Another question regarding my 239 Y-block in a 1956 Thunderbird

zuburg

zuburg

Senior Member
I just discovered something that I'm not sure is normal or not. I have discovered a rubber hose connected at the back of the block near the distributor. This hose just goes out to the side of the block and points down toward the ground. It is just an open hose, and appears like exhaust is coming out. Is this normal? What is it? Should I be concerned? Pictures included.

thanks,
 

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That is a substitute road draft tube for crankcase ventilation. Your valley cover is probably not the original; I have one I took off a '59 Fairlane that has a steel tube instead of a hose. The smoke you see issuing forth is crankcase fumes. You can install a PCV valve where the hose connects to the valley cover and eliminate the open draft setup. It will also reduce oil leaks since the crankcase pressure will be below atmospheric.
 
Thanks. Do you have a suggestion for what kind of PCV valve? Was one made for this engine or do I substitute one from something else. How does it attach? This hose has a screw in the top helping hold it in place, I assume.
 
You'll need a valve for a similar sized engine and a grommet. Remove the screw and the metal piece it's holding down and fit the grommet and valve in the resulting hole. Connect the exposed end of the valve to manifold vacuum and Bob's your uncle. Late model 292s in F100's, starting around 1962 I think, had PCV valves but really any valve for an engine of similar size that will fit the hole and grommet will work. The vertical mount ones are best, either straight or with an elbow.
 
take the hose off and throw it away. then get a new length of oil resistant hose and a pcv valve for a 292 chevy six and use the new oil resistant hose and the pcv valve and plumb it to manifold vac. there is usually a fitting on the manifold you can use. if you just remove the screw and metal piece the boss that the screw goes into will usually be in the way. the 292. chev. six pcv valve comes with a 90* plastic fitting on it. heat the plastic fitting a little and pull it off. it then can be used as an inline inserted in 2 sections of the hose for a one piece look, with the hose hooked where your present hose is, and the other end hooked to the intake manifold. be sure the suction end of the valve is pointed to the valley cover end. I probably made this seem complicated, but it is really easy and the parts are available almost anywhere. I just realized you have a 239 in there, so a pcv for a ford 240 six would be more appropriate
 
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The rear of your valley pan could look like this one, with a 1.25" hole and 1/4x20 threaded sleeve in the center. 55/57 T-Birds used these with a metal road draft tube that ended down behind the starter. To replace/upgrade the missing tube that originally went there you can look for a PCV style cap that fits in the same hole or a grommet to get you down to the right size fitting for whatever you come up with.
 

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now in confused, mercury did not use a 239 engine in 56, it should be either a 292 or a 312, did some one replace the original engine with the 239, that engine was used for one year only in 1954 in fords, never in a mercury
 
34pickup said:
That ought to be criminal...:mad:
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It probably is.
But you have to be able to prove they knew what they were selling. And is it worth the time, money & aggravation to fight it, or learn from it, move on and use the time & money to build a better engine.
Been there.....

.
 
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WestCoast said:
now in confused, mercury did not use a 239 engine in 56, it should be either a 292 or a 312, did some one replace the original engine with the 239, that engine was used for one year only in 1954 in fords, never in a mercury
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I don't recall anyone saying the engine came out of a Mercury ?

Also, all '56 Mercury's were 312's. No 292's.

Sal
 
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