emmision controls
New User
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 3
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emmision controls
would like to take all the emmission control junk off my '88 f250 351/auto. I assume that if I start just pulling hoses, etc. off it won't run. But, I also assume you can do this. Any ideas? Will it mess up the 'chip'? Will it run without changing out the chip or other things?
Postmaster
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 4,968
Likes: 3
From: So Cal
emmision controls
Unless you know what each system does and how removing it will affect the engine, you might actually get worse performance, assuming performance is what you are looking for.
Modern engines are designed to work best with the smog controls they have. The current crop of engines make more power, get better mileage and last longer than almost all the "Super car" engines of the 60s. For example the Corvette still uses essentially a small block Chevy, about 350 cubes, with tons of smog gear. It is far quicker and faster than almost all the Corvettes from the 60s with the exception of a few very specialized models. The Corvette engine also will not require you to mess with it every 5,000 to 12,000 miles for a tuneup, like the old models. Plus I think the current models get over 20mpg, something unheard of in the 60s for a performance car. And the exhaust is essentially soda water.
In my opinion, removing smog gear is often an attempt to hide something. I won't buy a used car that has had the gear removed, unless I understand exactly why it was removed. Also as mentioned unless you know what you are doing, you may not get the magical cure you wanted and you may wind up having all kinds of irritating little problems pop up. I am on a Chevy website where a lot of the members mess with the engines. Nearly all the people who complain about problems and major failures are also the ones who do the most mods.
I have "hotrodded" engines in the past when they were presmog and loved doing it, but I understood the tradeoffs and I was willing to put up with crummy mileage and watery eyes. I know modern engines can be modded with good results and still pass smog laws, but you need to know what to do. get one of the many "how to" books out there.
As far as removing gear, I have heard that removing the Cats, the airpump and blocking off the EGR are some of the safer mods, but many computers will complain, and like I said before, it may not run right.
Good Luck, it is fun, but be sure to study what you want to do.
Jim Henderson
Modern engines are designed to work best with the smog controls they have. The current crop of engines make more power, get better mileage and last longer than almost all the "Super car" engines of the 60s. For example the Corvette still uses essentially a small block Chevy, about 350 cubes, with tons of smog gear. It is far quicker and faster than almost all the Corvettes from the 60s with the exception of a few very specialized models. The Corvette engine also will not require you to mess with it every 5,000 to 12,000 miles for a tuneup, like the old models. Plus I think the current models get over 20mpg, something unheard of in the 60s for a performance car. And the exhaust is essentially soda water.
In my opinion, removing smog gear is often an attempt to hide something. I won't buy a used car that has had the gear removed, unless I understand exactly why it was removed. Also as mentioned unless you know what you are doing, you may not get the magical cure you wanted and you may wind up having all kinds of irritating little problems pop up. I am on a Chevy website where a lot of the members mess with the engines. Nearly all the people who complain about problems and major failures are also the ones who do the most mods.
I have "hotrodded" engines in the past when they were presmog and loved doing it, but I understood the tradeoffs and I was willing to put up with crummy mileage and watery eyes. I know modern engines can be modded with good results and still pass smog laws, but you need to know what to do. get one of the many "how to" books out there.
As far as removing gear, I have heard that removing the Cats, the airpump and blocking off the EGR are some of the safer mods, but many computers will complain, and like I said before, it may not run right.
Good Luck, it is fun, but be sure to study what you want to do.
Jim Henderson
