Oil bath baffels

I am putting my 51 flathead back together after de-sludging it. There were two clip on baffles that I popped off and did not reinstall. I have not torqued the manifold back on, are they important. Should I pull the intake and install them?

 

I would probably put them back in, they cover drain holes and you might get to much oil from the crankshaft up into the valley with them out.

Vergil

 

i would put them in. henry wouldnt have used them if they didnt need to be there....

 

I've never run without them, but I have heard from people who left them out and experienced oil consumption rise and plug fouling. Apparently leaving these (or the vent riser tube) out can allow enough oil to be thrown into valley to overwhelm the valve guides.

 

The intake comes off with a dozen bolts or so...pretty simple. I'd put em back in!

 

Thanks for the input, I will take it off an put them in place!!

 

Drove to Bonneville last year and used a lot of oil. When we got home pulled the intake and the baffles weren't there. Put the baffles in don't use any oil now. Definetly need to be in.