Crankcase ventilation system`68 200

[Redfalken]

Hi all,

Two questions. First off, does anyone have a few pictures of a `68 200 that is as close to original as possible or unmolested as they say. Or could you describe the air breather/crankcase ventilation system? I have this engine in my `62 Falcon but I'm guessing there's a mixed configuration of different year air breathers, oil cap, pcv system, valve cover, etc.

Also, I need a new hose that goes from the carb spacer to the pcv valve. Mine's becoming cracked and brittle. Probably contributing to some vacuum leaks. It's a long "s" shape so I don't think a generic hose would fit right. Don't see them in any of the Falcon dealer catalogs but I haven't tried the Ford dealer yet.

There's a couple of shots of my current configuration at http://home.comcast.net/~purlgurls/pages/bay.html and http://home.comcast.net/~purlgurls/images/engine.jpg

I know the `68 has a different air breather that goes down to the manifold for heat when cold and maybe even a oil cap with a nipple and hose that goes to the air breather. My hose to the pcv valve snakes right between the carb adapter plate and valve cover and I wonder if that's correct or if it gets too hot there.

Maybe it's not that important as long as the bad crankcase fumes go back through the intake and fresh air gets into the valve cover??

Thanks...

 

[x21]

I've got a 200 in my 68 Stang- maybe these can help- http://f1.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/ux21/a ... o.com/ux21
I've pretty much tried to keep the motor as close to the condition as when I got the car a decade ago (engine was replaced though). Really the only big changes are a different valve cover which only is missing the "Powered by Ford" stamping, but still has everything lined up the same way- air breather and pvc orientation. I also removed the snorkel part for right now.
If you want any more pics of it, give a holler.
I dont think that the mixing of air breather and oil cap would have that big of an impact on your engine. A different valve cover may make it so you would have to reroute some hoses. My pcv hose was just a run of the mill hosing i got from the auto parts store.
Are you having any problems with the engine?
It looks very nice, clean set up though.

 

[Redfalken]

Hi...Thanks for the photos! I'm always torn between having an engine that LOOKS like it belongs in my `62 (i.e. - air breather, paint scheme, oil cap, etc.) but more important is how it performs.

I was having problems with rough idle and after putting in new plugs, wires and replacing a leaky coil, it runs much better. Now it's giving me some hesitation problems during acceleration. I've been messing around with timing and the carb but now I'm thinking I've got a vacuum leak somewhere. While I'm replacing some parts I figured I would try to find out how the engine was originally configured.

While I'm sure there are differences between parts in the 144-170-200's I'm not sure if the crankcase ventilation systems for the different years of manufacture can be interchange and still perform as designed.

I'm feeling better after some minor day surgery so I may get out today and check for leaks with my propane wand and see if I can find something obvious.

One thing I still don't understand is it looks like the vacuum advance nipple on your distributor is pointing at the firewall (let's call that 12:00) while mine is more like 10:00 which times me at about 12 degrees btdc (I just installed a rebuilt harmonic balancer so I'm sure my marks are close). I'm pretty sure I have the original distributor because it has the mechanical advance (cetrifugal) in it and I understand those came out in the late 60's. I'm also pretty sure I'm at tdc when the rotor points to #1 and the the piston is at the top of it's stroke on the compression cycle. I suppose I should double check that again.

Do you know what your engine likes as far as timing goes? Or do you time by ear or adjust if it's pinging?

 

[Falcon62]

Kenny - Your distributor was probably dropped in a tooth off, no big deal as the engine doesn't care. You can achieve the same thing by rotating your plug wires in sequence one hole CW, move the distributor so it points to number one, and then retime your engine. Sometimes this is easier than pulling the distributor and reseating it, certainly quicker. 8)

 

[Anonymous]

Kenny;
The 'rules' for PCV systems are simple, as there are really only 2 types Ford has ever used:
1. The crankcase breather type that goes via 'gooseneck' into the base of the carb. (You can make your own gooseneck hose by installing a spring inside of a small hose, then bending at will.)
2. The valve cover type that goes into the intake manifold.

These are the same, be it a 4/6/8 cylinder. The big 'dividing line' came about 1964-67, depending on the engine, where all of the PCV systems then went from the valve cover into the intake manifold. This latter approach reduced oil consumption because the crankcase usually has airborne oil mist (due to cranshaft spin) that would get sucked into the manifold for no good reason. The valve cover version has no oil misting, but provides good vacuum of the crankcase (if the valve cover gasket is good). Usually, the valve cover versions have larger-sized vacuum lines because the vacuum losses are a little higher overall, and they use check valves inside the PCV valve (the older systems often had no check valve). It was common practice in the mid-1960s to switch an engine from the older 'gooseneck' systems to the newer valve-cover types just to reduce the oil consumption (and smoking) that would happen during deceleration.

 

[Redfalken]

OK...today's lesson...never, NEVER underestimate the power of a little vacuum leak. A new pcv hose and valve and wow what a difference! I have to get used to not babying it when I take off. The hesitation is gone. Now I just need to udjust the timing a bit and I'm back on track.

But dang does the new generic hose look ugly! Anyone know where to get an original preformed hose? How about a part number so I can search for a NOS? I called a vintage Mustang parts house in town and they tell me nobody is reproducing them.

Thanks to everyone for your advice!