Valve Cover Openings
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,645
Likes: 11
From: Schaumburg IL
Valve Cover Openings
I have a 73 - 454" and am wondering what valve cover openings you really need. Specifically,
- The PCV opening
- One for the air cleaner breather
- One for oil fill.
Does the oil fill need to be a capped or can it be vented with a filtered cap? Or for that matter can it be eliminated and us the air cleaner opening for oil fill?
Thanks for the opinion and info.
- The PCV opening
- One for the air cleaner breather
- One for oil fill.
Does the oil fill need to be a capped or can it be vented with a filtered cap? Or for that matter can it be eliminated and us the air cleaner opening for oil fill?
Thanks for the opinion and info.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 11,874
Likes: 263
From: Arlington Va Current ride 04 vert, previous vettes: 69 vert, 77 resto mod
i dont know anyting about 454s but on SBC you only need two.....pcv valve and pcv air cleaner element.....and you pull either one off and use a funnel to fill it
now to be clear those two have diverters or what ever you want to call them so when you use the funnel you do need to be cognizant that the oil has to flow through these so you need to be thought full when yhou use these the first time to make sure the flow rate is correct and you dont over flow the valve cover(not likely)
now to be clear those two have diverters or what ever you want to call them so when you use the funnel you do need to be cognizant that the oil has to flow through these so you need to be thought full when yhou use these the first time to make sure the flow rate is correct and you dont over flow the valve cover(not likely)
Last edited by bobs77vet; Oct 30, 2009 at 08:44 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 7,123
Likes: 433
From: Gladstone MO
C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
My BB has the 3 openings as bigvette1's. The breather to the air cleaner has a push in breather in it, I can't use the tube into the air cleaner with a DP carb (the tube hits the rear accel pump). The oil fill cap is a simple 1/4 turn cap with a gasket. No reason you couldn't seal it up and fill thru the breather other than it would take forever to get a quart of oil thru the baffle in the cover.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,645
Likes: 11
From: Schaumburg IL
I think the need for 3 holes is for ease of getting oil into the engine. Pouring through the air cleaner hole with the baffle inside would take a long time. I guess that answers the need and thanks.
Racer
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 409
Likes: 3
From: St. James, NC
I have a set of after market chrome valve covers on my 71 BB. They have a same setup as discribed by bobs77vet. Its a pain adding oil. The 71 BBs came with painted valve covers. I have the factory covers, which i will re-install when i get a chance. The factory covers have three (3) openings, oil fill, pcv valve, and breather to the air cleaner
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
The PCV valve needs an oil baffle under it to prevent oil spash from being sucked into the valve (then the carb). The 'return air' connection does not need a baffle, but it's a good thing if you have one. The oil fill hole should not have any obstruction under it to impede the oil flow...but it should have a sealed cap to prevent splash leakage. If you only want two holes in the valve covers, put a filtered/baffled breather in the 'return air' hole. Then remove the breather when you want to add oil. If you have [and keep] a baffle under that opening, add oil slowly.
