The 401 in my '62 Electra has a crankcase ventilator pipe (draft tube) that I would like to eliminate. I sometimes get fumes in the car. I thought PCV system began in '63, but I found a 1962 assembly manual for full size Buick's and it shows an adapter assembly (part # 5646025) that the PCV valves screws onto, and is then routed to the back of the carb in place of the vent tube. Instructions say to remove and discard the vent tube. Date on the drawing is 5/3/61. Anyone know where I could find this part? I would think one out of a salvage car would be rusted junk. OR, could I just use a later style valve cover with PCV and route it to the carb. Would this provide adequate ventilation for the 1962 model engine?
The only place your going to find the parts is either a bone yard or ebay.I would think you would be futher ahead looking for chicken lips.Being this old it would probley have to be off a Calif. emmissions car.i think your on the right track wit the newer PCV and hose. Tom
I thought the PCV system was first available for the '67 California models. The first emission control. I didn't know such a conversion existed, nor do I recall seeing a PCV on a pre '68 car of any make unless it's original engine was swapped. I think a custom fabrication would be the best route. The conversion pieces are probably far and few in between. Keep us posted as to what you find :TU:
Maybe it was a mandated item by '68 (67 in CA) The same way that seatbelts weren't required until '68 and headrests mandated in Jan. of '69 but were available on certain cars long before that time.
I've had 3 '64 Wildcats through the years and they've all had a PCV setup. I remember my dad eliminating the road draft tube on his old Chevy pickup by simply removing it and plugging the hole with a similar sized freeze plug. But then you would definitely need a PCV valve and a breather in the opposite side valve cover to properly vent the crankcase. The only problem I foresee is that a PCV valve is a controlled vacuum leak and you'd need to find the right one. I'd assume a set up for a later nailhead would work just fine, but maybe someone with a little more experience will chime in. Mike
PCV Valves started in '63 for Buick. You would plug the draft tube. You don't want to be pulling in "Dirty" air from under the car. You already have a breather in one side. You will need the proper PCV valve cover for the right side. A PCV Valve for a '63-'66 NailHead & the baffle plate that bolts onto the rockers to keep oil from being "Sucked" into the PCV system. Then all you have to do is find a vacuum source with a very high volume of vacuum. Some Tee it off the power brake booster supply vacuum hose. You may have to re-set the idle air screws, but you should not have to do any carb. re-jetting.
Tom, this is kind of interesting. I also thought that the first year Buick used the PCV system on the nailhead engines was '63, that's as far back as the books show a PCV valve for these engines. I have a reprint of an original GM assembly manual for the Buick 4400 -4600 - 4800 series cars for 1962. I came across a schematic entitled "Positive Crankcase Ventilation Info. Assem." and is dated 5/3/61 and says "First Used 1962-44-46-4800." part no. 1352263. It shows that the crankcase ventilator pipe assembly should be removed and discarded and the adapter assembly (part no. 564025) along with the PCV valve assembly (part no. 5645947) should be used in it's place and routed to the back of the carb on both the 4V and 2V carbs. I'll try and attach the diagram. I'd be interested if anyone has a '62 nailhead with the factory set up. I'd really like to use this set up on my car and eliminate that draft tube to keep as "clean" as look as possible. I wonder if this set up was what was used in '63?
The pcv system keeps an engine far cleaner than the old draft tube system. this would be a desirable mod.
I've never seen a PCV set-up on any '62 Buick's. I would imagine it was an available option or dealer add-on at some point. I wouldn't use the set-up you posted because there's no way to keep the oil splash/fumes from being sucked into the PCV system easier than in the valve cover. Why do you think they used the baffle on the rocker arms under the PCV valve???? This was to cut down or curtail excessive oil consumption through the PCV system. As Doc said, I prefer a PCV set-up & usually install one in just about all engine rebuilds I do on older engines that didn't originally come with any. It provides kinda a vacuum in the crankcase instead of pressure. Less chance of oil leaks & oil sweat which keeps your engine & engine compartment cleaner.
Thanks for your imput on this subject guys. I'd never seen a nailhead engine before I bought this car, so it's been an interesting learning experience! The baffles you talk of to limit oil sucked into the PCV system, are they part ot the rocker arm assembly or part of the valve cover? A vaccum source is also necessary to make the system work? I have a friend with a '65 Wildcat with the Super 465, I'll check out how his car is set up with vaccum. Could a baffle be fabricated for the valley pan so the original set up could be used, or would that not work well either? Thanks again for your comments.
Yup, just duplicate the factory system and you will be fine. The parts should be easy to come by. This would be a far better set up than any other. You could run a tube from the draft tube outlet in the center valley cover to the air cleaner, but that would be a ''truck'' set up and not as good, plus it messes up the air cleaner elements. Better to go with the stock set up for a 64-65 nailhead.
I am interested in converting my 58 Buick to a pcv set up. Would snatching up a pcv era nailhead valve cover work on a pre pcv nailhead?
