Ventilation plumbing for my 289

[oldguy668]

Mr. Google tells me that I need a PCV valve on one valve cover that connects to the carburetor plate and a vent on the other valve cover that connects to the air cleaner housing. That's more hose than I want to see when I open the hood. Can't I use push-in vents on both valve covers? BTW, there's no provision on my pan for the "road draft" tube.

[Erik W. Treves]

that's how mine is...no PCV...just breathers...

[Avalanche325]

Yes you can, but you will likely get some oil dripping. That vapor has to go somewhere.

[aspbite]

I would not run an engine without one. It reduces the fuel contamination by pulling the vapors out as the oil heats up and boils them off. The same for water vapor that comes from condensation. With each hot/cold cycle, some moisture enters the mix and the PCV helps rid the oil of that as it steams off. A non PCV system or one that doesn't work properly show as a milky goo that accumulates inside the engine. When mixed with oil, it accelerates the formation of sludge and breakdown of the oil. You can run the PCV valve on one side and just a breather on the other side. There should be baffles in your valve covers as well to help keep the oil separated from the air. Another option may be a vacuum pump.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1Jb_sfpZsI

[CraigS]

I used this setup for about 3 years.

After every other autocross I would pull the filters and clean the oil out w/ brake clean and compressed air. At one point I swapped the VCs so the vents were toward the front of the engine which helped. But then they needed to be cut shorter to clear the hood. This spring I put caps on them and ran hoses to a catch tank. Now I just drain the tank once in a while. For non autocross use during the off season my original setup was fine.

[Todd Buttrick]

I vent one side to carb base with PCV and other side open.