330hp_91RS

The guy who is putting my motor together says that i cannot use the valve covers that I have because they will not work with my engine.

The motor is a mid 70's 350 4 bolt block. He says that I need to have positive crankcase ventilation.

I am pissed. The valve covers i have are so awesome, if I can't use them I am going to kill something.

Is it vital that I have breathers??? Is there another alternative to getting new valve covers??? i.e. is there a way to install breathers on valve covers that do not have them already installed?

Thanks guys, take a look at my valve covers and you'll see why I want to use them so bad. BTW- they are also going on top of trickflow heads.

MrDude_1

YES YOU NEED THEM.



for pass side:
you simply drill a hole in a approperate location.
put a baffled grommet in
put a breather in that.




for drivers side:
you simply drill a hole in a approperate location.
put a baffled PCV grommet in
put a valve in that.

330hp_91RS

Can you get these at a local parts store??? or is it special order form summit or something???

Do these baffled grommets look like the deal on the inside of most valve covers below the breather or is it different???

MrDude_1

you CAN..... i got one set from a local speed shop..... i donno about a regular parts store..

http://store.summitracing.com/defaul...baffle+grommet


the ones ive been using are right there.

Air_Adam

Might be able to use a intake with a filler tube in it, like the pre-'69 small blocks did... their valve covers had no holes in them for anything.

Would be a REALLY old intake design though...

MrDude_1

actually, the first time i did this, i used thoes valve covers... stamped steel with the chevy script on them..... painted em black, with silver letters real nice...



anyhoooo..... i wouldnt even consider that a option.. lol... besides, they also had a hole in the back of the block with tubes going to the exhaust, to let the pressure get sucked out thru the exhaust..... not very good....

LUVmy92

Street and Performance sells them also with the grommets and all that you will need, cant say its the best or cheapest I just know they have em'.

330hp_91RS

apparently my motor is put together except for the valve covers so I just need to get those on to finish it.

Being in Hawaii, we have no speed shop, actually we did for about 6 or 8 months and they closed down.

We Only have Napa, and car quest pretty much.

I think Napa might have them though.

ME Leigh

Napa or pretty much any parts shop should have them. Walmart and other dept. might have them too.

330hp_91RS

LOL!!!!! Wal Mart??? Man I love Wal Mart, they have everything, shoot they probly got em' for 99 cents!

LUVmy92

No .89 cents they rolled back the prices!

MrDude_1

keep in mind, if you get a grommet that does not have a built in baffle, you will need to add some kind of baffle into the valve cover.

SSC

Actually I was looking at a set in Jegs last night for my BB 427, my GMS valve covers arent drilled either. Aghhh cant find the breathers I was looking for but they are for PCV and atmosphere, you just drill a 1in hole slide them in and theres a nut on the back with a seal. They are internally baffled and run around $30 for two.

330hp_91RS

Can you give me a part #???

SSC

Someone made off with my new issue. Anyway heres a CSI set $56.99, #170-680 These clamp on but arent baffled. Are you planning on using rocker arm oil deflectors? For $24 you might consider it, #710-66700

IROCKZ4me

I could put a new spin on this.

If you haven't installed the intake yet, or don't mind taking it back off, and you want to keep your valve covers looking clean:

Take the intake manifold to a machine shop (doesn't have to be an automotive machine shop, just a decent machine shop. Have one or two holes bored through the base of the intake into the lifter valley area. Have the holes drilled and tapped with threads. If you're handy and have the tools you can do it your self. Be sure not to drill though intake ports or water passages or EGR pasages. If you have just one hole drilled then install a pipe thread-to-AN adapter (if you want to use AN fittings) or just a pipe thread-to -hose nipple if you want to use regular hose & clamps. Get a remote breather with catch can (that page has links on the left that show other brands and sizes). Mount the breather tank on the fire wall or strut tower and run a hose from the nipple in the manifold to the breather tank. With this breather set up you should use a good size hose, like at least 5/8" or 3/4" or 10AN or 12AN hose or so. This single breather with no PCV valve will work (allowing the crank case to vent so you don't blow all the gaskets out) but is not emissions legal if that's an issue. To be more along the lines of legal (and to not have to smell blow by all the time) use the PCV valve too. Drill the second hole into the intake. If possible drill it at the opposite end of the intake, but it's not absolutely neccessary to it can be closer. This one will be for the PCV valve and must be baffled. You can drill the hole to fit a baffled PCV grommet, then just install the grommet and run the hose to a vacuum port. or you can use the same type AN adapter or hose nipple as for the breather hole and hose, but this one can be smaller, like 3/8". Then get a catch can with a hose nipple on each end and mount it vertally on the firewall or or strut tower. Then run a hose from the intake fitting to the bottom of the can. Then run a hose from the top of the can to a vaccum port. The catch can will work as an oil trap and must be drained once in a while.

It's a little work but will keep those valve covers looking good and will add a little more race car look to the engine compartment for styling points. If the engine hadn't been assembled yet, you could have drilled through the back of the engine block into the lifter valley and had the hose(s) going to the breather and PCV valve even more hidden for an even cleaner look. A lot of street rods, show cars and high-end hot rods do it this way for the ultra clean un-cluttered look.

Also if you don't want to go to the trouble of drilling the intake you could drill the back side (towards the firewall) of the valve covers and put threaded or gasketed fittings there. You couldn't get by with just grommets there, baffled or not, it would likely leak oil. You would have to tap it with pipe threads and use a nipple or just drill and use a bulkhead fitting & nut and an O-ring or teflon washer. Use thread locker so the nut can't come off. You would need to check clearance around the rocker arms & springs and probably have to cut the bulkhead fitting shorter inside the valve cover so it's just long enough to fit the nut. You could also use a fuel cell fitting it's already short on the inside end, comes with the nut and sealing washer and the nut goes on the outside so it can't come off.