what could this be?

 

looks like it might be a air intake for the air pump. either that or you have an auxiliary motor in there. whats it go to?

 

thats a good question

 

ill put it up on jacks tomorrow once and search for where it goes once i get off of work. It kind of looks like it goes under or to the side of the engine. I dont know if that helps at all.

 

Based on the fact that it heads (outboard) under the power distribution box i bet it's the air intake for the electric smog pump. GM mounted those inside the fender ahead of the left front wheel on a lot of their cars. It's very common for water to accumulate in the pump and eventually seize it. Maybe the "snorkel intake" is a way to combat the water ingestion.

 

looks like the intake for the smog pump. best option...86 the whole thing.