What are these and what do they do?

[7E-Bodies]

Referring to the "pod" things and the wire rod in the snorkel. Got a feeling the answer will be a "face meet palm" moment, but I have to ask. What are they? What's their function?

[Mrbill426]

Vacuum actuated doors that are thermostatically controlled to close when engine is cold and open at is warms up.

[7E-Bodies]

@Mrbill426 so am I to take it that the doors are missing?

[Burdar]

Without vacuum the doors rest on the floor of the air cleaner and let air flow in through the snorkels.  When it is cold outside, a temperature sensitive valve inside the air cleaner sends vacuum to the pods and the doors block off air entering in through the snorkels.  The DS snorkel should have a tube coming off the bottom that goes to the heat stove on the exhaust manifold.  This draws in heated air from the exhaust manifold area and helps the engine get up to operating temp faster.

If you put vacuum on the pods you'll see the doors open up IF the pods are still functioning.  With as little as these cars are driven and the fact that most of the time it's in warm weather, I don't really think it matters if the pods still work or not.  The doors rest on the floor of the air cleaner so it's not like they are restricting airflow.

[7E-Bodies]

@Burdar that certainly filled in the blanks. Thank you.

[Burdar]

IF the pods are damaged and non functional, they might cause a vacuum leak when the engine is cold.  It might be a good idea to plug the vacuum tubing to them in that case. 

[7E-Bodies]

@Burdar i will definitely check. Good advice.

[Purepony]

Hmm good Info

Any way to test these ?

[Rich G.]

You can test them with one of those hand held vacuum pump. It should hold vacuum and close the door.

[ShelbyDogg]

Suck on the end of the hose and block the end with your tongue. That door will pull closed then release when you move your tongue. Same way I test distributor's vacuum advance pods.