My recently purchased 1959 Dynamic 88 with371 engine has an early form of smog control; sealed oil filler tube with a cap attached to a rubber hose to the intake manifold, and a removed draft tube. At startup I get a lot of oily black water out the exhaust . It might be something else but I hope it's not valve seals or bad valves and ring etc.. However I suspect the smog system is not helping. I want to return it to an open system There's draft tube on eBay for 1957 371. Question is will it fit my 371 or can it be made to replace my original?
Thanks, Jerry

 

Your 371 originally had a road draft tube. If your Oldsmobile isn't getting a concours restoration you could always try an aftermarket road draft system. You might do a compression test to check the health of your engine. Blue, oily smoke at start up usually indicates worn valve guide seals.

 

So it's a PCV with no PCV valve?

 

No PCV. I've read this was the first version of smog. A sealed cap, tube to the manifold, and sealed off the road draft tube. Probably done in the early1960s.

 

I've looked for aftermarket draft tube online but haven't found a vender. Fusick doesn't have them Do you know of a vender?

 

The "oily black water" is probably condensation in the exhaust system from short drives. You need to drive it on the highway long enough to heat up and boil out the condensation. The "black" part could be from a choke adjusted to rich and idling for periods of time.

The 1959-60 block is different than the 1957-58 block due to a taller deck. The heads will fit, but intake manifolds will NOT fit.

I haven't seen the inside of a 1959 engine, but the 1957-58 had a baffle inside the engine (below the valley pan) that was bolted to the "Road draft tube". Without the baffle, oil laden air could condense on the cooler inside of road draft tube and drip oil where you park. Charlie Jones can provide more information.

 

The parts book lists different numbers for 54 thru 58 and 59 & 60.
So probably not.