1962 olds 394

Stefan · 06-15-2007, 03:42 PM

i just wounder if anybody has got some pictures of what the crankhouse ventilation looked like from the factory. i have some problem with oil leaking over my engine thru my breathers.

kustom60dynamic_rick · 06-15-2007, 08:50 PM

i got a few pics of my 394 i just acquired, and a couple of the 371 in my olds.

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e2...ford/olds4.jpg
http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e2...ford/olds3.jpg
http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e2...rd/olds2-1.jpg
http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e2...rd/olds1-1.jpg

hopefully these pics could help you. I would make sure the breather is fresh and not full of oil, and if the motor has been redone, i would defenitely run a pcv to the air filter-or add a breather in each valve cover. Providing the oil is coming from "blow by" and not through bad gaskets, such as distributor or the valley pan.

Stefan · 06-16-2007, 01:36 AM

the engine has not beeen redone and the breather on the oil filling tube is old + i have offenhauser valve covers with no breathers on them. the only way out now for the crankhouse ventilation is thru that single breather in the oil filling tube and that might not be enough. it feels like there should be at least one more "hole" for the engine to breath thru. i searched the web and found some good (and bad) solutions to the problem. one guy had drilled a hole thru the oil filling tube & put a hose in it to the air cleaner. another guy had also drilled a hole in the tube but he had the hose conected to the carb.

my second question is: will two breathers (one on each valve cover) and a fresh one for the oil filling tube prevent oil from gushing out my new paint job or will more breathers just mean that there are more "holes" to leak & gush oil from over my new paintjob?

Oldsfan · 06-16-2007, 05:33 AM

Factory non-PCV cars have a hole in the passenger side valve cover. In the hole is a rubber grommet, and inserted into the grommet is a downdraft tube.

Cars with factory PCV have a short pipe sticking out of the grommet instead of the downdraft tube. A hose is connected to this pipe and it runs over to a base plate under the carb. The base plate has a PCV valve built right into it. You don't change the valve, you change the guts. I think I gutted mine and put a new style valve in the hose before the plate. Factory PCV cars also have a hole in the driver side valve cover. There is a breather that goes in the grommet in that valve cover.

That's the best I can do for you now. I'll take some photos later on. I'm not near the car right now.

Paul

Stefan · 06-16-2007, 10:03 AM

Ok, thanks. Yeah, pictures would be nice. My engine is really gushing out a fog of oil that makes my engine, windshield and roof look really messy. I could post a picture of the engine here....

Oldsfan · 06-16-2007, 07:14 PM

OK, here you go. You should feel honored. I don't normally let people see my ugly engine compartment. I am a driver, not a cleaner.

I have a rubber hose running from the valve cover over to the PCV valve. I don't know if that is correct or not. Something makes me think it should be a metal tube. But then, I don't know how it would connect to the valve. I guess it's hard for you to see that the valve is threaded on the end where it goes into the spacer plate. I thought I changed my valve, but maybe I didn't. Either I found one NOS, or I just gutted it. I don't remember. Someday I'll take it apart and see if there's anything in there...

I guess it's also hard for you to see the breather on the driver side valve cover. It should stick out farther than it does, but there's no room because of the cruise control brackets. I had to turn it around and stick the long end in the valve cover so it would clear the brackets. There is a parts bulletin stating that cruise control equipped cars should have the breather removed and have a plug installed in the valve cover. I tried that, but it seemed to suck oil when I did that, so I put it back in. When I rebuild the motor I'm going to try the plug again.

Paul

Stefan · 06-18-2007, 01:14 AM

Thanks for the pictures. It looks just like it did on my 56 Pontiac with a Chevy 350 engine & tranny. The "problem" for me with my Olds 394 is that i have finned Offenhauser valve covers with no holes in them. Should i buy breathers and put on each valve cover and a new cap for the oil filling tube? I prefer not to have hoses in to my air cleaner & carb because i want a clean nice look since i have no hood to cover the engibe with. Sorry if i am asking you the same question over and over again, but i´m from sweden and i don´t fully understand everything you´re saying when we talk about technical stuff haha.
Here´s a picture of the car where you can see my valve covers...

Oldsfan · 06-18-2007, 06:11 AM

That is one sweet looking ride. I can see why you don't want a bunch of PCV stuff hanging on there. But you really do need something to let the crankcase breath. I guess you're only alternative is going to be to add breathers to your valve covers. Don't know how you're gonna to that, though.

Paul

Oldsguy · 06-18-2007, 08:07 AM

Stefan, you may have no choice but to use some kind of positive crankcase ventilation to keep the engine/firewall/windscreen cleaner. It seems you have a lot of positive pressure in that block that wants to get out.

By the way, you should go on over to jalopyjournal.com and get on the H.A.M.B. They would love your car over there!

