Hi,,
I want to put a catch can on the PVC, will probably do valve covers as well because the baffle must be junk, the PVC valve is dripping with oil. The heads are center bolt so I'm limited, if there are any suggestions I'm all ears.. If there are can suggestions that would be good to...

My question is for those running a can, where did you mount it? Only place I can see is in front of the coolant tank but I have my fuel regulator there with associated plumbing and space it tight... A pic would be nice if you have one..

Thanks,
60

 

I bought a nice little catch can set up. But I too can't find a place to put it. My a/c takes up the passenger side and the drivers never had any room anywere. I'm think of trying in front of the alternator near the rad. Only open spot. Watching this thread.

 

The real question is, which side is the PCV valve on?

I am in the process of buying a small aluminum unit. Found a nice bracket on Amazon. Its my understanding the catch can does not have be perfectly vertical but its better if it is.
My PCV is on the passenger side. So I am looking at the rear of the inner fender as a possible mount if I can get two bolts through.
(Too much crap in the way on the drivers side)

I have done timeless research on these catch cans. Here is what I have noted:
If it comes with plastic fittings for the In / Out ports, take those fittings to the hardware store and replace with metal fittings. Apply thread sealant on those fittings.
Throw the included kit hose away and purchase better rubber, vacuum hose. Use good clamps.
Some people drilled and tapped a hole in the bottom of the can for a simple Open / Close valve. Easy draining if the can is full.
A piece of steel wool inside the can, helps oily mist from escaping.
I don't believe you need a $150 unit for street use.
Likewise, avoid the $19.95 special. Evidently, they had oil leaks, vacuum leaks and were awful about emptying.

Some models had a breather / filter on the top of the can. It's my understanding to avoid that feature. It will allow a vacuum leak. You want the system air-tight from valve cover back to the carb base, etc. Any loss of vacuum with the catch-can system will have consequences on engine performance.

 

Here are both sides of my engine...PVC is on the passenger side/rear, oil fill is in front of that and is vented, the left side also has a vent...That does not seem right to me, I always thought PVC on one side and breather on the other... anyone care to comment on that??

I think I'm going to go with this one from JEGs... I ordered an amazon one and it just looks like trouble to me....
https://www.jegs.com/i/JEGS/555/5220...QaAihUEALw_wcB




Thanks,
60

 

I like the clear bowl, you can see when you need to empty it.

I agree with you, why would you want a vent and a pcv on the same valve cover? Can that one be plugged somehow?

 

Having A/C really limits you. Ive used 2 places, one was on the firewall in front ofvthe heater box and the other was on the front of the motor where the a/c pump is....

 

I moved the PCV over to the passenger side and installed the can on the huge free space on my AC delete cover

 

Well how about this. My pvc is on the drivers side. But there's one on the passenger side too! Had a breather with steel wool in it and wool gets oily and leaks. I actually had to buy a super small funnel so I can put oil in because there's no fill cap. Believe it or not. So I have 2 Hoses going to my air cleaner. One off pvc, and one off other breather. The can I got came with everything including bracket and has an option of the breather on top or not. Holds about 2-3 cups so lots. But still no room for it. I plan on using a "t" to join them together and then to catch can, then to air cleaner. I have no vacuum in my pvc so not worried about leaks. If anything I get a bit of blow by in both. Never vacuum. So not sure how you get a vacuum leak off a pvc. Only room I have is passenger side behind a/c, but I have a manual heater hose shut off there for summer to improve a/c output. Which works good. Big help not heating the core. So don't want to cover it. I have the vacuum one, but can't find the vacuum hose for it. Must be plugged off some were under dash. Thought of using a t off the passenger side vacuum on the side air vent that closes or opens when max a/c is applied. But then it wouldn't work on regular a/c. If I can solve that I may be able to put my can in there. Need that can, tired of cleaning oil off my air cleaner, especially with 2 lines going in. Bought a k&n just so I could clean it rather than replace paper ones.

