Projects Pcv valve and breather on the same valve cover?

Hello!

I'm new to sbc's, just bought a 54 with one and I noticed it has a breather on both sides and a pcv valve on the passenger side. I was under the impression that it should have a breather on one end and a pcv on the other. Is there any issue driving it as it is currently set up? I did notice when the car was delivered that there was some oil around the breather and a bit around the pcv as well. Is this normal? The guy I bought it from claimed the crate 350 only has about 3k miles on it.

Thanks!!

 

Doesn't matter what...engine you are working on. They all have the same needs.

And no, the PCV needs to pull from the crankcase, not...just one rocker cover !!
Breather on one side, PCV on the other side, for the system to work...properly.

Mike

 

I tried taking the "extra" breather off but it ain't budging. I'm thinking maybe it's just for looks? I'm going to take the cover off and inspect further. Thanks!

 

If both breathers are functional on your engine the PCV system may still work, but less efficiently. Better than nothing, I guess. It will vent the crankcase better with the breather on one side of the engine and the valve on the opposite side.

 

the breather on the passenger side looks like it sits down lower, it could be just bolted on....weird.

There isn't much traditional under that hood....

 

Hahaha yea it's ugly as it sits. Definitely going to dress it up asap. That breather won't come off, guessing it is bolted down or something. thanks!

 

Wrap it in electrical tape.

 

Every breather I've ever seen is installed with a large rubber grommet on the valve cover. With age and temperature those grommets can turn as hard as a rock. It might take a pry bar to get either one of them off

 

The presence of some oil around the PCV valve and breather(s) may be an indication that the valve covers are not properly baffled. A running engine can put out a lot of oil spray under the covers from the valvetrain oiling. And it tends to make matters worse if the crankcase isn't properly vented and running under a bit of pressure instead of a slight vacuum.

 

The one on the PCV side could be repurposed as an oil fill.

 

Some people are slaves to symmetry.

 

When you get the covers off you’ll see what you’ve got. Go from there. If there’s no baffle, you might try these. I’ve had mixed results with this style. When you go looking for valve covers, try to find some with proper baffles, or weld some in. If it’s a blowby problem with rings, that’s another issue.

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/mor-68775

 

There is a Camaro somewhere that just flat needs those valve covers and air cleaner. That is a simple easy fix though.

I'm not sure how much the extra breather on the same side of the engine as the PCV affects things. Air in, air, fumes and pressure out is what one wants. I wouldn't worry any about the stuck breather until I had the covers off and cleaned up and ready to stick in the swap meet box or move to an ot ride on the car or truck you never tell about here.

 

Wow thanks for all the feedback! I appreciate it.

I got the other breather off with a little elbow grease. It's an extra breather. All good, I've ordered some proper finned aluminum valve covers and an air cleaner to match. They only have a single hole on each side. Hopefully that'll get everything working as it should.

Thanks again!

 

Oh here's the car BTW! 54 chevy 210

 

Ideally the pcv valve and fresh air feed are on opposite VCs and opposite corners.
This provides maximum air flow coverage from head>lifter valley>head.
Hot gases and vapors are going to rise to the upper parts of the engine, and this is how its collected.

HAH!
I've seen more than a few sbcs where the owner has put the VC's on the wrong sides because *vaguely shakes hands in air* 'reasons'.

On center bolt VC's not too much of a problem, but on older factory 4 bolt stamped steel with the rail lip notched to clear intake runners, you get the oil fill crammed back under the brake booster.

(Long)Story time;
Had one sbc, with 3'+ of 3/8" hose going from the back of the carb, wrapped around the carb, under/through the throttle linkage and then plugged into the PCV valve at the front of the PS valvecover. Oil fill VC was buried by the booster.

Owner complained about throttle issues.

Changed covers left to right, cut out ~2' of pcv valve hose, formed the hose into a nice flowing 90° bend if I do say so myself, no more sticky or jamming throttle. Hose location is the problem.

Comes back a few days later complaining of the same.
Open hood, valve covers are switched back, 3'+ of 3/8" hose is back, wrapped around linkage, again.
He didn't like the 710 cap at the front of the engine, because 'reasons'.
OK. Take 3'+ hose, wrap it around the backside of carb up the PS valvecover, plug it into PCV valve, which is very hack but whatever. Seems happy with results, close hood he drives off.
*This is an early 80's non CCC 2500 work truck, it's dirty/ugly.*

Comes back. AGAIN, same complaint. Open hood, hose is back doing the cloverleaf routing through throttle linkage, across front of intake and attached to pcv valve.
Inspected the truck looking for a hiddden camera cause noWAY was this an honest person. Looked up/down/across the street for any in/conspicious items or people. Waited for the Candid Camera Crew to show. Reiterated the hose through the linkage is the problem. Owner claims thats not the problem and proceeds to rev the engine several times 'showing' the hose routing is not the problem. Inform him when you accel/brake/turn dynamic forces are gonna cause the hose to move, because it's 3'+ of hose laced through the linkage and flopping around.
Dismisses that idea. Not even gonna bother asking about change of heart for previous routing, because it would have a 'reason'.

Spend/waste another 5 mins trying to show why routing through the linkage was a bad thing. Got nowhere.
'The only viable solution, would be to find a passenger side SBC valve cover out of a Toronado.' says I.
He seemed satisfied with that answer and I never saw him again.

 

Nice car

 

Cool ride. Well worth a little under hood work to tie it all together. Little rerouting on the hoses, maybe some black plug wire run more correctly, and some black paint on the radiator tank. Sounds like the v/c’s are handled. The right air cleaner should be easy.

 

If both are vented, pull out the one on the PCV side, and fill the inside of the tube that sticks into the grommet with RTV, and reinstall.

*AFTER THE RTV HAS HAS SET!

 

That's a great idea man, thanks. I'm gonna do that while the others arrive.

 

That’s a good looking car man.

 

With a 710 cap.

Gary

 

Pretty sure he used to work for me.