Thanks, and early '76 EGR valve questions...

Thanks to everyone who posted pictures of their 74 1/2 to 80 engine bays! In about a half hour today I pulled off the air pump, air injectors and gulp valve. Still runs! And to think I don't know a regular hammer from a Phillips head hammer...

Some questions:
1. Now that I pulled the air pump off, the water outlet elbow looks silly with the mounting post for the air pump. Will the earlier water outlet elbow (without the mounting post) fit the post '74 engine?

2. I'm not swapping out the Z/S carb with a Weber until next spring, so I'm stuck with the same manifold the car has now. I went to pull the EGR valve off tonight, and there are two holes below it into the intake manifold (did you know if you leave one of those holes unblocked and turn the engine over, flame shoots out the hole and melts your rubber glove right to your palm? Neat!). Anyone have a good solution or thoughts on making a blanking plate? Maybe a piece of thin steel and some gasket material?

Thanks again!

That is exactly what I did! Made a plate out of some scrap 14 ga. I had and made a gasket to fit under it. Ran it that way for about a year until I decided to go the Weber route.

I have an extra thermostat housing that I cut the arm off and am now in the process of shaping it up and polishing it to save the cost of buying a different one.

I'm going to cut mine as well. What did you use to cut it? I'm going to try it with a rotary tool. That should work don't you think?

Mick M.

I thought about cutting mine as well, but I decided against it. I want to make sure I can return the car to stock in case:

a. Some sharp-eyed mechanic at inspection time realizes I messed with the emissions controls.

b. I decide to sell, and the new buyer wants a car in original condition.

I used a vertical band saw to cut it but I did nick it a bit where I shouldn't have so will have to touch it up with TIG welding. I am using an air sander and a Dremel to finish it up. A rotary cut-off should work fine. If wanting to return the car to stock in the future, buy an extra housing at a swap meet.