The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop 58-62 small block question

I want to put on original script valve covers in place of aftermarket covers with pcv and breather holes. The draft tube is gone and there is a freeze plug in the hole. I was thinking about using the vented cap on my oil fill tube as the only breather and remove the freeze plug from the draft tube hole and install a grommet with an elbow and hose to my edelbrock carb. I've seen the kit sold for this modification.

Question: Without removing the intake manifold, is there a way to determine if the oil baffle canister is still in place in the valley for the road draft tube hole? The engine has been modified in it's life. Would anyone recommend a baffled grommet and would it be an adequate baffle if I can't determine the presence of the factory oil baffle? And I just wonder how any grommet can last with the heat of the block.

There's no foolproof way to be sure the baffle tube is there without pulling the manifold. Also, if you have pre-1960 heads, be aware you'll need valve covers with the offset bolt holes. Early heads had about 1/2" wider spaced bolt holes on the bottom of the valve covers. The original draft tube eliminator kits had a cone-shaped piece that bolted on with the draft tube attaching bolt, with a 3/8" hose nipple for the PCV valve to attach to. I installed a BUNCH of them when California made everybody retrofit draft tubes to PCV in the 1970's.
Jerry

Going off memory, if you get one of those cheap edoscopes, you can stick it down the hole at the back of the block behind the distributor, bend it to make a 90 degree back towards the front of the engine and if you see the lifter valley, the baffle is indeed missing.