[mrennie]

So while about to take the PS valve cover off to readjust my valves, I notice a slight trail of oil from the rubber grommet in the valve cover that the breather tube to the air cleaner housing sits in. This is odd, parts are all new (reproduction) and grommet appeared to fit snug when I installed it with the tube. Hmmm...

Pull out the breather tube and first thing I see is a circular groove worn into the side of it. Engine has been started < 10 times since installation and now has 100 miles on it. After taking the valve cover off, I figure out that when the tube is installed, instead of point across the engine, it is turned a bit toward the front causing it to rub directly on the side of #4 exhaust rocker arm just above the pivot. Nice...(sarcasm).

My theory on the oil leak is that when installing the air cleaner housing, the position of the tube caused it to bind against the rocker, which deformed the grommet enough to allow a leak (its a theory....).

So when I put the valve cover back on, I left the grommet out and reconnected the tube to the cleaner housing, then marked the position of the tube. Pulled it out an eyeballed it and sure enough, the end of the tube has too much twist in it, causing the interference.

Held the bottom of the tube in a soft jaw vise and gave it a little tweak, then remarked and checked it again. This time it sites evenly between the two middle rockers and does not touch anything.

Aftermarket/reproduction parts? Check your parts!

[steve25]

Yup, for along time now you can't leave anything to chance!

Thanks for the heads up.

[mrennie]

Pics wouldn't load last night.

Here is the evidence.

[mrennie]

Second pic is after I tweaked the pipe in the vise.

Likely would not have been an issue with stock stamped arms.

[mgarblik]

It's great that you found and corrected the problem. There is nothing you can buy in the aftermarket that is a perfect fit once all the NOS parts are exhausted. Chances are, if your engine had the more narrow, stock rocker arms, the pipe would have cleared, even incorrectly bent. I would check for any shavings and change oil and filter to be extra safe.

[cnc]

Was this your slight “ tick “ u also started to notice….i think u mentioned in another post….beautiful job by the way on the car

[mrennie]

I considered if this was the cause of the tick and not really sure. My gut says no, as the contact point was consistent so not sure why it would make a tick sound.

No noticeable particles in oil laying in the heads.

Plan to change oil and filter tonight.

And thanks

[Shiny]

Great job diagnosing, thanks for sharing and glad you put another notch in your belt.

[promptcritical]

Originally Posted by mrennie

I considered if this was the cause of the tick and not really sure. My gut says no, as the contact point was consistent so not sure why it would make a tick sound.

No noticeable particles in oil laying in the heads.

Plan to change oil and filter tonight.

And thanks

Beautiful car!