Air Injection: Description and Operation

Fig. 1 Typical AIR system installation:

Fig. 2 Air pump without integral pressure relief valve:

Fig. 3 Air pump w/integral pressure relief valve:

In this system, fresh air is pumped into the exhaust system, usually in the area of the exhaust valves, to ignite and burn the unburned portion of exhaust gases in the exhaust system, thus minimizing exhaust contaminants.
Air systems, Fig. 1, consist of an air pump, Figs. 2 and 3, injection tubes (one for each cylinder), diverter valve, check valves (one for Inline engines, two for V8s), air manifolds and the tubes and hoses necessary to connect the various components.
Carburetors, distributors and control valves are designed for specific engine applications and should not be interchanged with other units.