Ford engines have a Thermactor "smog pump" system that reduces hydrocarbon and carbon monoxide content of of exhaust gases by allowing the combustion of unburned gases to continue after they leave the combustion chamber. The system uses a accessory belt driven pump that delivers secondary air to the exhaust system. The Thermactor pump does draw some horsepower, but dyno tests show that it is only about three hp.



If you are not using catalytic converter(s) as in the case of a kit car and the engine was originally came with it, then you will need to remove all the pieces and plug the air ports in the back of the cylinder head. This describes a trick to clean the holes and then plug them.

The air ports are location on the back of the engine highlighted with the red circles.



I bought the correct plugs for the head. These allow for bolts to be screwed into the plugs after they are installed. If you wanted to, you could use the correct size pipe plugs. Just be sure the use a proper sealant. I used the Ford plugs as they came coated with the sealant.



One of the problems with the holes is that the threads can be covered with crud.



To clean off the crud, I took an old plumbers pipe brush and cut off the handle. I can then mount it into a drill. The piece of flat steel was used to screw in the fitting.



I then insert the brush into the hold while slowly turning the drill. Using forward and reverse on the drill, I continued until the threads where clean.



I took the flat steel piece that I made and inserted it into the plug. I used pliers to turn the plug until it was seated in the hole.