they're sincere!

Thanks for all of your help and suggestions.. i'll be checking this post for a while for anyone else's opinions.. they are always welcome

Worldrallyoffrd

you can get along fine with out a egr, but if you are in a emissions county it has to be there.

Tommy, does N. C. test the egr valve for proper operation or do they just verify that it is there with the vacuum hoses attached?

Lets get past the Smog crap. You don't need it there is a Rolling 25 year rule on emissions testing and your truck is old enough to not need emissions testing. I am pretty sure all states have this rule.

You need a Vacuum port behind the carb on the Carb Plate for the Brake Booster, there will also be a vacuum "T" that will go to the Modulator on the transmission, and to the pot on the fender well. Your Vacuum advance for the Dist. will come from the carb and is probably best if you used a "Non-Ported" source, (lower ports on the front of the Carb.).

If you have a stock exhaust manifold then you have a Line going to a diaphram (EFR) on the exhaust manifold from a Sensor on the Thermostat Housing and one from the front port of the Carb to the Charcoal Canister opposite side and one to the Thermostat housing.

If your dad knows Nova's then a SBC is an SBC. They will all run in a basic configuration.

First is to figure out if your state does follow the Rolling 25 year rule. If so get rid of the garbage you don't need.

EGR, Thermostatic switch on the Thermostat, remove the Pot on the Exhaust. you just need the AC/ Heat Vacuum source (The "T") the Modulator source, same "T", PCV, advance on the dist, the Brake Booster and the Canister. All still require the Stock Breather to be there during inspection but the Heat riser doesn't have to be hooked up on the breather (Vacuum pot). I think I covered all locations. There are a boat load of them and really you need only a couple to have a engine that runs good.

I'd 4f the exhaust manifolds for headers too. Your engine can't breath real good with those restricted rough manifolds. But don't expect a whole lot from just headers. The heads have weak tiny springs and small valves so you can only do so much with that. Adding a 4bbl will give some but you can end up with a situation where your burning rich all the time after the switch. It not all that uncommon.

Bottom line is if you don't need it then dispose of it. The more vacuum operated garbage you have on the engine the more problems you could end up with. Smog (Air) pumps are useless also. I believe the EGR is to recirculate the Exhaust gases back into he intake to be burnt again.

Think about that for a while..... Carbon Monoxide is burnt gases so running them trough the combustion chamber again is not doing anything any good. The "Air" pump was to "Inject air" into the Exhaust manifold so that the Tester didn't measure the true level of O2 and what have you that really didn't get burnt the first time. A facade basically to please EPA.

I could be a little off on the EGR but as far as being needed by the engine its not. It clogs up the intake and carbons up everything. It is my understanding that the "Needed" heat for warm ups was from the Heat Riser off the manifold to the Breather not the EGR but I could be wrong I don't use or work on that piece I throw them away.

My 78 has to have the egr installed but it's not checked for operation.

alright... did a bit more research and figured it out.. thanks for all the help.. never heard of that rolling 25 year rule.. i'll have to double check that..

thanks again

WROR

Lets get past the Smog crap. You don't need it there is a Rolling 25 year rule on emissions testing and your truck is old enough to not need emissions testing. I am pretty sure all states have this rule.
In Rhode Island:

1.3. Exemptions
The following vehicles shall be exempt from the emissions inspection portion of these regulations:

1.3.1 any model year vehicle 25 years old or older from the requirement to obtain repairs in order to comply, but such vehicles must undergo an emissions inspection.

In other words, they have to be emissions inspected. But, if they fail they don't have to fix it to pass. Weird huh? :roll:

Here is what I found on my quick search of Michigan Emissions Requirements. It seems that some parts of Michigan require emissions testing, some do not.

The emissions requirements for west Michigan are covered in Michigan Statutes - §§ 324.6301 - 324.6321.

§ 324.6306 – “To enforce this section, the department shall implement and administer a motor vehicle emissions inspection and maintenance program designed to meet the performance standards for a motor vehicle emissions inspection and maintenance program as established by the United States environmental protection agency in 40 C.F.R. 51.351 in the counties of Kent, Ottawa, and Muskegon in those areas that are not in attainment of the national ambient air quality standards for ozone.”

§ 324.6311 – Exempt Vehicles
Sec. 6311. The following vehicles are exempt from the inspection requirements of this part:
(a) Motor vehicles that are exempted by rules promulgated by the department because of prohibitive inspection problems or inappropriateness for inspection.

(b) A motor vehicle manufactured before the 1975 model year.