Stefan · 06-18-2007, 10:58 PM

I was thinking about putting some Offenhauser breathers on the valve covers but will that take care of the problem with oil spraying all over my car or will it just be two new holes for the oil to leak out from?

Thanks,for the comments on my Ford

Stefan · 06-19-2007, 12:05 AM

First of all i now realise that the word "crankhouse" is a non existing word which i made up with some swedish added to my english

My friend has got a 1959 Olds 394 and he has got a tube at the top of the block with a hose connected to it which runs under the car. Does anybode know which year they changed this?

88 coupe · 06-19-2007, 02:20 AM

My kind of Rod.

The original road draft tube would fit in with your late fifties look, but they can be messy if you drive it much.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stefan

........ the only way out now for the crankcase ventilation is thru that single breather in the oil filling tube and that might not be enough ........

It's more than enough. It's the way it was done before California required "closed" PCV systems. Addition of the air cleaner hose, is what made it a "closed" system, and it's only purpose, was to provide filtered air for crankcase ventilation.

As long as you don't have excessive blowby, and your cap looks like this,

you can use it. Found it at http://www.partsamerica.com/

Norm

88 coupe · 06-19-2007, 03:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stefan

........ Does anybody know which year they changed this?

Don't know about the other 49 states, but starting in '63 (according to the CA State website) closed PCV systems were required on all cars, '55 and newer, that were sold/registered in the state.

Norm

Stefan · 06-19-2007, 03:14 AM

ok, but how about just drilling a hole in my valley cover and let a hose run under my car? bad idea?

Stefan · 06-19-2007, 03:19 AM

what is excessive blowby? again, i´m from sweden hahaha

Oldsfan · 06-19-2007, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stefan

I was thinking about putting some Offenhauser breathers on the valve covers but will that take care of the problem with oil spraying all over my car or will it just be two new holes for the oil to leak out from?

I think this will be the case. If you've got enough pressure in the crankcase that it is pushing oil out at the filler tube, it'll just push it out of the breathers, too. Take another look at my photos - specifically the breather on the driver side. Maybe you can't see it, but it is very oily, including the cruise brackets. I've got blowby and need an overhaul.

If you pull the oil filler cap off with the motor running and you are getting puffs of smoke up through the filler tube, you've got blowby.

Paul

Stefan · 06-19-2007, 11:19 PM

ok, but how about just drilling a hole in my valley cover and let a hose run under my car? or maybe drill a hole in my oil filling tube & let a hose run under the car? bad idea? the early 394 engines had a hose just hanging down under the car so... maybe i can take the easy way out and solve the problem like this & then fix it when the looong winter comes here in sweden

88 coupe · 06-19-2007, 11:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stefan

ok, but how about just drilling a hole in my valley cover and let a hose run under my car?

Yes, you could do that.

Or, you could run that same hose, with a PCV valve, from where the top of the road draft tube used to be, to the rear of the carb base. Clean the oil out of the filler cap and, blowby permitting, you should be good to go.

Norm

Stefan · 06-20-2007, 03:21 AM

Ok, i will try some different solutions to the problem. Do you think i could drill a hole in the tube where i fill the engine up with oil and run a hose under the car? Instead of drilling a hole in my valley cover? It would be so much easier for now & then i can drill a hole in the valley cover and hide the hose better for a cleaner look when i have the time (in the winter)...now i just want to get the car out & cruise the town every night

Jakespeed63 · 07-03-2007, 08:42 PM

Stefan, PM sent

Re:PCV, what about strategically fabbing some breathers on the back of the V/C's out of sight?

I concurr that my fellow HAMB'rs would go crazy over this crate.

06-15-2007, 03:42 PM	#1 (permalink)
Stefan Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 10	1962 olds 394 i just wounder if anybody has got some pictures of what the crankhouse ventilation looked like from the factory. i have some problem with oil leaking over my engine thru my breathers.

06-18-2007, 08:07 AM	#9 (permalink)
Oldsguy Administrator Join Date: May 2004 Location: Lees Summit MO Posts: 2,990	Stefan, you may have no choice but to use some kind of positive crankcase ventilation to keep the engine/firewall/windscreen cleaner. It seems you have a lot of positive pressure in that block that wants to get out. By the way, you should go on over to jalopyjournal.com and get on the H.A.M.B. They would love your car over there! __________________ Dan '46 2 door

07-03-2007, 08:42 PM	#20 (permalink)
Jakespeed63 Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Orlando, Florida Posts: 26	Engine breather PCV Stefan, PM sent Re:PCV, what about strategically fabbing some breathers on the back of the V/C's out of sight? I concurr that my fellow HAMB'rs would go crazy over this crate.

