Adding a PCV Valve

[Kapt]

OK. Let me see if I got this right. I want to set up a proper PCV system on my 60 Dart, 318 Poly. I read online to get these type of breathers for it

https://i.ibb.co/PGSy7vQ/breathers.jpg

On the driver side, install a PCV inline with the hose to the base of the carb, or manifold. On the passenger side, direct the line directly into the carburetor

I have these on there now. Driver side

https://i.ibb.co/mXPDhMP/breather-driver-side.jpg

And passenger side

https://i.ibb.co/PrCq5qs/breather-passenger-side.jpg

Will they work? Is that the correct way to do it? Or should I just go old school and connect the driver and passenger side together and run a line under the car

My reasoning behind this is that the motor is tired. It's got some blow-by. The valve covers are vented right into the air cleaner on the outside of the cleaner element. The oil in the blow-by collects on the element and plugs it up so I have to replace it far more often than I should have to. I want to make it last longer and keep the crud out of everything. If this was right what I described, got any suggestions? I cannot afford to rebuild the 318 or replace it right now. Besides, other than the blow-by. It runs really good

 

[CBODY67]

Sounds like your engine has some sort of aftermarket hardware designed to recycle the blow-by into the engine. Which could well be due to it being in CA, where some retro-fits on older vehicles were deemed necessary by CARB and such?

On the GM side of things, the first year ('67) for an inline pcv valve, they put a cap onto the place where the prior road draft tube connected to the rear of the engine block. The cap had a nipple on it, onto which a rubber hose was pushed onto it. The hose connected to an inline pcv valve, which then was attached to the base of the carb (an intake manifold vacuum port, as the power brakes used on some applications.

Later Chrysler V-8s kept one of the breather caps open (as the air intake into the crankcase) and placed the pcv cup methanism (as in '66) on the opposite side of the motor. From there, the pcv hose went to the base of the carb (as mentioned above) and an intake manifold vacuum port. Might be pretty easy to do.

In the aftermarket, there exists a chromed cap which resembles an older breather cap, but has a pcv in it, with the hose nipple for the vacuum source.

If possible, you might use a "breather inlet" cap from a '72 400 V-8, which has a hose nipple that goes to the air cleaner for a dedicated source of clean air for the system, but on the outside of the filter element in the air cleaner. Inside of that "cap" is a mesh fabric filter, which can be washed in solvent, if need be.

KEY thing is to get ventilation THROUGH the motor and recycle it into the intake manifold vacuum port on the carb base.

What you might do is replicate what the '66 "poly" 318s had on them from the factory. A '66 Plymouth FSM would illustrate that system, I suspect, so you'd know what to get from a salvage yard, repro vendor, or the auto supply. Probably would also need a '66 318 carb to make everything work right, too.

Just some thoughts,
CBODY67

 

[Big_John]

That's a PCV on the passenger valve cover now. That hose should be connected to a manifold vacuum source.

The breather on the driver side looks like it's a later 60's Mopar piece. PCV could be early to mid 60's Mopar. I have the same PCV on my '65 273.

The way it should work is to draw through that existing breather, through the engine and then through the PCV into the intake manifold.

 

[Kapt]

I thought that might be a PCV on there now, but wasn't positive. Cool. I will play with the hose routing tomorrow after work.

Thanks for the replies here

 

[rkrochen]

You should replace the pcv valve as well. It’s could be carboned up and not working. The pcv should be routed to the base of the carb and the filter to the air cleaner. Some just used a filter style cap on the drivers side. Your blow by may not be as bad as you think once you get this working.

 

[69 300 vert]

My reasoning behind this is that the motor is tired. It's got some blow-by. The valve covers are vented right into the air cleaner on the outside of the cleaner element. The oil in the blow-by collects on the element and plugs it up so I have to replace it far more often than I should have to. I want to make it last longer and keep the crud out of everything. If this was right what I described, got any suggestions? I cannot afford to rebuild the 318 or replace it right now. Besides, other than the blow-by. It runs really good

I recall that carburetors were re calibrated to deal with the additional airflow. Rejetting and idle adjustments would be required?

