FE oil filler tube or not?

lippy · #1 (**permalink**) 02-14-2016, 10:57 AM

I'll be installing a Blue Thunder dual plane intake on my FE. It's not a correct looking engine, it's more of a modern look. The BT intake comes with an oil filler tube, but I really don't need it, as I can just fill through the breather holes on the valve covers.

Any opinions on which is the best way to go, and which looks better? Also, does anyone know where I could get a billet type of oil cap for that tube if I go that route? The only ones I found are stamped/chromed steel.

patrickt · #2 (**permalink**) 02-14-2016, 04:29 PM

I have the BT dual plane and the oil filler is plugged. Where are you going to run your PCV? If you have removable caps on both your valve covers (one with a PCV valve, the other for fresh air intake) then having an oil filler tube with another removable cap is going to look a little unusual. I'm trying to remember a time that I've seen an oil filler tube and oil caps on the valve covers.

lippy · #3 (**permalink**) 02-14-2016, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patrickt

I have the BT dual plane and the oil filler is plugged. Where are you going to run your PCV? If you have removable caps on both your valve covers (one with a PCV valve, the other for fresh air intake) then having an oil filler tube with another removable cap is going to look a little unusual. I'm trying to remember a time that I've seen an oil filler tube and oil caps on the valve covers.

No PCV. Just breathers. This is what Brent told me to do. I get your point about having two breathers and a filler, though. I guess I'll just plug the BT.

otto · #4 (**permalink**) 02-14-2016, 05:09 PM

you could remove the tube and press a freeze plug in

lippy · #5 (**permalink**) 02-14-2016, 07:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by otto

you could remove the tube and press a freeze plug in

Yep. Or Survival has a billet plug that looks better.

patrickt · #6 (**permalink**) 02-15-2016, 07:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lippy

No PCV. Just breathers. This is what Brent told me to do.

Now that you are modifying your engine to be more "streetable," you might want to revisit the PCV issue.

kevins2 · #7 (**permalink**) 02-15-2016, 08:05 AM

Hey Lippy,

My engine builder also suggested breathers for the valve covers but the driver's side breather was spitting a small amount of oil. I replaced one of them with a PCV valve and that completely eliminated the problem.

Kevin

lippy · #8 (**permalink**) 02-15-2016, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patrickt

Now that you are modifying your engine to be more "streetable," you might want to revisit the PCV issue.

May be worth considering.

How did you configure it on the BT intake? Since I don't have a vacuum port on my carb, this intake may make things easier, either by using the vacuum port on the intake itself, or by using a carb spacer with a vacuum fitting (I have more vertical room now).

Can you go PCV in the passenger side valve cover to the vacuum port on the intake, and then a breather with a tube into the air cleaner base? Is that right?

patrickt · #9 (**permalink**) 02-15-2016, 10:06 AM

The tried and true method, which is what I have in the pic below, is to have the PCV valve in the cap on the rear passenger side valve cover, the breather cap is on the front driver side valve cover. Then run your vacuum line to whatever it is you happen to have available. Mine required a small bit a fabbing because of my Turkey Pan base. Nothing big. Because of the rotation of the engine, you almost always see the PCV on the passenger side of an FE. Baffling of the cover is important, otherwise you'll suck up more oil than you might think. I've got a pic of my VC baffling. Again, nothing fancy, just a little metal welded on and clearance so the rockers don't whack them.

lippy · #10 (**permalink**) 02-15-2016, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patrickt

The tried and true method, which is what I have in the pic below, is to have the PCV valve in the cap on the rear passenger side valve cover, the breather cap is on the front driver side valve cover. Then run your vacuum line to whatever it is you happen to have available. Mine required a small bit a fabbing because of my Turkey Pan base. Nothing big. Because of the rotation of the engine, you almost always see the PCV on the passenger side of an FE. Baffling of the cover is important, otherwise you'll suck up more oil than you might think. I've got a pic of my VC baffling. Again, nothing fancy, just a little metal welded on and clearance so the rockers don't whack them.

Thanks Patrick. So I'm clear, do you just have a breather cap on the driver's side? Without a hose to the air cleaner base?

patrickt · #11 (**permalink**) 02-15-2016, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lippy

Thanks Patrick. So I'm clear, do you just have a breather cap on the driver's side? Without a hose to the air cleaner base?

Correct. The only thing in the driver's side VC is a breather cap. No hose. It is an "Open System" in that it draws fresh air from the atmosphere, not from the intake system.