It would help to post a photo of the air cleaner you intend to use.

generally, one will source a hose nipple that can be attached to the air cleaner, inside of the element area, so it can draw filtered air thru a hose that has the other end attached to the oil filler cap. That makes the PCV a closed system.

On the other side of the engine, usually the passenger side, you’ll have the PCV valve in the valve cover and a short hose going to either the intake or the carb base. That plumbing provides the vacuum source to keep the engine crankcase under a slight vacuum and pressure free

Z

 

Thanks Z,

This is the one I wish to use: Scott Drake C8ZZ-9600-M Mustang Air Cleaner Mustang Horse Oval 4V 1965-1973 (cjponyparts.com)

Along with these valve covers: Scott Drake 6A582-289 Valve Cover With 289 Powered By Ford Logo Wrinkle Black Pair 289 (cjponyparts.com)

How would you attach a nipple to the air cleaner if there is not a hole already? Make one? Sorry, sounds like a dumb question. But I'm just wondering if I need to keep the same system in place. I have the current closed system that you describe.

 

It most likely has a spot on the base to hook the hose. Call cj and ask.

 

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/trd-2162?seid=srese1&ppckw=pmax-vf-trans-dapt-performance-products&gclid=CjwKCAjw2Je1BhAgEiwAp3KY7ymjZZy10vmCGPNFopuL3oDInkS98swB0V5R4uLLajDbV0GdqnLYIhoCqpUQAvD_BwE

 

This what my dual quad style air cleaners came with.

 

They sell 90degree fittings in the help section of Napa for just this purpose. All you do is drill a hole in the bottom of the air cleaner, insert one side of the 90 and hook your breather hose to the other side.

 

Here's what the underside of that air cleaner looks like, so you'll have to fab your own PCV closed system:

 

You don't need to connect the filler tube to your air filter if you don't want to. The filler will accept a 65-66 factory style open element breather cap.

 

You don't need to connect the filler tube to your air filter if you don't want to. The filler will accept a 65-66 factory style open element breather cap….. “

Whit all due respect for differences in opinions, What’s the advantage ? Aside from just being lazy, or not wanting another 1/2” rubber hose on the engine ? If there is an engineering based advantage I’d like to be educated about it.

The oil filler caps that don’t utilize the air cleaner source for oil filtered air are depending on some oily wire mesh to keep the dust and grit from circulating around the lower end bearings. Not very effective. Which is why the closed PCV system became the standard.

Z

 

Either switch to a plain breather/oil cap without a nipple or drill a hole in the air cleaner base, just inside the air filter perimeter, and attach an elbow, like shown below, to connect your fresh air hose.

 

I used one of these water tight conduit elbows on the bottom of the Hipo air cleaner:

 

Get a 90 degree hose barb fitting. Drill a hole in base of the filter (so the threaded ends will fit through it).
Get an NPT threaded nut so the hose barb will be secure. I'd probably put a rubber washer under the nut and definitely use red loctite (so the nut doesn't wind up in your motor).

Here's an example of an NPT threaded nut.

Amazon.com

I suggest the 90 degree hose barb so your hose doesn't have to make a 90 degree turn to go into the hose fitting.

Edit or just use what @66coupe289 posted at the same time I did.

 

Mine had a draft tube as well. My initial 5 hour drive home after I bought it was enough for me. PCV was the first change I made, plus rebuilding the right rear brake cylinder that let go and smoked on the way home.

 

I believe my feb nj A code came with a draft tube. i have one but use the later 65 setup with a pcv and an open breather

 

I believe my feb nj A code came with a draft tube. i have one but use the later 65 setup with a pcv and an open breather

Mine was a January San Jose car.

Kalifornia HiPo's, from '66 up, came with "closed" emissions. The "closed" system was a result of tightened California restrictions on unburned HC being emitted from the breather cap in cases where blow-by exceeded the PCV system capabilities. It also greatly extends oil life by filtering a lot more dirt from the ventilating air.

But it looks so much less cool.

edit: I also tend to think of 65s as “the Mustang” and the rest are “ the others”.

 

Mine was a January San Jose car.

It it looks so much less cool.

edit: I also tend to think of 65s as “the Mustang” and the rest are “ the others”.

Nah, '65's are just small Falcons... It took them a year to get it right.

 

Can’t argue, says Falcon Sprint under the Mustang emblem on my steering wheel. At least yours is a 65 clone, that’s something .

 

I have just a vent tube on passenger side to air cleaner on my 71 302, no pcv on Dr side. I get a very slight oil residue in the air cleaner, after 3000 miles, I could wipe it all up with one paper towel….no apparent oil leaks due to pressure, with air cleaner way from carb I get a gentle whiff of smoke/mist/vapor slowly releasing from the valve cover tube….

 

the procedure to test the pcv is with a vacuum gauge. One way is to connect a vacuum gauge to the dipstick tube and block the breather on the valve cover. some vacuum fuel pump test gauges have a spot marked to test pcv also. With the engine idling you should see around 3" vacuum on the crankcase.

 

Mix and match parts and do whatever is needed to run a hose from the air cleaner to the valve cover. Ensure that nothing on the inside can come loose and/or go down the carburetor into the intake.

 

Fully functional pcv and emissions, Chevy 5.3 after 20 years and 150k miles….LOL the oil that make it to intake was baked into layers of black flakes….and tarry goo….truck still runs great at age 24, 180k.

I did have to replace knock sensors, that’s when I found the mess…

 

This is why I use a header evac system, plus it actually makes some HP. On my EFI car I have a rebuilt air pump which will be modded to act as an evac with oil catch. Keep that junk out of the engine. The PCV system is beneficial to the engine, that is undeniable, but ingesting the gunk into the intake is far from the best method. Most would be surprised at how much difference they make. I can tell my header evac valve needs to be replaced because the idle quality goes down.

 

Reviving this old thread - I was the original poster asking about keeping my closed PCV system with an aftermarket air cleaner. The factory setup has the hose from the oil breather cap going into the OEM air cleaner before it hits the filter and providing filtered air into the carb. Unless I am misunderstanding, the suggestions here seem to be to put the hose inside the filter, so unfiltered air goes into the carb. I'm a little concerned about any contaminants coming out of the valve cover (oil mostly) through the oil breather cap straight into the carb. Is this a concern or am I being too cautious?

 

It's the opposite direction... that side of the PCV has FILTERED air going into the elbow then down to the breather cap to replace the vapors sucked out by the PCV valve and back into the intake manifold.