 

The PCV system requires a vacuum source.....the carb, to suck air from the engine. The PCV valve itself is mounted on driver side, and connected to the carb. The passenger side has an INLET filter. So....its a system that flows through the engine.....air enters from either an open K&N filter on the passenger side (factory connected it to the air cleaner)....and travels through the engine an out the driver side, and then into the base of the carb. WIthout vacuum....you do not have Positive Crankcase Ventilation.....you just have two breathers into the open air.....and nothing is ventilating the crankcase,....other than the pressure inside the engine. Not the same thing. The factory system actively, and positively ventilates the engine.....breathers just let pressure escape...again....not the same thing.

 

There's no air going in either drivers or passenger. Like I said I must have some blow by because I can remove both and it puffs out both sides. I have both attached to air cleaner now on seperate lines. So both get vacumm threw carb. Pvc has the valve on still. Other is the breather you said and goes to air cleaner too. But none of them let air in, only out. Not sure how it's possible for one side to breath in while other out? Must be something wrong with my motor I guess. Blow by probably. Not much exhaust tho, just air comes out, and oil. Crappy baffles.

 

I don't think you understand how the factory Positive Crankcase Ventilation system works. Maybe do some googling and view some diagrams. You keep talking about a PCV has a "valve". The PCV Valve is a unit, with a sliding piston / spring loaded inside......it connect via a rubber tube to the base of the carb, which provides a vacuum........everything from the right rear side of the engine passes through all the internal parts of the engine is sucked up in the left valve cover,,....through the PCV VALVE and then into the base of the carb, and from there it goes into the intake manifold,....and is burned and exhaust through the combustion change and out the exhaust. Its one continuous flow from the right side inlet out to the exhaust.......

 

The whole idea of a breather is to let fresh air into the crankcase. It is not an exhaust for vapors when a PCV is incorporated. The breather can be an exhaust if no PCV is used and a breather is in both valve covers, such as racing or old school. If it acts as an outlet w/PCV you have some serious blowby.
The PCV valve can not remove containments if fresh air is not allowed back into the crankcase to replace it.

The breather should be an fresh-air INLET in your case. Hence the reason why the better ones have a filter mesh inside. The mesh keeps dirty road grime from entering the crankcase and soiling your oil.

And Ruby, you kind of highjacked 1860armys thread here so we have two conversations going at once.

 

1860army,

I like the basics of that Jegs catch can. Has the metal fitting, drain, nice bracket, etc.
Not to crazy about a plastic bowl. I foresee that either cracking from C3 engine bay heat, or the clear plastic getting so cloudy it defeats the purpose.

 

You have to be careful of catchcans without an oil screen baffle. On hard deceleration the engine will have a lot of vacuum and it will suck oil right into your intake....i was having that issue with the open cans. Go with one like the Moroso.the oil going through it gets trapped in the screen and drops into the bottom

 

U.P.
I agree about the plastic, I like it because you can see whats going on but it is plastic. I'm trying to stay middle of the road cost wise, and keep it small due to lack of space. Plus I have a strange engine noise now... Can't win...

Thanks, Happy 4th!
60

 

I hear you about pricing.. Some are north of $150, for racing and I get that. But too much moola for street use.

Amazon as well as EBay have some aluminum units for around $35. Will need another 5 - $10 worth of upgrades (fittings / hose)

Some even have a dipstick. H-m-m-m-. But the baffling inside is one of the biggest concerns.

 

you get what you pay for......

 

I will put my 2 cents worth to the conversation. I bought the Rulline can on Amazon for 25 bucks and installed on my Dodge truck. It came with dip stick, all fittings and useless breather. It also comes with a cap to eliminate the filter. Bought fuel line hose to replace hose in kit. I did buy some metal screen wire and cut it to fit inside the round inlet inside the can. Works great! Do not want to use any type of steel wool that can escape and get into engine. I want to install one on my 82 CE but cannot find a place to mount it in the crowded engine bay. Thanks for reading, and good luck with your can installation.

 

Exactly. We all say steel wool pad, but in reality, a brass or even a nylon absorbing pad will work. It traps the oil in the bottom.

 

Its not really to trap in the bottom. It should separate the oil as the oil mist hits the material, it collects on it and drops to the bottom like condensation