The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop 1958...261 questions.....

Gradually dressing up the rebuilt 261 and I need help from the X-spurts......

1. On the 1958 the oil breather tube.... the one that fits on the side of the engine... between the dist. and the fuel pump....... How do you properly clean up this sucker....??

One my old 6 engines that breather tube was shorter and had a cap on top that could be removed for maintenance... on the 58 the top of the tube is sealed tight.... I have already cleaned out as much as possible the crud that had accummulated inside the tube but can't get in to the enlarged part on top. According to the 58 GM manual you can soak in solvent or burn the accumulated carbon/sludge..... I am not to keen on burning.... but was thinking of soaking in that all powerful corrosive carb cleaner solution... I am doing right???? or do I find a new replacement???

2. The positive crankcase valve ...that connects to this breather tube....was stuck tight... I disassembled and cleaned it..... but where would you find a new replacement???? suggestions??

3. TORQUE.... what would be the torque on the bolts that hold the flywheel to the crank???
..and the bolts that holds the pressure plate to the flywheel......

4. one more.... is the flywheel supposed to fit in only one way... sort of indexed with the 3 dowel pins so the timing mark on the flywheel is always at the proper place when assembled???

5. hell might has well ask another one.... I have cleaned two air cleaner assembly.... and both have small pin holes at the bottom.. obviously from water condensation/accumualtion over the years..... the metal is clean and I am thinking of using JB Weld to seal the holes.... will this stand up to the motor oil bath once refinished???
would it be possible to use the gas tank sealer solution to coat the inside of the air filter oil bath section????

May all sound second nature to you guys but would appreciate your advice before I screw up....

Thanks for all your help....

Bob C.

Answer to #1 from personal experience-
I'd soak it overnight with Safety-Kleen then shake the crud out of it.

Answer to #2-
Check the "Links" page of this site for vendors then check their on-line catalogs.

Answer to #3 from Motors Truck Repair Manual-
Flywheel to crankshaft 50-65 ft. lbs.

Answer to #4 from personal experience-
The bolt holes only allow the flywheel to fit on the right way.

Answer to #5 from personal experience-
J-B weld should work fine.

Thanks Cletis

JB weld looks good....thanks for the advice....still looking for that darn PCV valve..it may be the same as the Dodge military of that same period.... those I know where to find...

The hunt continues....

Bob Carriere
Hammond, Ontario Canada

Take the pcv valve to a parts store and get them to match it. The only thing that makes a difference is the size.

Breather tube. If you don't have access to a solvent bath, soak it overnight in lacquer thinner, carb cleaner, or paint thinner. Before too many idiots set their houses on fire, we used to use gasoline for that kind of stuff. It was cheap and we did it outside.

JB Weld will work great on the air cleaner, I've even used it on oil pans.

Well I soaked the breather tube in carb cleaner...worked great...now I know why when I bought the gallon can in came in a heady duty sealed plastic bag... that stuff is nasty... great for cleaning up dried paint form old screwdriver shafts....also removed the apint from a corner of the work bench....

JB weld seems to be holding fine....gave it a quick blast in the cabinet ot roughen the surface and coated the whole assembly with POR 15...looks like new....

The PCV valve is still a puzzle will pocket the darn thing next time I go into town to see if I can match it.....

Thanks for the help guys.

Bob C.