Detoxed engine?

[nick]

I have fitted a late-ish 3.5 (carb) Range Rover engine to my Stage 1 to replace the poorly one that it previously had. The new engine (don't know exact details - it came from the breakers) has a small diameter tube attached to the outer edge of each cylinder head which braches into four and is tapped into the head by each spark plug. This then resolves itself, via quite an involved plumbing system into a couple of larger rubber hoses, which lead into each end of the air box. What the hell does all of this do? Someone said they thought it was a 'detoxed' engine - presumably something to do with emmisions? What I want to know is this; is it necessary to retain this system on the engine or can it be removed? The engine runs smoothly as it is but the airbox hoses are very perished and the whole system is a bit of an eyesore. Will removing the system make any difference to performance or mpg? I seem to remember that a lot of emmisions systems use a fair bit of power up. If i do remove the system, how do i blank off the metal tubing tapped into the cylinder head? Anyone out there got any ideas?

Cheers,

Nick.

[Tom G]

My engine has stubs coming from next to the plugs, i guess they are what remains of what your talking about, the ends appear to have been crushed and welded.

[Bumpkin]

Tom
I have these too. Often wondered what they were for. Mine are also crushed and sealed.
tel

[glencoyne]

What you have is a 'Pulsair' air injection system, fitted to various V8s. My first Stage 1 had it. Its main function on a Stage 1 is to make access to the spark plugs more difficult. Apart from that I don't think it has any real effect, so you can safely remove it. RPI (V8 specialists in Norfolk) sell some neat little blanking plugs to fill the holes left in the cylinder head.

Richard

[nick]

Cheers Richard, will get under my bonnet tomorrow and see if I can do a little pipe mangling!!

Cheers,

Nick