It would not be that hard to modify the road draft tube, which they probably just modified in the first place, to make a very stock looking system. The problem as I see it is that there is no reason to use the air cleaner. The vented oil cap is filtered and makes it so there is no need for return air from the breather, yet understand those who want to make a stock system need to go there.
The way a slightly different one works is, air goes into the vented oil cap at the front of the engine on top. Its sucked through the entire engine through the road draft tube opening on the bottom. The gasses are then vented back through the intake manifold completing the 'circuit'. There are many ways to accomplish this, I have alot of respect for Dave (Squared)'s setups. Since I have decided years ago, that vac wipers are unsafe and an accident waiting for a place to happen (use it as a daily driver and you will eventually agree), I did the math and decided the V8 version PCV valve would make this circuit in the most efficient manner. Reason is, you are sucking from below, as opposed to the standard (newer engines) of sucking from above, then you have to take into account the 'tightness' of the engine and how much air can get from top to bottom in the 50's as opposed to the tightness of a later model engine. This whole thing required a lot of thought deciding what would work best. Then, there is no PERFECT answer because the engine wasnt designed that way. A good sucking PCV system 'could suck oil out of the crankcase if the engine was pretty badly worn and compression ends up an issue. That little oil splash guard thats on all of our engines may not be enough. But if you dont use a strong enough sucking valve, you WILL get blowby out of your oil cap because its not strong enough to suck all the blowby out.
So, we have to ask ourselves.. is the valve you are using sucking air inwards from the top to the bottom of the engine. Not hard to test. Start the engine and blow a little smoke over the vented oil filler cap. If nothing noticeable gets sucked in, your PCV valve isnt good enough. Use a match (carefully) if you are like me and not a smoker. This is why I feel that we wont get to the bottom of the best, most balanced PCV system for our Stovebolts. We dont do enough testing and enough collaboration to resolve it once and for all.
Once its resolved, we can then create a VERY stock looking PCV system using the parts needed to really protect our engines in a very meaningful way and respect the stock enthusiasts out there. Heck even a special kit could be created. This isnt about conjecture and what you might THINK is best. Its about exacting air flow and rate of travel through the system. But, vac wipers change the entire equation. Am I really the only one who feels we have no vacuum to spare in the operation of the wipers alone?
But, not just the vac wipers are a variable, so is the condition of the engine which is huge and I have to wonder if that problem alone would cause it to be very hard to be scientific about it. Thru the life of a stovebolt engine, compression goes from what to what? this variable would have alot to do with a good answer. What do you guys think?
