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Just bought a new Blue Print 350ci complete motor. How can I use my finned Corvette valve covers since now I have no oil fill or vent. Looking for some creative ideas while the motor is still out of the car.
Just bought a new Blue Print 350ci complete motor. How can I use my finned Corvette valve covers since now I have no oil fill or vent. Looking for some creative ideas while the motor is still out of the car.
There are 'Corvette' script finned covers that look stock but have openings on the side that faces the intake,
Mike, as Keith mentioned, the 'early' LT-1 engines used those finned covers you see in his post. From 68-on, the rear draft tube opening went away on Chevy smallblocks so the valve covers
had openings in them instead, one side typically for the PCV valve, the other valve cover vented to allow filtered air into the crankcase. I've used them on a number of later year smallblocks in order
to have the 'finned look'.
Mike T - Prescott AZ
It's also pretty common to drill a hole in the intake manifold, behind where the ports are located, to allow you to install a PCV valve. And use the earlier style intake with the front filler neck and a breather cap on it.
Make sure you have sufficient baffling to prevent sucking oil into the PCV valve.
It's also pretty common to drill a hole in the intake manifold, behind where the ports are located, to allow you to install a PCV valve. And use the earlier style intake with the front filler neck and a breather cap on it.
Make sure you have sufficient baffling to prevent sucking oil into the PCV valve.
Like this,
One of the best mods I ever made, runs better, uses less oil, less pollution, and I didn’t have to alter my valve covers.
Just bought a new Blue Print 350ci complete motor. How can I use my finned Corvette valve covers since now I have no oil fill or vent. Looking for some creative ideas while the motor is still out of the car.
Is this the Blue Print engine you bought...the one designed to fit under a Corvette hood? If so, I like the valve covers that are on there. JMHO
I went with the same valve covers Leif mentions, tall versions to clear my roller rockers.
I did have to hand-clearance the very back corner of the driver's side to fit past the brake booster but the covers are fairly thick and nobody will ever see it. I bought a generic pack of grommets at the auto parts store and got lucky with grommets that fit my breather and PCV while also snugly fitting in the grommets that came with the covers. I got covers that had extra thick flanges at the perimeter holes. I also moved the PCV line to be forward of the throttle return spring. I don't need that thing binding the throttle!
On "period" 56-67 cars, I am a HUGE FAN of the early style, NO HOLE, finned covers. Thus, I go to great lengths to modify, as needed, a later engine which does not have the hole in the rear of the block for crankcase ventilation.
First, I choose an intake manifold that has the hole up front for an oil fill tube-----------------preferably, a GM manifold with the Winters logo. Then I come up with a way to open up a hole in the rear (of the block or manifold) for a PCV setup.
On later period engines, without the hole in the rear, I use the 69-later style finned covers with a factory style PCV system.
For me personally, NONE, repeat, NONE of the aftermarket covers are as attractive as the original GM finned covers.
To bad GM never made them for big blocks!!!
All the below are later engines with GM finned covers. Early covers DO NOT HAVE ANY HOLES!
Small block 400 with a hole in the rear of the block and plumbing to the left rear vacuum port on an FI unit.
Early manifold with oil fill tube and hole in the rear for a PCV valve (baffle was fabricated to underside of manifold).
A 73 model with a 73 400 engine and an LT1 manifold with oil fill tube and factory style PCV system.
Valve covers
