That's how it was from the factory, basicly. The OEM valley cover has a flange with some rubber on it about the mid point to, in theory, seal the valley off so the flow has to go through the crankcase and/or the valve covers to reach the back.
Interesting. My original valley plate has some rubber hanging off it. I suppose the rest of it was elsewhere in the engine.
...also note that the oem cover has a baffle so that you would be less likely to draw oil mist into the pcv valve when mounted at the rear (draft tube location). Many aftermarket pieces do not have, or offer, any type of baffle. .
That should work, I'm in the same boat with m 354 and was thinking of something like you are doing as well.
Why can't you just put a breather in the front plug of the HH valley pan and a PCV valve in the rear plug? Or do you need a valve at all? I need to do something with the 354 also
That would be the OEM style set up, a talented person could probably tig weld in a divider similar to the OEM one. The PCV valve pulls nasty stuff out & reduces sludging up the engine.
I worked at a Dodge dealership in the 70 - 80 time frame. It wasn't uncommon to have a car come in with the engine leaking oil everywhere it could leak. The problem was the oil cap that vented to the air cleaner. It would be plugged and the PCV didn't work without a vent. Crankcase pressure built up and caused the seals to leak. The engine would run fine, just leaked everwhere. The PCV sysstem need a place to draw in fresh air. Even the road draft tube needs an air inlet to work properly.
I have a 354 with solid M/T valve covers and a Hot Heads valley cover containing the following: --A tapped hole in the rear driver's side with a PCV valve and rubber hose connecting it to the base of the carb. --An Offy "junior breather" #3661 centered at the front. It's gone 700 miles so far with no leaks or fumes. Hope this helps.
Going through this too. My first choice was the Offenhauser 5409s but I can't find any. Next choice is these Eddy units... had to cut and change the base angle. The other option would be burn down tubes with the breathers on the firewall. Make sure your linkage clears. (mock up pic)
My PCV is in the valley pan, I added breathers to both covers and an oil fill on the front of the left cover.
Very nice set up! Are you using a pcv valve in the valley pan? I'm installing two breathers from Hot Heads in my original valve covers, I'll add pictures when they're complete. Here's a question for anyone that may know. I'm installing a single hole valley pan also from Hot Heads. If I installed a pcv valve in the hole of that pan, with the breathers in the valve covers, would that be a good pcv circuit? Thanks Joe
That is one beautiful set up!! Are you running a catch can for the pcv? Could you tell me which pcv valve you're using. Thanks Joe
I added a baffle in the valley pan. I used a valve I ordered from Hot Heads, P/N 29194 And it wasn't that complicated. The hard part was finding a DeSoto oil bath in decent shape to chop up.
I don't have a picture but it was the baffle from inside an Edelbrock SBC valve cover that I had lying around. I just drilled out the spot welds and welded it back on the valley pan.
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