The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Will this crankcase vent harm my ’54?

Uncovering the history and the probable actions of former owners is part of the joy in owning an old vehicle. I have the same joy in tracking the history of our 1908 bungelow.

>> CrankyOldDude, your "California State Approved" crankcase ventilation info may be the missing link. As I stated, I believe that the truck came from California. The pipe on the side of the valve cover appears to be purpose-built, so it could have come from the kit. The hole on the top of the valve cover has two small holes on each side that probably held screws and a mounting plate for the hose to the air cleaner. I betcha that the owner drilled an aftermarket aircleaner to accept the hose rather than drill the oil bath cleaner.

Looks like he removed the hose for the air cleaner when he reinstalled the oil bath cleaner and substituted the bent rubber stub on the back of the valve cover. It brings dirty air into the engine.

Sounds like the CA system pulled clean air from the air cleaner across the rocker arms (back to front) then into the intake manifold through a PVC valve. There was no vent to the crankcase as in Tim's original equipment diagram.

>> Tim, chevman32, truckernix, Pre '68 Dave, Jerry, and Andy46 - thanks for your insight and suggestions. To answer some questions:
1) I thought that the slotted vents were open since I can poke a fine wire through the front one. But on closer inspection, it looks like they were plugged up with something ... not welded or soldered.
2) There is no baffle behind the pipe on the side of the valve cover.
3) There is no hole or plugged up hole on the oil bath air cleaner.

>>> And now some comments and more questions:
+ I don't want to drill a hole in my oil bath air cleaner.

+ I agree that dirty air is entering the engine through the bent rubber pipe on the top of the valve cover and a little through the open sections of the slotted vents. The truck isn't driven much. Would it help to replace the bent rubber pipe with some type of filter? Would it be better to plug the hole for the bent rubber pipe and replace the oil filler cap with a filtered cap?

+ CrankyOldDude - Regarding the PVC valve being installed backwards, are you saying that the airflow through the valve should be from the threaded end to the barbed end, instead of the current barbed to threaded?

+ I agree that the crankcase is not being vented. Will the engine be damaged if I leave the plug in the hole for the road draft tube?

+ Since the truck runs ok and I don't drive it much, should I just follow Tim's original suggestion "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" and move on to other projects that need attention?"

As I've said before ... This is a great forum. Your depth of knowledge and desire to help is unsurpassed.

Thanks,

- Lonnie