Question for the 235 experts. I'm thrashing for roundup and I'm in the home stretch. I would like to change the draft tube on my 54 Chevy 235 (w/ PG) to a PCV. Basically put a PCV in the draft hole. What else is required for this to work? My valve cover is the stock vented one (slits on the top length wise). That should provide air in correct? Or do I need a vented cap as well? I did a search and all I found was **** posts about "235 lets see em!!!!", "Stovebolts whooz runnin em?!!?". I swear I read a post about converting a 235 to PCV, but I can't find it. Any help would be great. Nick
Mine is fresh, painted, and clean as well. The draft tube is really an undercarriage oiling system. Would prefer to keep things clean for a while.
At the risk of stirring up the purists... Go for it..There are 2 things to consider when doing this, 1st is filtering the incoming air. Is there a mesh under the slits ? ( If not maybe close off the slits and go with a breather cap ) 2nd is the real possibility that you may need to richen the mixture a bit to compensate for the added air. Good luck ! Dave
This is how I plan on running a PCV valve on my '60 235... I drilled a hole in the draft tube down alongside the block. I welded a threaded bung inside the hole so that I could install a length of 3/16" brake line into it. I bent the line to follow the block along the bottom edge of the side cover to help conceal it a little better (it should hide well behind the starter). Get a rubber pipe plug from the hardware store and install it in the end of the road draft tube, below the welded bung, to block drawing air in through the road draft tube. I found a PCV for an early Corvette (235) at Autozone. I kept the other threaded fitting on the end of the brake line 'cuz it matched the inlet size of the PCV valve; I can then use a small piece of 1/2" ID hose to attach the PCV to the brake line. Then run rubber vaccuum line from the outlet of the PCV to the vaccuum port on the intake manifold. I'm going a little crazy here and routing the rubber hose from the PCV through the firewall on the p***enger side of the engine bay, and exiting through the original wiper vaccuum line hole on my '52 Chevy to plug into the intake vaccuum port. This way, from the driver's side of the engine, it still looks like the vaccuum wipers are hooked up- nobody would suspect it's actually a PCV system. I'm going to use the original valve cover slots to provide intake air, but I'm building a shallow pan to hold filter material so that I'm not drawing in dirty air. You could also block off the slots and just use a vented oil cap from a later engine if you wanted. Here's a couple pics of my setup so far... I haven't run it yet so I'm not sure how well this will work, but you get the idea.
I made one for my 56 - I hate to be commercial but check it out on the Hamb vendors - Wixski or pm me and I can send a couple photos. the photo we have posted isn't real good, so I can send another if you like. Ours presses into the road draft hole in the block, has a threaded screw top and a regular valve inside. then we run a hard line to the vacuum port. It has kept my undercarraige clean and dry.
Good point on filtering the air-in. Richening shouldn't be a problem. Running 3 rochesters on this thing. I like the setup rdstr31. Very clean and still utilizes the stock tube. 6inarow has a very nice part (I think I saw this on your site a while back), but a little rich for my blood. Thanks guys, will post back on what I end up doing and let you know how it works. Nick
It will save you from having that bit of blowby fume drift out from under the car when you cruize through the lot to the prime parking spot too. Those draft tubes only worked right when you were moving at a decent speed to get air flow past the end of the tube to draw air through the crankcase. Sitting still and idling they didn't work at all except to fill the air around the car with blowby. Also if you don't have them positioned correctly they don't work well. Most guys used to just cut the tube off a ways out from the upright piece and put the fitting for the hose in the capped end of the tube but I like the looks of what rdstr31 has done with his.
On mine, I took a freeze plug and put a hole in it large enough to hold a rubber grommet for the PCV valve and ran the hose to the intake manifold. (not much left of the freeze plug by the time you get done making the hole). Make sure you have at least a breather in the valve cover, better yet is to get a breather with a tube connection on it and run it over to the air cleaner.
'62 chevy cars in leftafornia had PCV valves,had a CA. car with 235. The PCV valve should still be in parts catalogsand Motor Manuals show the routing.
I actually found the PCV valve (for a '62) on Rock Auto for $1.43! Fram #FV181. It doesn't come with a rubber grommet though. That's the same style I've seen as a universal. Looks like they added a breather to the valve cover to accomodate the PCV. Looks like two tubes running to the carb from the p***enger side of the block. One probably for the valve. http://chevy.tocmp.com/shop/1959_60/59sms0801.htm
Here's some articles on this that I have bookmarked: http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=61376 http://groups.msn.com/GaleforceZephyrs/pcvvalve.msnw
Aren't you in essence providing a p***age for "coolant" and not vacuum by tapping into a "freeze plug"? There are a number of vacuum port possibilities, why start there? Basically, pull PCV from your intake as it was intended.
I used a standard SBC valve cover grommet with a PCV valve for a 73 Camaro with a 350 (cause the ****ty parts store computer only went back to '73). They both fit in the draft tube hole in the block of my 235 perfectly. Ran a hose to the intake, no more blow-by smell while sitting at lights. Been running it for a few months this way no problems, make sure you have a breather in the valve cover though.
I just went to the parts store picked up a generic pcv and rubber grommet. It was a little to small for the hole so I actually cut off the portion of the draft tube that goes into the block. Stuck the grommet in it. and reinstalled it into the block. ran a piece of hose from the pcv to the intake. done. Also have a sealed valve cover with a vented cap.
i tried this on my 59 235 and it started to smoke like hell! i thought the baffle in the road draft tube would trap the oil vapor but it didnt! The 250 sixes have the pcv in the valve cover.
Hey I'm new here but I ran across your question tonight. I have a 56 235 I just put in my 47 Chevy Coupe a few months ago with lots of great help from our club. This 235 has been converted to PVC just as you say. It looks like they removed the down draft tube entirely and plugged that hole with a soft plug. Ther PCV is mounted to a valve cover that does not have the slits in it. This valve cover is completely sealed. The hose from the PCV goes to the intake breather. It seems to run just fine and I've had no trouble with it so far. I could probably take a few photos and send them to you if you like. Let me know.
I saw your comments on the PCV conversion on a Chevy 235. I have a 56 235 that has been converted and it works just fine. I put it in my 47 Coupe. Another guy in Rhode Island also was asking about the same thing. I uploaded some photos on my album just a little while ago. Take a look and if you have any question let me know and I'll do my best to help. Have a good one. - Jeff
the 62 235 cal. models had pcv as standard. i have one. the draft tube part that goes in the block has a fitting for the pcv. the line runs up to the valve cover where it hooks to an adapter that screws onto the valve cover.
I found this link this morning: http://www.chevytalk.org/fusionbb/showtopic.php?tid/234333/ Definitely interested in doing this. I don't mind the smell of oil/exhaust but there are times I don't want to show up somewhere and smell like I just took a bath in it.
I would like to put one on the 235 in my 37 p/u but I have the original 216 valve cover and road draft tube on the 235 which I want to retain for the original look so it looks like I will have to do some engineering if I want to install a pcv.
This is the pcv system I have for my '54 235. The draft tube has a oil bath filter and came off of a GMC 302. For the valve cover I welded the vents on the top shut, used a non-vented cap and put a fitting on the back of the valve cover and ran a hose to the intake. Thomas
Here's a nice link that seems to answer a lot of questions on this. http://www.chevytalk.org/fusionbb/showtopic.php?tid/234333/ Ooops, my bad - I see this link has been posted here.
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