The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop New headers with or w/o air injection fittings?

I have just rebuilt my 350 out of my 87' Silverado 4x4 1/2 ton. I'm fixing to drop her back in and I am wanting to order some headers. I'm planning on going with a true dual setup with two flowmaster super 40's. A friend advised me to order the headers without the air injection fittings and to just take the airpump off of the engine all together for less maintenance(one less belt to worry about), and for a little power gain, since I don't live in an emissions county (for now). I was wondering, in doing so how would this affect my computer? Also there is one vacuum line that goes from the throttle body to the air managment valve which comes off of the back of the air pump. What will eliminating this vacuum line affect? What other factors am I overlooking?

i don't really know the particulars of de-smogging your truck but i will mention this:

i have heard of no (zero) cases where smog laws were eliminated after being applied. i have heard of several where they were instituted years, decades, after surrounding areas had them.

going to the true dual exhaust, with dual high flow cats, is something your average smog technician is likely to overlook. a missing AIR injection system is not, it's obvious. i have an 86 blazer that someone else desmogged. if i want to register it legally the parts will probably cost more than the truck is worth. if you do desmog it, keep the parts.

the greater power gain will be from the better airflow of the headers, not the deletion of one belt drive. the air pump is only working while the vehicle is cold and how much power does it take? 5 hp maybe?

if you do want to remove, keep the stock parts in case you ever need to re-install them. otherwise just cap that vacuum port on the TB if the only line off of it goes to the air pump. vacuum caps are available at any auto parts store (look in the HELP! section of an o'reilly's or autozone) just slide it on there, i would put a zip tie around it to secure it.

The air pump supplies air to the exhaust so the catalitic converter can work. Without it the converter can run extra hot. Sometimes the belt drives other assesories & cannot be taken off.

Forget the headers. They are more of a head ache than they're worth. You won't see any difference in horsepower anyway.
Scott