The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Where to put a PCV hole in a finned OFFY valve cover?

Hi folks,
Greetings from Maine. New poster here.....
I did a search but came up with few hits on the subject...

I have a '65 230 L6 and have recently received a nice new OFFY finned valve cover for my birthday. The cover only has a single fill/breather hole in the top front.

I'll be wanting to keep the PCV set-up on the engine, but have a dilemma that maybe you know the answer to.
I don't want to cut fins and drill a hole in the top of this new cover - it's too pretty! But there are no baffles in the cover.
Can I drill a hole in the side? Preferably the driver's rear side out of sight?
Or if I'm asking for trouble doing this please say so. I bought a grommet that would have very little protrusion (3/16")on the inboard side of the cover. Also an extension that fits the grommet so that I can have a inline PCV valve. But I haven't done anything yet. I am agreeable to buying alternative parts to make it functional and neat to look at.
Am wide open to suggestions, experiences and photos of what you have. Thanks, looking forward to learning more from you.
Tom B.

Check out my 235 link and you can see how I used a regular valve cover cap, drilled for a brass fitting ...
Keeps everything clean and free of leaks!

Some of the FLAPS sell push in valve cover caps with a 3/8 hose connector that can be connected to the carb air filter with a hose.
They fit into a grommet that goes into the existing valve cover opening.
At sustained high rpm there can be leaks at the grommet though.

I was in the same fix as you. I did drill a hole where the OEM pvc hole was. I did this by cutting the fins slightly larger than the hole for the pcv valve on a Bridgeport. As you said there is no baffle anywhere for the pcv so I made one from a short piece of thin walled sst tube with an o.d slightly larger than the i.d of the valve for a press fit. I drilled several 1/4" holes at the bottom of the tube, then cut it so when pushed through the rubber grommet it sits on the top of the head between the rockers and the pvc valve sits in the grommet in its correct position. Without the baffle it WILL suck oil out.

Sorry, in re-reading my post I made a mistake. Should read...sst tube with an I.D. slightly larger than the O.D of the valve for a press fit.

Thanks for the replies.
On The Road - thanks for the photo link. I lost sight of the PCV hose as it wound behind the carbs. where is the valve - is it horizontal or vertical? Where does it go into your intake?
Does it suck oil into it?

Beltfed - got a question.....what is an sst tube? I'm trying to visualize it. Do you have a photo of what your VC looks like with the millwork done and all set up with hose routing? Did you wince when the bit started carving away at the fins?

I'd love to hear more about these experiences.
Thanks again, Tom

I will get to the car today with a camera as I owe serveral "bolters" photos of various projects I did on my street rod.

I use a 3/8" ID fuel hose connected to the front carb air filter.

A PCV valve would replace the road draft tube and connect to the intake manifold (vacuum wiper connection).

I used to have a PCV valve with a condensor filter, but went back to road draft tube, as it works better at sustained high rpm.

Thanks for the additional replies.

I just came across this as an alternative to drilling a hole in the finned area. (see link below)
The description mentions an internal baffle.
Would a set-up like this be over-simplifying my situation? Could I adapt this breather into the oil fill hole by using some sort of fabricated grommet to fill the bayonet-style opening?

Again, I'd wide open to hearing as much experience and suggestion on how to proceed. Still learning here. Am looking forward to the photos too.

Tom

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Mr-G...itemZ180174145636QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWD1V

When I still used PCV I tried the PCV valve at the valve cover first but then mounted it instead of the road draft tube, where it worked better.

Either way you NEED a condensor filter with PCV.
Especially in the winter you will drain almost a cup of water from blowby on an older engine, per week...

the cast aluminum one i got had the hole for the pcv but no baffle. i made one from brass that slips down thru the grommet to a shoulder and the pcv valve fits into it on the top. a little taller than normal but it seems to work.

Here are the promised photos of my pcv setup. Hope this helps.

http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff110/beltfed_photos/P1000747.jpg

Trying for the other three photos. Please forgive, I've never done this.http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff110/beltfed_photos/P1000744.jpghttp://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff110/beltfed_photos/P1000746.jpghttp://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff110/beltfed_photos/P1000748.jpg

Once again:
http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff110/beltfed_photos/P1000748.jpg
http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff110/beltfed_photos/P1000746.jpg
http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff110/beltfed_photos/P1000744.jpg

Wow - this is all good information.
Has anyone ever sucessfully put a PCV out the side?

And Beltfed, thanks for the nice clear photos. I like the orange contrasted Offenhauser logo on the top.
And that tube, is that what you call an SST tube? It fits all the way down without interference between the valve springs and rockers? Hmmm, I've got that noted.

Hoggy,
I'm curious about the condenser filter. I live in an area of humidity in summer and lots of consendation in the colder months. Water was a big problem in the 402 BB engine I used to have. This L6 seems to be better, but I haven't driven it enough in the colder months to see a water issue. So if you have a source to recommend for this filter I'm all ears.

Keep bringing on the ideas and suggestions too.

Thanks again and in advance everyone,
Tom

Sorry, It has been awhile since installation. The tube is actually made of aluminum and does sit on the head between rockers. The slots on the bottom allow any oil thrown through the holes to excape.