Re: Air Injection pump.

[Godfrey DiGiorgi <ramarren@domain.elided>]

The exhaust air injection itself has an effect on an engine's power 
production insofar as the injectors in the exhaust manifold tend to 
reduce the size of the exhaust port by some amount and the additional air 
forced into the exhaust stream tends to reduce flow a little further. The 
injection of fresh air prolongs the burn, however, and allows the mixture 
to be run a little richer. It will also allow the catalytic converter to 
function more efficiently as it raises the exhaust temperature and leans 
it out ... catcons do nothing until they are warmed up thoroughly and too 
rich a mixture at the catcon rapidly clogs it and destroys its function. 

Adding the belt and driving the airpump will likely not make a heck of a 
lot of difference to the power. The reasons for the '76-79 models low 
power output are the low compression pistons, very mild cams, lean 
mixtures set by the injection pump, and terrible OEM header and 
restrictive OEM catcon. 

Godfrey

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