Something's missing - right side of engine

[moses]

I'm doing a restoration on a 76' 1.8L

I noticed that there appears to be a part missing on the right (passenger) side of the engine, just below the valve cover:



Any idea what might have gone there? Not sure what would fit with the exhaust header in the way.

[RRoller123]

air pump?

[So Cal Mark]

air pump mounts there

[moses]

Am I going to have problems with that being gone?

I just got the car starting today and it dies unless I keep it throttling above ~2500 RPM. Would this be related?

[TimpanogosSlim]

Am I going to have problems with that being gone?

I just got the car starting today and it dies unless I keep it throttling above ~2500 RPM. Would this be related?

It's what they call a smog pump. Injects fresh air into the exhaust gasses to help control hydrocarbon emissions.

On the fiat engines where the air gets injected right into the exhaust port in the head, it probably actually works, because the exhaust gasses are still incandescent hot at that point. On most engines, as they say, "the solution to pollution is dilution".

It's not why your engine dies.

[So Cal Mark]

sounds like your idle circuit in the carb is restricted or the idle cutoff solenoid is not working

[moses]

Thanks for the info. I'm not in a smog state/county, so I'll dismiss it for now.

After having the engine running and taking it for a few drives, it seems that the idle is now much smoother and doesn't cut out anymore. I'm assuming it was just due to the car sitting for years. I have a vacuum leak that's probably causing a little roughness that I'll address soon.

Thanks again