So back to the new to me Buick. I will just attach some picks I guess. This is a California car for sure and I really dont have much of a clue what they were trying to do with all this junk on the motor. The thing seems to run ok, especially once your off idle. This Home Depot valve really has me bugged, what are they trying to do with that? What is that thing piped in behind the carb? And what is with all that water works going to the right side exhaust manifold? Thanks for the help. I am afraid I am not going to like these answers. Jay
I'll start with the 'Home Depot' valve--it looks like for some reason owner wanted to shut off water flow to the heater core (maybe the factory heater control valve wouldn't close) so this was installed. As to the other stuff, it looks like a repair of factory smog stuff that injects air into the exhaust to dilute it, a system that lasted into the '80s or '90s on a lot of stuff. Maybe? Pretty car, by the way. Patrick
Thanks for the reply. The Home Depot valve looks like it is on the return side maybe of the heater core as the heater control valve looks like it is still in play. So maybe the heater control valve works and the brass valve is off because the heater core leaks? I havent tried to move either one. Its an A/C car, just how hard is it to change the heater core in that thing? So just what is that thing behind the carb? What does it do? Same with all the piping to the exhaust manifold, I assume it is to cool the manifold? But I dont think there was on on the left side? They were pumping air in the manifold to finish burning the unburned gasses and I remember the manifolds getting red hot and staying that way and most of that piping rotted off in short order because of the heat. Was this to counter act that? The air pump is locked up on this car, so the there is no belt on it. Thanks again Oh, Yeah. I got suckered in too. Its like a woman, it was pretty from five foot away but when I took it home and had to keep it... Not so pretty any-more. Jay
What really looks the worst is the collapsed PCV hose. Looks like they used Fuel line hose and not the correct PCV hose that is reinforced to pervent the hose from collapsing . There is a difference between Fuel line hose and PCV hose. And yes sometimes people can get away with using fuel line instead of PCV hose but then you end up with a collapsed hose like yours. The heater hose Home Depot is for the reason stated above. It stuts off coolant flow to the heater probably during the Summer.
The thing behind the carburetor is the muffler for the Air Injection Reactor (AIR) system. In those days, this was California's (possibly high altitude, as well) answer to reducing unburnt hydrocarbons in the exhaust. The system pumped air into the exhaust, when cold. It pretty much free-wheeled once the vehicle was warmed up. I think you can buy new manifold tubes, if you want.
Yeah, good eye on the PCV hose. I was going to re-route that at the very least to make sure vacuume is getting thru. I hope the heater core isn't bad. That has to be a B@#$% to replace? Thanks for your thoughts. Jay
Thanks for the reply. Is that AIR thing something I can just take off? Does it cause problems if it doesn't work? Should I make sure it is ok? What about the air pump and all the water going to manifold that looks like a lot of problems waiting to happen? Thoughts on that stuff? Thanks Jay
You can pull the entire AIR system off your car if your state does not require it, and if you can make it look like it was never there. In California, the factory installed equipment must be present. Now, if your car is exempt from SMOG inspection, but is inspected yearly for safety, the inspector may gig you for missing equipment. You could put straight pipe plugs in the exhaust manifolds and throw the whole system away, but then it is obvious that equipment has been removed, and might get you in trouble. You would have to figure out a new calibration for the carburetor (not a big deal, just get the right one rebuilt), and get exhaust manifolds without the injector pipe holes tapped int them, and find the correct water pump pulley for a non-AIR car. It will have one less groove. Those parts are a dime a dozen, as this was, IIRC, California only back in the day. Federal vehicles (49 states) didn't have AIR, except as I stated, maybe high altitude vehicles may have.
...as for the heater core, if it only has one shutoff valve, it isn't leaking, as pressure can come from the other side, as well. It would be best to get the correct shut off valve, and install it, if the one in there now leaks. By leaking, I mean that the valve is corroded internally, and lets hot water circulate even if the heater is shut off. From the pics, I'm not sure if you have AC. If you do, the heater core water has to be surely stopped for the AC to work properly.
So thanks for all the help. Here in Maryland and I assume everywhere but Calf. there is no emissions testing on a car this old nor inspections either for historic plates. If you want everyday plates I am almost positive there is no emissions and no requirement for the smog stuff. In the day when we were driving cars like this out here we took this stuff off then cause it was always a pain. To tell you the truth I havent seen smog stuff in this good a shape on a car this old maybe ever. Out here we never saw very many Calf cars. I am still dying to know what is the water doing piped into that valve over the right valve cover? What was that all about? Thanks Jay
Thanks again. See if I am tracking. To me it looks like the factory heater control valve is still in play? The dash control is set to cold and I am afraid to move it as I dont want to know what is going to happen till I find out what it takes to put in a heater core, with my luck you better be ready for the worst. Anyway, To me it looks like the original heater control valve is still in play and the home depot valve must be on the return line? In a since shutting off both sides? Totally? I am afraid my luck I am going to hit the switch on the dash and the cab is going to fill up with antifreeze and steam. Unless you tell me GM heater control valves let some coolant thru to help protect heater cores and mine should have pressure on it? Yeah its a A/C car and I got as far as turning it on and the compressor kicked in but I didnt feel any real cold air. This was at idle and I didnt fool with it for long so I dont know if its low on R12 or what. Driving down the road the thing doesnt blow hot air all over you though but I dont know if any air is coming thru the vents either. This car is a pretty nice car but it must have been sitting for a long time in southern Calf. and it just needs some TLC all over the place. Lower ball joints are next on the list, they are about the worst I have ever seen and its a 60K mile car. Thanks Jay
After thinking some more, it my be that the heater core leaks and the added valve keeps pressure off it, so it is closed off in both directions. Not a pleasant thought. May need a new heater core. As far as smog goes, 1975 and older vehicles are exempt from inspection in California. It used to roll off at 25 years old, but that got frozen many years ago.
