VetteHalen

hey guys, i may be a newbie when it comes to doing my own maintenance but i DO know how to add oil... except when there's no oil filler cap. The valve covers have no oil cap. How do I add oil?

I added a quart through the dipstick shaft. That wasn't a no-no, was it?

Thanks!

SteveG75

Pull breather tube or PVC out of valve cover and add oil with funnel. Easy.

jordan89

Add the oil through where the PCV goes, or the breather. I add mines through the breather hole on my Camaro.

oldsarge

EASY !

Rockn-Roll

Are they the stock covers? There should be an oil fill cap.

mikep3

A picture will show us all we need to know. Post one of the engine compartment.

lars

Stanhalen may have a very good question, and it may not be that
EASY !
to find the oil fill.

Check out this engine I just built for myself and tell me where you'd fill the oil:


Fact is, if his valve covers are stock, there should be an oil fill cap. The fact that there is no cap indicates that someone has installed aftermarket valve covers or very early covers (like the ones on my engine above). Aftermarket covers may or may not have provisions for PCV, breather, and oil fill. If the covers that have been installed do not have PCV or breather provision, Stanhalen has problems beyond finding the oil fill provision... First, take a good look and see if the engine has been set up with some type of crankcase breather system. If it hasn't, one needs to be installed. If there is a breather/ventilation system, oil can be filled through the breather location.

Lars

mikep3

The vale covers look too nice to cut holes in for PCV or Breather.
First class job as alway, I like the tubing on the fuel line, many forget that.
Would like to know how you did the breathing part, can we get a picture of the PTO end?

lars

Darn... can't fool you, huh?

I couldn't see cutting holes in an original set of '64 valve covers, and I wanted to run the '64s even though they wouldn't fit with the roller valve train. So I used a set of valve cover spacers under the covers, and drilled/tapped the spacers for the crankcase ventilation system.

Here's the view from the back that you cleverly requested... I wanted to hide the system as much as possible, so everything was installed to the back of the engine. Real Estate is a little tight with the breather system, fuel regulator, and vacuum advance, but it all fits and works:


The breather is installed on the right: 1/2" pipe tap into the spacer with a 90-degree 3/4" stainless fitting, which adapts to the K&N 2" breather with a short piece of hose. There is a sheet metal baffle welded to the inside of the spacer to prevent direct oil spash to the breather. Oil is filled by pulling the breather and filling through the 3/4" hose section using a funnel.


The PCV is on the driver's side, drilled and tapped into the spacer. The PCV is the '64-67 Chevy 327 screw-in valve and is positioned so that it's between the rocker arms. It is shielded from oil spash with a welded-in sheet metal baffle.

bobs77vet

Lars thats a sweet set up and looks good

lars

Thanks, Bob! It's one of those things you come up with after staring at it for hours with a few Martinis. I'm dangerous after a few Martinis if handed an angle grinder or a drill motor and a set of taps...
Lars

bobs77vet

our winter project this year is to rebuild the original 37 flathead motor in the youngest sons hot rod project....those had just open breathers at the back of the motor, i need to figure out to something similar to that to keep some of the smells contained....

VetteHalen

all i see on the valve cover is a metal cap with "710" on it.

...(kidding)


Rockn-Roll: they're not stock covers (nor original engine)... Edelbrock with no oil cap on either side.

Steve/Jrodan/Oldsarge: PVC / breather tube? I'm pretty sure you're referring to the black tube that is attached to the valve cover, correct? just pull to unplug?

Lars: awesome pics and setup, man! my engine is... not quite as kick-*** as yours.


thanks for the replies, guys.

WhiteC3

I have the same covers on my '81. I would sure love a pair of the original covers!

gkull

Just dump it in the gas tank like I do with my 250cc moto-X bike. It's called premix

Actually many years ago on an 63 Impala I owned came with the oil fill on the front intake manifold. When I installed an after market intake I had to remove a valve cover every oil change

73StreetRace

This is not very nature-friendly ! And I'm not sure your spark plugs would like it too !
( I mean, the ones on your Vette's engine ! )