Swapped PCV & gained big time!

[SunSoaked]

Ok, so I've finally got my 350 Vortec running great. The one thing I had been putting off was swapping the Wagner dual stage pcv. Today, I got r done.
With engine warmed up at idle I had 15 inches of vacuum and a very slight lope.
Then I swapped valves and t'd in the purge line from the charcoal cannister.
Started engine and adjusted valve per instructions.
The idle went up 300 rpm. I adjusted it back down.
It idles extremely smooth and I lost the lope I had. It now idles with 19 perfectly steady inches of vacuum and has noticeably better throttle response.
These aren't cheap, but worth every penny IMO.

[geezer#99]

Good info!
And here’s a link to it if others are interested.

http://mewagner.com/?p=444

[weq92f]

.
That's a cool idea...

These guys like it too:

https://www.hemmings.com/blog/article/let-it-out/

-klb

[cashforclunkers]

Good stuff. Never knew. I will be keeping this in mind. Thanks

[hjewell2]

Thank you for the post on this , wanted to try one but the price stopped me not knowing if this was snake oil. Now I will pay the money knowing it works according to your write up.

[Tom]

I've never even heard of custom PCV valves, heck never even thought about it before.

[AcampoDave]

Be careful, last time a guy claimed he gained big time from one of those, the poor guy got shot down big time. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=630891 Edit: after reading all the info on the website, I ended up shelling out for one too.

[SunSoaked]

Ya, I'm not gonna make any claims in improved gas mileage.
I'll leave the logic behind it's design and function to thier website. It convinced me to try it. As I said, it smoothed out my idle, gained 5 inches of vacuum and improved throttle response. My simple mind thinks of the pcv as a big vacuum leak sucking in contaminated air. Being able to restrict it at idle and open it up during cruise when the engine is creating more vapor makes sense to me.

[mattfranklin]

Interesting. I'll have to read up on what they're doing.

[tdangle]

Wonder, would eliminating the PCV valve also increase idle vacuum?

[weq92f]

Originally Posted by tdangle

Wonder, would eliminating the PCV valve also increase idle vacuum?

Well... it depends...

The PCV valve is supposed to restrict air flow under high vacuum ( idle ) conditions down to something small enough not to affect idle quality. That is, the controlled vacuum leak that is the PCV system is supposed to go away at idle.

If the PCV valve you have currently isn't doing that, then you have too large a vacuum "leak" at idle as a result, which will cause the things that vacuum leaks cause!

Easy enough to check. Before I recently replaced my non-functioning-properly PCV valve, plugging the vacuum line to it caused idle to clean up very nicely ( just as if a vacuum leak had been plugged ) and likely did increase overall Hg as well!

-klb

[tdangle]

Originally Posted by weq92f

Well... it depends...

The PCV valve is supposed to restrict air flow under high vacuum ( idle ) conditions down to something small enough not to affect idle quality. That is, the controlled vacuum leak that is the PCV system is supposed to go away at idle.

If the PCV valve you have currently isn't doing that, then you have too large a vacuum "leak" at idle as a result, which will cause the things that vacuum leaks cause!

Easy enough to check. Before I recently replaced my non-functioning-properly PCV valve, plugging the vacuum line to it caused idle to clean up very nicely ( just as if a vacuum leak had been plugged ) and likely did increase overall Hg as well!

-klb

It just hit me how the dumb thing works! Always wondered how and was always told shake it. If it rattles it's OK. Now I understand at high vac such as cruise or idle the weight (or what ever it is) pulls up and pretty much closes off the sucking from the engine/valve cover. At lower vac levels the weight drops and the engine can pull vapors from the engine. What a simple design!

[SunSoaked]

You got it. Keep in mind that the factory engine produces a specific amount of vacuum therefore the factory makes a pcv specific to that engine. When you alter the engine with a cam, timing, carb, etc the pcv is no longer matched to the engine characteristics. This is the beauty of the Wagner valve. You can adjust to function in harmony with any engine. It should be the last pcv you ever buy.

