PCV Valve Grommet - DOH!

[gatorlance]

So I re-installed my IC and new intake pipes/hoses to the TB, and all was right with the world. Looking really good and getting ready to come off the jack stands and fire it up. But I decided to put in a new PCV, check valve and PCV grommet, figuring it would be pretty simple.

Getting the old PCV grommet out was a pain but it came out. The new one, however, ripped in half during the install and the lower half ended up going down the lower plenum.

I've seen on TB.com that it's not an issue, but I'm a believer in doing things right and I just can't see how the lower half of the grommet being in the engine is not potentially harmful.

I've got the upper intake off today (TB, upper plenum, coil pack, fuel rail) and in a few more days when I have some more time, I will attack the lower plenum. I'm hoping there is still a rubber piece in there and it hasn't gone anywhere bad - like an oil pickup :eeks:.

Any tips for getting the lower plenum off? or getting at the hard coolant line behind the turbo? or do I need to take the turbo off?

Thanks guys.

-Lance

 

[PhillyTurboSix]

There is a valley pan under the intake on these engines. That grommet could live in there and not harm anything for years. I was talking to my engine builder about it one time and he said he always finds the grommets floating around in there. I as well would be concerned if it was my car but now that I've had a few intakes off there really is no where for it to go or anything for it to harm. Once you take the intake off this is what you'll find...

 

[echostatic]

hmm that looks very familiar. my 455 v8 has a valley pan too, last weekend i pulled the top half apart and found a large bolt laying in there.they make pretty good catch pans.

 

[gatorlance]

Okay, well, I have a friend who works in a garage and came over with a boroscope (think orthoscopic camera with a TV attached) and a pick and we got the grommet out of there. Like Jim said, not necessary, but we got it out in the interest of being correct. No real need to remove the lower intake since it is not leaking.

That said, we got the new grommet in and the new PCV valve. The trick here is to make sure you put some oil on the PCV valve when getting it into the newly installed grommet... Much easier. Lesson learned.

 

[PhillyTurboSix]

Good work! I was talking to another guy who works on a lot of these engines locally and he told me he found 4 of them in a customers car floating around in there! From what I hear Kirban who sells those grommets all these years has been selling the wrong one. Richard Clarke just found the proper one and now Kirban sells the proper one. The biggest problem is/was on the ones Kirban use to sell the hole for the PCV valve was too small and when you pushed down on it the grommet and everything would fall in the hole. From what I hear he now has the correct one so that won't happen anymore. Just one theory

 

[gatorlance]

Well, the grommet I used on the new (working) install was from NAPA. Still a tight fit but the oil on the PCV valve made all the difference.

Now while I have it this far apart, I'm going to replace the bypass hose and get new upper plenum gaskets - oh, and an RJC power plate too since gaskets come with it. ;-) Any thoughts on If that plate really helps?

Of course it all has to be ordered from elsewhere and no local stores have the hose or the upper plenum gasket - so more time waiting on parts... At least they will all be original GM parts except the RJC plate.

 

[PhillyTurboSix]

The RJC plate works well. I saw some slight knock on my 87 GN and that plate took it away. It's a good time to replace all rubber hoses on the car. 20 years no matter how many miles or how it was stored is not good on rubber hoses and stuff. Sometimes the vac lines will even rot out from the inside out.