Flathead road draft tube question

What are my options for road draft tube replacement? I tried looking around and can't really find decent pics of what others are doing. The reason I ask, is I want to dress up my engine a bit with some wire looms and it's smack dab in the way. The engine is a 52 8BA.

 

It's on the front of the engine, isn't it? How is that in the way? Maybe trucks are different?

 

Trucks are different they are two pieces, I think cars are one.

 

Maybe eliminate it completely?...and replace with a pcv valve with vacuum tube to carb/intake. Better for the engine anyway.

 

The best thing to do for your engine is replace it with a PCV. Easy job and you'll find volumes written here on this subject. Do a search on Flathead PCV.
Heres my 8BA changed over.

Other variations
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v11/petejoe/PCV flathead adaptations/

 

Henry put it there for a reason. It works.

 

Henry also did alot of things cause it was cheap! He didnt want to build a flathead with water pumps or fuel pumps. He wanted it to be like his 4 banger engines. His son made him understand it needed water pumps and a fuel pump.

 

I built a 8-BA a couple of years ago and if I remember right, I was able to buy the grommet and pcv from NAPA, which cleans up the front of the 8-BA.

 

Mine was 2 pieces on my Merc. I found a chrome top section and used the painted bottom section. I thought they were all 2-pieces????

I don't run it anymore cause the blower manifold has no provisions for it but don't see why it would be in the way with it on there. I ran mine with looms for 8 years before I put the blower on. I also installed the looms on the blower manifold when I installed it.

Jim

 

Henry was a genius but not god. He has my greatest respect.
But some things can be improved.

 

I take the "road draft tube" out and replace it with a PCV valve. I use the PCV grommet that fits in the back of any fuel injected 5.0 Ford. If you go to a Ford dealer tell him the basic # is 6A631. It is a sleeve type grommet just a tad small for the road draft tube opening in the manifold. Simply use some good RTV and glue it in place. Let it cure and put the PCV valve of you choice into it. I have used the PCV valve for the 5.0 Ford a few times but on one engine it proved to be a bit much so I went to 3.8 V6 PCV valve. Worked fine.

 

I converted to PCV using HELP! grommet #42052, or use Dorman #493-212 for GM engines from '68 - '95. I had to put a thin shim around the HELP piece to make it tight, and used some RTV on it to be sure. Then use a Fram # FV294 PCV valve, I believe it's for a 3.8 Buick. I got an AN fitting to connect to the manifold, a piece of hose, and it was done. No issues whatsoever.