I have a 56 ford truck, f350, with supposedly a 312, which has not been verified yet. On the left side near the back of the engine, is a standard oil filter, which installs front to back, and on the front of the engine, left side, is what looks like an oil filter installed vertically that has a drain, and smokes when I idle --- and am told it is an Oil Breather. Can I modify it to go back into the intake, or do something to change this or live with it ?

 

It's probably the precursor to the 'PCV Valve' known as a 'road draft tube'. It was for venting crankcase pressures and they would occasionally smoke.

 

You can block it off if you put in a pcv . I have a late ,59 i believe, 292 that came that way with the cover plate on. I have another one that ford cast over completely,just a flat are there. It was probably the last year they built the Y-block . Jim

 

As the others have noted, that is your crankcase vent. It is not considered an oil breather, though. Inside the canister on top of the vent tube (which is not a drain, either) is a mesh screen designed to keep chunks from passing out onto the ground and keep debris from entering into the crankcase, much like how the oil bath air filter works. A little smoke or vapor is somewhat normal when idling. If it gets too heavy, that's an indication of piston rings failing, and the smoke you see is called blow-by. Other than being a bit more environmentally friendly, you won't gain anything by changing the system to a closed, PCV design.

 

312's were not factory installed in trucks. 1956/57 Ford/Merc Passenger Cars (except '57 Merc Turnpike Cruiser), 1958/61 'price leader' Merc's only.

The PCV system was not available (from FoMoCo) until 1961, and was then mandatory in all sold new in CA vehicles (possibly other states).

At one time, CA smog tested all 1950 thru 1972 vehicles. PCV (installation kits-sold by parts stores) had to be retrofitted to vehicles that didn't come with it.

1954/64 Y blocks (except 1961/64's with factory installed PCV) have a road draft tube at the rear of the engine. On 1954/59's, when it's removed, there is a replaceable filter screen inside:

B2TZ-6A631-A .. Crankcase Ventilation Filter Screen / Obsolete / 49 available from Ford Dealers/obsolete parts vendors / Green Sales Co. in Cincinnati OH (800-543-4959) has 35.

1961/64 factory installed Y block PCV system: Instead of the tube, an adapter takes its place which has a nipple on it.

A short neoprene smog hose attaches to the nipple, then to a steel tube that routes along the right (passenger) side of the engine between the valve cover and the intake manifold.

Anther short smog hose attaches to the tube, then to the smog valve that threads into an brass fitting in the intake manifold, just in front of the carb.

In 1957, Ford came out with the Spin-On oil filter, offered kits to install it on previous 215/223 I-6's, 1954/56 239/256/272/292/312 Y blocks to replace the 'old fashioned' cartridge filters.

But it was an option on trucks thru circa 1962, so not all have it.

btw: Since many people in today's world are unaware that 1954/59 Y's (and 1952/59 I-6's) have that screen, it rarely gets changed. When it clogs up, the stench of blow-by can be overpowering inside the cab.

 

Awesome folks - thanks for all the information