Robert

 

[Big_John]

It hit me this morning while reading this thread. Sometime in the seventies, California required every car to be retrofitted with a PCV. Looked at @Kapt 's location and sure enough... That would explain the PCV instead of a draft tube.

 

[68PK21 440.6bbl]

Also make sure the port for the PCV valve hose at the base of the carb is not clogged shut with carbon. This is common on poorly maintained vehicles and I have had to drill out many clogged nipples on many brands of vehicles during carburetor rebuilds.

 

[Kapt]

I got off work, took the PCV off and shot down to O'reilly's to get a new one. They couldn't match up what was on there, so I said I would just try it and see how it went. Sprayed a ton of brake clean in the old one and the make-shift housing and put it together. I rerouted the hoses from the valve cover to the intake port (carb has no vacuum fitting on the back. Not even for vacuum advance on the distributor). Then I unplugged the hose on the other valve cover and opened up that breather. Finally i put in a non oil soaked air filter element and started it up. Warmed it up a little and checked everything out. No leaks on the PCV, and just a tiny bit of suction on the breather on the other side. Then I took it for a drive and I have to say it ran better than it has in the two years I've owned it, and it ran pretty damn good before. Tomorrow I'll drive it to work (if the windows aren't all dew covered) and see how it goes on a little bit longer drive. After work I can check for blow-by. Seems to be good. Thank you for all the advice and replies here. You were all very helpful. I'll follow up after work tomorrow

 

[rkrochen]

I got off work, took the PCV off and shot down to O'reilly's to get a new one. They couldn't match up what was on there, so I said I would just try it and see how it went. Sprayed a ton of brake clean in the old one and the make-shift housing and put it together. I rerouted the hoses from the valve cover to the intake port (carb has no vacuum fitting on the back. Not even for vacuum advance on the distributor). Then I unplugged the hose on the other valve cover and opened up that breather. Finally i put in a non oil soaked air filter element and started it up. Warmed it up a little and checked everything out. No leaks on the PCV, and just a tiny bit of suction on the breather on the other side. Then I took it for a drive and I have to say it ran better than it has in the two years I've owned it, and it ran pretty damn good before. Tomorrow I'll drive it to work (if the windows aren't all dew covered) and see how it goes on a little bit longer drive. After work I can check for blow-by. Seems to be good. Thank you for all the advice and replies here. You were all very helpful. I'll follow up after work tomorrow

That’s good news. Hooking the pcv up to the intake is ok. Make sure you get a new one. These pcv’s are a little difficult to get, I had to order one in from National Moparts. Just make sure the breather on the opposite valve cover is a filter style or you will be sucking dirt into the engine.

 

[70bigblockdodge]

Wow those rings have been taking a beating at low speed.

 

[The Goose]

Another almost free fix for your situation is closed breathers with super long breather hoses. If your tired motor is pumping out a bunch of oil you might not want all that gunk going into the intake or carb. Most of our older diesels are like that and vent the nasty air on the ground under the vehicle. Only problem we ever encountered was a site guy failed to keep a belly pan cleaned out and dirt built up until it smothered the breather hose and he thought his engine was gonna blow up. That’ll never be an issue on a car !

 

[Kapt]

That's the exact one I needed tonight. Got a part number by chance? The computer couldn't find anything with the number on mine

That’s good news. Hooking the pcv up to the intake is ok. Make sure you get a new one. These pcv’s are a little difficult to get, I had to order one in from National Moparts. Just make sure the breather on the opposite valve cover is a filter style or you will be sucking dirt into the engine.

View attachment 321206

 

[rkrochen]

Here’ their website
National Moparts
Part# EN0091A
This is a black one they also have a more expensive chrome style.

 

[Kapt]

Thank you

 

[Kapt]

I drove the Dart a little today. Ran great! It was a little sputtery for a minute until it warmed up and then it was great! The carb should prolly be rebuilt after breathing oil blow by for who knows how long. That's gonna happen real soon

 

[Big_John]

@Dana rebuilds carbs and several here have used his services.

 

[Kapt]

Good to know. I got a buddy here locally that's really good at it. He said he'll do it for me as soon as I get the kit. I'm hoping next weekend

Filtered breather. Anyone got a suggestion on which one I should use? There are so many different ones

I got a Mr. Gasket PCV filtered breather