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I see very few modern cars with really bad oil leaks or even smoking much...
And you don't see that black streak down the center of the lanes nowadays...
But then my motorcycle days are over so I'm unaffected.
Here's one for all you smog historians. Required by the State of California. Was on a 1961 Corvette I purchased that had a harness short in the early 1980's, and it was parked. Did more harm than good.
I see very few modern cars with really bad oil leaks or even smoking much...
And you don't see that black streak down the center of the lanes nowadays...
But then my motorcycle days are over so I'm unaffected.
You see the streak in some of the more economically challenged areas of L.A. The parking places in the shopping centers and at the curb in residential areas are an oily mess, as well. My job takes me there, and I have to remind myself to watch where I step when getting out of my JGC.
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (appearance mods)
C1 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
Originally Posted by Frankie the Fink
I see very few modern cars with really bad oil leaks or even smoking much...
And you don't see that black streak down the center of the lanes nowadays...
But then my motorcycle days are over so I'm unaffected.
Lots of slow leakers out there....they just need a dip in the road to let 'er fly. Just look at the black mark in the middle of the road after a dip or imperfection in the road.
You're lucky if you see a car over 8 years old on the road in central Florida between the tourists, the rentals, the lease cars and the yuppies I guess.
Streets are pretty clean and most drivers can't even stay in the center of the lane (texting), let alone make an oil slick there...
Cadillac's maintenance regimen in pre-PCV days was to annually pull the oil pan & clean it out. Dan
My parents had a 1955 Cadillac that received all of its recommended maintenance. I vividly remember having some occasion to remove
a valve cover and being amazed by the amount of black gunk inside. It looked as if the car had never had an oil change.
Yes.
I used to commute into Southgate via Imperial and Firestone from north OC on my Motorcycle on nice days, back when i lived in SoCal.
Any freeway was iffy in the center, also.
PHX is bad also, there are a lot of unmaintained vehicles, and it doesn't rain that often, so when it does, it can get pretty greasy.
Doug
I remember going to people's homes as a kid and it was very common to see either kitty litter, cardboard, or a drip pan wet with oil in the garage. Now we get one drip under a new car and we're looking for lemon law attorneys.
After dealing with everything from Renaults to Porches to the American "Big Three" back in the 60s I can tell you that they all leaked given enough time or abuse..
On the Brit-mobiles I worried much more about the wiring. Lucas was my personal favorite...
No intention of hijacking this thread but curious whether I could share or tee off of the WCFB threaded connection that goes to the windshield washer canister?
Yes. You can "T" into the back of the carb any way you can think of...on this original 63 carb once side of the brass fitting is for a power brake hose and the other is to screw in the PCV valve...
For my 61 dual quad car (second pic) I 'rolled my own' connector.
Last edited by Frankie the Fink; 08-12-2017 at 10:40 AM.
Thanks FTF. I'm going to figure out how to "roll my own" as well and get rid of my road draft tube. I always wondered why my oil turned so dark when only driving a few miles after a fresh oil change. I want my honey back!
Its the PCV valve (Positive Crankcase Ventilation) system...
You will need a PCV valve, a right hand spark plug loom from a 63 car (repros are around) to hold the plug wires when the road draft tube is removed, a vented oil filler cap and a means to convert the road draft tube to support a pipe or hose attachment. You will also need the rear base of the carb drilled to accept the brass fitting.
Search for RPO-242 on here and/or refer to your AIM (Assembly Instruction Manual). If you can't find the crankcase hole conversion fitting shown (expensive but Paragon had them) a grommet with a hole as used in 63 works just as well.
Is there a generic draft tube fitting that can be used as I don't need a 63 specific part on my 57?
No, the fittings are all the same, pretty much. On my '61, I simply used a rubber grommet and it fit in the hole in the block nicely. Plugged the PCV into that and ran it to the back of the REAR carb, for a cleaner install.
Just do an ebay search for "GM PCV Conversion kit" and you'll come up with a dozen...any will work as the road draft tube hole is generic across GM cars and this is just one example (although the PCV valve may not be optimal - you'll have to figure that out): http://www.ebay.com/itm/55-56-57-Che...5Tj-aV&vxp=mtr
No, the fittings are all the same, pretty much. On my '61, I simply used a rubber grommet and it fit in the hole in the block nicely. Plugged the PCV into that and ran it to the back of the REAR carb, for a cleaner install.
Got a picture or know the grommet application so I know what to ask for at the parts store?
Thanks FTF. I'm going to figure out how to "roll my own" as well and get rid of my road draft tube. I always wondered why my oil turned so dark when only driving a few miles after a fresh oil change. I want my honey back!
Oil turning dark a short time after an oil change is a sign that the detergents in the oil are doing their job. Amongst other things.
08-10-2017, 08:04 PM