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06-15-2007, 08:50 PM	#2 (permalink)
kustom60dynamic_rick Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 6	i got a few pics of my 394 i just acquired, and a couple of the 371 in my olds. http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e2...ford/olds4.jpg http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e2...ford/olds3.jpg http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e2...rd/olds2-1.jpg http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e2...rd/olds1-1.jpg hopefully these pics could help you. I would make sure the breather is fresh and not full of oil, and if the motor has been redone, i would defenitely run a pcv to the air filter-or add a breather in each valve cover. Providing the oil is coming from "blow by" and not through bad gaskets, such as distributor or the valley pan.

06-16-2007, 01:36 AM	#3 (permalink)
Stefan Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 10	the engine has not beeen redone and the breather on the oil filling tube is old + i have offenhauser valve covers with no breathers on them. the only way out now for the crankhouse ventilation is thru that single breather in the oil filling tube and that might not be enough. it feels like there should be at least one more "hole" for the engine to breath thru. i searched the web and found some good (and bad) solutions to the problem. one guy had drilled a hole thru the oil filling tube & put a hose in it to the air cleaner. another guy had also drilled a hole in the tube but he had the hose conected to the carb. my second question is: will two breathers (one on each valve cover) and a fresh one for the oil filling tube prevent oil from gushing out my new paint job or will more breathers just mean that there are more "holes" to leak & gush oil from over my new paintjob?

06-16-2007, 05:33 AM	#4 (permalink)
Oldsfan Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 507	Factory non-PCV cars have a hole in the passenger side valve cover. In the hole is a rubber grommet, and inserted into the grommet is a downdraft tube. Cars with factory PCV have a short pipe sticking out of the grommet instead of the downdraft tube. A hose is connected to this pipe and it runs over to a base plate under the carb. The base plate has a PCV valve built right into it. You don't change the valve, you change the guts. I think I gutted mine and put a new style valve in the hose before the plate. Factory PCV cars also have a hole in the driver side valve cover. There is a breather that goes in the grommet in that valve cover. That's the best I can do for you now. I'll take some photos later on. I'm not near the car right now. Paul

06-16-2007, 10:03 AM	#5 (permalink)
Stefan Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 10	Ok, thanks. Yeah, pictures would be nice. My engine is really gushing out a fog of oil that makes my engine, windshield and roof look really messy. I could post a picture of the engine here....

06-18-2007, 01:14 AM	#7 (permalink)
Stefan Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 10	Thanks for the pictures. It looks just like it did on my 56 Pontiac with a Chevy 350 engine & tranny. The "problem" for me with my Olds 394 is that i have finned Offenhauser valve covers with no holes in them. Should i buy breathers and put on each valve cover and a new cap for the oil filling tube? I prefer not to have hoses in to my air cleaner & carb because i want a clean nice look since i have no hood to cover the engibe with. Sorry if i am asking you the same question over and over again, but i´m from sweden and i don´t fully understand everything you´re saying when we talk about technical stuff haha. Here´s a picture of the car where you can see my valve covers...

06-18-2007, 06:11 AM	#8 (permalink)
Oldsfan Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 507	That is one sweet looking ride. I can see why you don't want a bunch of PCV stuff hanging on there. But you really do need something to let the crankcase breath. I guess you're only alternative is going to be to add breathers to your valve covers. Don't know how you're gonna to that, though. Paul

06-18-2007, 10:58 PM	#10 (permalink)
Stefan Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 10	I was thinking about putting some Offenhauser breathers on the valve covers but will that take care of the problem with oil spraying all over my car or will it just be two new holes for the oil to leak out from? Thanks,for the comments on my Ford

06-19-2007, 12:05 AM	#11 (permalink)
Stefan Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 10	First of all i now realise that the word "crankhouse" is a non existing word which i made up with some swedish added to my english My friend has got a 1959 Olds 394 and he has got a tube at the top of the block with a hose connected to it which runs under the car. Does anybode know which year they changed this?

06-19-2007, 03:14 AM	#14 (permalink)
Stefan Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 10	ok, but how about just drilling a hole in my valley cover and let a hose run under my car? bad idea?

06-19-2007, 03:19 AM	#15 (permalink)
Stefan Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 10	what is excessive blowby? again, i´m from sweden hahaha

06-19-2007, 11:19 PM	#17 (permalink)
Stefan Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 10	ok, but how about just drilling a hole in my valley cover and let a hose run under my car? or maybe drill a hole in my oil filling tube & let a hose run under the car? bad idea? the early 394 engines had a hose just hanging down under the car so... maybe i can take the easy way out and solve the problem like this & then fix it when the looong winter comes here in sweden

06-20-2007, 03:21 AM	#19 (permalink)
Stefan Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 10	Ok, i will try some different solutions to the problem. Do you think i could drill a hole in the tube where i fill the engine up with oil and run a hose under the car? Instead of drilling a hole in my valley cover? It would be so much easier for now & then i can drill a hole in the valley cover and hide the hose better for a cleaner look when i have the time (in the winter)...now i just want to get the car out & cruise the town every night