400/Edelbrock installation mechanic error
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Senior User
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 235
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From: Mobile, Alabama
Let me back track and give you a better idea of what I have going on. On the pcv side, which on my 1980 400 auto is the passenger side and to the rear of the valve cover, the pcv valve has a hose that runs directly to an inlet on the Edelbrock carb. The main vacuum line is attached to the Edelbrock intake manifold. On the drivers side and to the front of the valve cover is where the oil filler/breather goes. I know I've seen many oil filler/breather caps on performance engines that simply pop in and have NO hoses whatsoever leading from them to the air cleaner housing - inside of the air filter or outside of it as was the case with the stock oil filler cap/breather.
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 867
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From: Eastern Pa
First I don't understand what you mean by your main vacuum line going to the manifold. The one from the pcv valve should go to either manifold vacuum or the baseplate of the carb. As far as the other side, Ford started putting a fresh air line in the opposite side of the pvc in the early 70's with the line going to the air cleaner. Prior to that many performance engines had alot of pressure build up inside and it would push out gaskets if sufficient vents were not installed. The breathing type oil fill cap couldn't handle it all. I remember many companies selling breathers, some of them quite large, that would require holes having to be cut in the valve covers. The pcv system eliminated that problem for most engines. It was very common to see breathers venting quite a bit of hot smokey vapors from an engine.
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Senior User
Joined: Apr 2005
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From: Mobile, Alabama
Pcv valve hose goes directly to the base of the carb. Vacuum for power steering, etc, connects directly to the intake manifold. I'd be more than willing to use an oil filler/breather cap with two tangs and a breather line nipple that would fit the stock valve cover and an air cleaner assembly with a nipple to attach the line from the oil filler/breather cap to, but I haven't found such a "kit" in the aftermarket. Is there one for the 400 Ford engine with an Edelbrock 1411 carb? The stock air cleaner assembly does not fit.
Last edited by pknute; Aug 17, 2005 at 03:42 PM.
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Senior User
Joined: Apr 2005
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From: Mobile, Alabama
As advised, I returned the truck to the "mechanic" who replaced the Edelbrock 2171 manifold gasket - Fel Pro. At first he thought the problem was that the gasket was Fel Pro, not "authentic" Edelbrock, but when I informed him that Edelbrock doesn't make the intake manifold gasket, he changed his tune. Also vented oil filler/breather cap from older big block Ford to bottom of Edelbrock air cleaner assembly. First test drive after the mechanic installed the second Fel Pro intake manifold gasket resulted in "another" blown intake manifold gasket and oil all over the front of the engine compartment. This time a full 3" of the gasket at the front of the intake manifold was blown out and is visible in front of the manifold. How many times should I allow this "mechanic" to attempt to get things right before I move on to somebody else?
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 4,270
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From: Delaware
The problem is not with the gasket, but with the crankcase pressure. For some reason that pressure is not being vented sufficiently. It could be due to the PCV valve, or the hose connection. It could also be due to excess crankcase pressure.
Were new rings installed?
Were they the right size?
Were the end gaps staggered?
Were the cylinder walls prepped?
What type of rings were used?
Were new rings installed?
Were they the right size?
Were the end gaps staggered?
Were the cylinder walls prepped?
What type of rings were used?
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 235
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From: Mobile, Alabama
My 1980 F-350 4x4 400 auto just turned 86,000 miles. I went with the Edelbrock 2171 and Edelbrock 1411 as a performance upgrade, since the 2150 Motorcraft 2V carb was leaking at the accelerator pump, and rather than repair it, I decided to add the Edelbrock setup. Engine venting was not a problem until the Edelbrock intake and carb were added. The vent line from the breather to the carb is 3/4" hose and the oil filler/breather cap works properly. PCV is also OK...
Were new rings installed? No
Were they the right size? NA
Were the end gaps staggered? NA
Were the cylinder walls prepped? No
What type of rings were used? NA
Were new rings installed? No
Were they the right size? NA
Were the end gaps staggered? NA
Were the cylinder walls prepped? No
What type of rings were used? NA
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