What's the pipe next to the oil breather?
 

I have a '52 V8 and am wondering what the bent tube coming out of the intake next to the oil breather is for? It takes a 90 degree turn and goes down behind the drivers side waterpump where it goes back into the block.

I have the FMC shop manual but can't find any mention of this tube.

Thanks

It's the road draft tube. I think if you look closer, it doesn't go into the block at the bottom. It should be cut off at an angle and the end is open. While your vehicle is moving, a vaccuum is created at the end of this tube. Air is drawn in the oil filler tube, thru the block and exits at the road draft tube. Crankcase ventilation in it's simplest form. ...Terry

Thanks Overkill. So if one wanted to recirculate those gases it would do to divert that tube to an adaptor plate under the carb. I will look for threads on EGR/PCV to see if anyone has done that. I am adding a 390 CFM, should be easy to get an adaptor for that, if is't workable. Probably have to seal the old breather.

Blocking the road draft tube and connecting a pcv to it seems to be the way to increase the crankcase ventilation. The oil filler cap has filter material in it (but not very good stuff) to filter the incoming air. You will have to keep the air flowing into the filler tube, but you could do a better job of filtering it. ...Terry

PS. Check out this site for info on pcv on the flathead and lots of other info. ...Terry
http://groups.msn.com/FordFlathead19...sageboard.msnw

Thanks Terry, looks like a lot of info.