I have a 1975 450 SL with 76,000 miles. I have heard a growling sound below the altenator, which I thought was the bearing in the smog pump or something to do with that. Well today when I started the car the pump was froze and the belt squeeled like a pig. I got the belt off and the pump won't turn. My question is how important to the overall performace and fuel economy is the smog control to the car? I live in the middle of Nebraska, so we have no clean air restrictions to deal with through the state motor vehicle department. Do I need to fix the pump or can I live without it? If I can live without it, are there other things I need to do to the system?
Thanks

You can live without it.
Airpumps were only a band-aid solution for emissions controls, before engineers could figure out how to minimize exhaust emissions the proper way.

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2007 C 230 Sport.

Thanks Manny, will run without it and see what happens.

Although ours doesn't have one of these, from previous experience with the beasts in other vehicles, I assume there are exhaust injection ports you must plug. Although there should be check valves in the system, the usual cause of failure in AIR pumps is also failure of the check valves.

Steve

Have you scanned the many threads on this topic, e.g.
http://www.peachparts.com/shopfor...?threadid=52980