(c) Vehicles that are licensed as historic vehicles under section 803a of the Michigan vehicle code, Act No. 300 of the Public Acts of 1949, being section 257.803a of the Michigan Compiled Laws.

(d) A motor vehicle that has as its only fuel source an alternative fuel.

(e) A motorcycle.

(f) A motor vehicle used for covert monitoring of inspection facilities.

(g) A new motor vehicle, immediately after issuance of the vehicle's first title until the year of the next biennial inspection for the vehicle model year according to section 6306(5).


The emissions requirements for southeast Michigan are located in §§ 324.6501 – 324.6539

§ 324.6507 – Subsection (1) “The department may implement and administer only under the conditions set forth in subsection (2) an emissions inspection test program designed to meet the performance standards for a motor vehicle emissions testing program as established by the United States environmental protection agency in 40 C.F.R. 51.352 in the counties of Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb, using bar 90 testing equipment, including a visual antitampering check, or an equivalent system approved by the United States environmental protection agency.”
Subsection (2) “The decentralized test and repair program described in subsection (1) shall only be implemented as a contingency measure included in the maintenance plan approved by the United States environmental protection agency as part of the redesignation as an ozone attainment area. The contingency measure shall include authority to expand the program to Washtenaw county in addition to the counties described in subsection (1) if other measures are not sufficient to meet the maintenance plan.”

§ 324.6512 – Exempt Vehicles

The following vehicles are exempt from the inspection requirements of this part:

(a) Motor vehicles that are exempted by rules promulgated by the department because of prohibitive inspection problems or inappropriateness for inspection.

(b) A motor vehicle manufactured before the 1975 model year.

(c) A motor vehicle that has as its only fuel source compressed natural gas, diesel fuel, propane, electric power, or any other source as defined by rule promulgated by the department.

(d) A vehicle that is licensed as a historic vehicle under section 803a of the Michigan vehicle code, Act No. 300 of the Public Acts of 1949, being section 257.803a of the Michigan Compiled Laws.

(e) A motorcycle.

(f) A motor vehicle used for covert monitoring of inspection facilities.

(g) A new motor vehicle, immediately after issuance of the vehicle's first title until the next annual inspection for the vehicle model year.

§ 324.6513. (1) The motor vehicles subject to this part and the rules promulgated under this part include the following:

(a) Each registered motor vehicle for the model years 1975 and later that is owned by a person whose permanent place of residence is in a county subject to this part.

(b) All motor vehicles for the model years 1975 and later that belong to a fleet and that are predominately garaged, operated, or maintained in a county subject to this part.



Now, the Historic Vehicle laws for Michigan are covered in §257.20a of the Michigan Compiled Laws.

This section states: “‘Historic vehicle’ means a vehicle which is over 25 years old, and which is owned solely as a collector's item and for participation in club activities, exhibitions, tours, parades, and similar uses, including mechanical testing, but is not used for general transportation.


So let’s recap, if you have Historical Vehicle registration you’re vehicle is exempt from emissions testing if you live in a county which requires it. If you do not have Historical Vehicle registration, then your vehicle must either be brand new or built before the 1975 model year.

The counties that seem to be included in the emissions testing seem to be Kent, Ottawa, Muskegon, Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb and possibly Washtenaw County.

***Disclaimer – All the above information is complete and accurate to the best of my knowledge and ability. It is strongly advised that if you have any questions regarding the actual emissions requirements for the county in which you live that you contact the department of transportation.***

alright... did a bit more research and figured it out.. thanks for all the help.. never heard of that rolling 25 year rule.. i'll have to double check that..

thanks again

WROR

As Ernie pointed out it basically exempts the older vehicles from emissions testing in some states and I suppose other it exempts the owner form have to sped a ton of cash to bring the emissions stuff up to date. Most refer to it is the rolling 25 year rule. Well those that I associate with do or just "The 25 Year Rule".

Here in Texas some counties require emissions testing and some don't, generally those are the unincorporated Farm or rule communities/counties. And EPA says that if you have a vehicle that requires emissions testing you can't upgrade it with a newer setup that could produce better output it has to be in stock configuration including the exhaust systems.

I asked a long time ago if they allowed me to put "True Dual Exhausts with Dual Cats on my 80. They told me NO! GM didn't certify that vehicle with duals and you can't have them on it. So much for contacting them.

I find it strange that an owner can't go out and buy an LS1 with all the emissions stuff it has (none really) and its computer controlled ignition / fuel injection and they wouldn't rather you have that in your vehicle as opposed to some dilapidated 305 with a POS electronic Q-Jet that really didn't do anything beneficial for the environment.

But then I don't make the rules.