[AcampoDave]

Ok so here's what i gained on my '64 longbed with a mainly stock '61 283 with the street breather previously converted to a PCV. The vacum went from 19hg to 20hg and the idle increased by 200 rpm. After restoring the original idle rpm, the motor ran smoothly and seemed to have a cleaner idle. It wasnt easy tuning the valve due to it's location on my engine but it was doable. I had to use extra caution to prevent the valve or the allen wrench from slipping thru my fingers and falling behind the engine. (Allen wrench still did, thankfully it didn't drop down the pcv hole.) Would I do it again? Sure. In fact I'm gonna, as soon as i get my '66 back on the road. It's 283 has been moddified a bit with the usual stuff so we'll see how much difference it makes on that one in a month or two.

[SunSoaked]

Originally Posted by AcampoDave

Ok so here's what i gained on my '64 longbed with a mainly stock '61 283 with the street breather previously converted to a PCV. The vacum went from 19hg to 20hg and the idle increased by 200 rpm. After restoring the original idle rpm, the motor ran smoothly and seemed to have a cleaner idle. It wasnt easy tuning the valve due to it's location on my engine but it was doable. I had to use extra caution to prevent the valve or the allen wrench from slipping thru my fingers and falling behind the engine. (Allen wrench still did, thankfully it didn't drop down the pcv hole.) Would I do it again? Sure. In fact I'm gonna, as soon as i get my '66 back on the road. It's 283 has been moddified a bit with the usual stuff so we'll see how much difference it makes on that one in a month or two.

Two thumbs up!! I don't regret spending the $ one bit.

[toolboxchev]

Wondering if anyone is using this product with an older style gen 1 block and how they configured it?

Appreciate the responses!

[SunSoaked]

Breather on one side, pcv in the other. Boom done.

[RodnRudy]

After reading this post I ordered one of the adjustable Wagner pcv valves and installed it on my Gen 1 350. Watched the video half a dozen times and followed the directions. It smoothed out the idle just like it's supposed to. I also had a problem with oily residue accumulating around the carb at the vacuum port. I'll monitor that and adjust the valve if needed.

[cwcarpenter98]

Originally Posted by AcampoDave

Ok so here's what i gained on my '64 longbed with a mainly stock '61 283 with the street breather previously converted to a PCV.

Hey Dave, got any pictures of that install? I'm considering redoing my PCV system, but I like the look of no holes in my valve covers.

[geezer#99]

People have been having idle problems with a bunch of quickfuel carbs.
Maybe you’ll find some info here on a 670.

https://www.hotrodders.com/forum/hol...ix-507033.html

What do you run for timing?
Initial?
Mechanical?
Vac advance numbers?

[kelz702]

Originally Posted by geezer#99

People have been having idle problems with a bunch of quickfuel carbs.
Maybe you’ll find some info here on a 670.

https://www.hotrodders.com/forum/hol...ix-507033.html

What do you run for timing?
Initial?
Mechanical?
Vac advance numbers?

Thanks for the link. I'll definitely check it out. I'm not sure about the timing. It's been awhile since I put a light on it. The timing had to be adjusted a couple years ago when I took it in to get it smogged so I'm not sure where he set it. I'll get a light tomorrow and get the all the timiming numbers.

[mickeykreg]

I've been putting off the Wagner PCV swap for ages because of the $$. Good to hear this. Guess it's about time. Thanks for posting.

[kelz702]

Hi All! I recieved mine in the mail a few days ago. I had to order a new grommet for the valve cover. My previous dressup PCV valve's(posted below) grommet was a little bit bigger then what's needed for this application. I still need a dial back timing light and battery. I'm hoping to be up and running by the end of the month

[dfarr67]

Any one game for another group buy I think it's down to six for a buy in.

[68 P.O.S.]

Originally Posted by dfarr67

Any one game for another group buy I think it's down to six for a buy in.

I'm down