Engine & Internal Cams, heads, valvetrain, rotating assemblies. Chat about beefing up your insides here.

PCV valve, valve covers

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
  #1  
Old 02-08-2008, 09:53 PM
79camaro505's Avatar
Newbie
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 2
Default PCV valve, valve covers

Hi i searched a lil about this and didnt really find much, but was wondering. Im building a sb 350 and want to know if i should put completely sealed valve covers on or valve covers with just breathers or use the pcv valve covers like original. whats the difference and pro's and con's to these diff. setups. Any help is much appreciated
 
  #2  
Old 02-08-2008, 11:50 PM
firebird69racer's Avatar
1st Gear Member
Join Date: May 2003
Location: San Bernardino,Ca
Posts: 293
Default RE: PCV valve, valve covers

Use the PCV valve like org. you need to keep the gasses from building up inside the motor
 
  #3  
Old 02-09-2008, 09:29 AM
blackz87's Avatar
4th Gear Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Florida
Posts: 2,430
Default RE: PCV valve, valve covers

I second the use of the PCV.
 
  #4  
Old 02-09-2008, 09:49 AM
Camaro 69's Avatar
Senior Moderator
January 2010 ROTM Winner
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: The 'Burbs of Chicago
Posts: 18,306
Default RE: PCV valve, valve covers

Use a PCV valve in one cover, and a vented cap in the other, here's why. Obviously the crankcase needs to breath to displace the air as the pistons move up and down. The PCV valve is hooked up to your intake, and the pressureisSUCKED out of the crankcase (which is better on the engine), instead of it having to be BLOWN out of the crankcase. The vented cap on the other valve cover lets the air in (or more out ifneeded).
 
  #5  
Old 02-10-2008, 12:01 AM
firebird69racer's Avatar
1st Gear Member
Join Date: May 2003
Location: San Bernardino,Ca
Posts: 293
Default RE: PCV valve, valve covers

ORIGINAL: Camaro 69

Use a PCV valve in one cover, and a vented cap in the other, here's why. Obviously the crankcase needs to breath to displace the air as the pistons move up and down. The PCV valve is hooked up to your intake, and the pressureisSUCKED out of the crankcase (which is better on the engine), instead of it having to be BLOWN out of the crankcase. The vented cap on the other valve cover lets the air in (or more out ifneeded).

This is how the Factory does it. It has a hose that goes from the valve cover to the air cleaner base with a filter element in there, so it will suck in filtered air.
 
  #6  
Old 02-10-2008, 01:32 PM
Camaro 69's Avatar
Senior Moderator
January 2010 ROTM Winner
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: The 'Burbs of Chicago
Posts: 18,306
Default RE: PCV valve, valve covers

ORIGINAL: firebird69racer

ORIGINAL: Camaro 69

Use a PCV valve in one cover, and a vented cap in the other, here's why. Obviously the crankcase needs to breath to displace the air as the pistons move up and down. The PCV valve is hooked up to your intake, and the pressureisSUCKED out of the crankcase (which is better on the engine), instead of it having to be BLOWN out of the crankcase. The vented cap on the other valve cover lets the air in (or more out ifneeded).
This is how the Factory does it. It has a hose that goes from the valve cover to the air cleaner base with a filter element in there, so it will suck in filtered air.
YEP! And how many times have you gone to a car show and saw cars with either one or two push in valve cover breathers with no PCV valves cuz PCV valves don't look cool? By the way, I didn't mention it earlier, but PCV valves can also help to prevent oil gasket leaks too!
 
  #7  
Old 02-10-2008, 08:59 PM
firebird69racer's Avatar
1st Gear Member
Join Date: May 2003
Location: San Bernardino,Ca
Posts: 293
Default RE: PCV valve, valve covers

And they don't cost you any HP losses like people think
 
  #8  
Old 02-10-2008, 10:32 PM
79camaro505's Avatar
Newbie
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 2
Default RE: PCV valve, valve covers

ok sweet thnx for the help. one thing though why do scott shafiroff's mtrs and some of these sick drag cars have sealed fabricated valve covers? this is gonna be between a 450 and 500 horse mtr
 
  #9  
Old 02-11-2008, 10:14 PM
firebird69racer's Avatar
1st Gear Member
Join Date: May 2003
Location: San Bernardino,Ca
Posts: 293
Default RE: PCV valve, valve covers

ORIGINAL: 79camaro505

ok sweet thnx for the help. one thing though why do scott shafiroff's mtrs and some of these sick drag cars have sealed fabricated valve covers? this is gonna be between a 450 and 500 horse mtr

If you look real close or if you ask them. They are running a vacuum pump of some sort to create a vacuum in the motor. In the older days they would run a hose with a one way valve to the collector on the headers to suck out the fumes in the motor. But now most use a vacuum pump.

For what you are doing the PCV valve would be just fine
 
  #10  
Old 02-22-2008, 08:02 PM
camaro_burns_all's Avatar
VIP member
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Lost somewhere in the Galaxy
Posts: 820
Default RE: PCV valve, valve covers

camaro69 also mentioned something very important. You must have the PCV valves because they certainly do help prevent oil leaks
 
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
69Muscle
67-69 General
16
08-10-2010 12:36 PM
rockstarbass1
82-92 V6 Tech
3
11-02-2009 10:23 PM
blink18236dude
93-02 V6 Tech
4
03-16-2007 01:48 PM
microkid
82-92 General
9
11-12-2006 10:21 PM
nnickty
Engine & Internal
2
08-22-2006 02:25 AM



Quick Reply: PCV valve, valve covers



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:54 PM.