Engine: Looking for a 61 170 with intact California top end emissions set up

[olbeater]

I'm looking for some pictures of the California emissions set up from the valve cover to the air cleaner.
I'm trying to reconstruct mine.
It's not in the parts catalog (that I can find anyway).
Thanks

[Dwain G.]

The factory installation for 61S is shown in the shop manual in the engine section. The Calli-for-nee-ah retro fit version might be different.

[Skybolt]

I'm looking for some pictures of the California emissions set up from the valve cover to the air cleaner.
I'm trying to reconstruct mine.
It's not in the parts catalog (that I can find anyway).
Thanks

As I have had a couple of sixes, and I am in California, I might have seen some of what you mention. Having a few photos of what you are working with or some more details of what you think you are missing would help.

I do have something like what you mention that was on the valve cover of a V8. It drew vapor to the air cleaner.

Len

[karterfred88]

I'm pretty sure there was a PCV kit back then, that replaced the draft tube and ran a vacuum hose with an early PCV valve to the carb base, not the air cleaner. Besides your car is exempt from inspection anyway it's older than 1975. Lived there for 40 years, although a PCV is nice to have, it's not required-check the DMV website, besides how would they know if it was produced for sale in California?? If it were mine, I'd look for a 63 setup where it was on all production 6s.

[StudeRich]

For 1961 to early 1964 year Model (1963 Production) Calif. or New York smog compliance, a fitting comes directly off of the Intake Manifold to the PCV Valve with a Hose to a Elbow fitting on the Rear Lifter Cover side Door, nothing needs to go to the Air Cleaner or the Valve Cover.

That is because a completely CLOSED System was not required until Calendar Year 1964.

AC (GM) and Norris Thermador both made aftermarket Kits for Non-New York or Calif. sold Cars brought into those States, but Studebakers sold in those States already had them from the Factory.

[Bud]

I don't know that any sort of emission controls were required in California for 1961. My 62 Hawk and 63 Avanti that were originally purchased in California have PCV valves with open breather caps and at this point in time they are exempt from any emissions testing as they were built prior to 1975. If you want to use a PCV valve, someone here should have the parts you need to install one. Bud

[olbeater]

Thanks for the input....
I'm clear on CA registration requirements. The car is registered and on the road.
The car has the PCV valve connected to the crankcase which is factory set up.
What I'm trying to do is eliminate the massive amount of fumes coming out of the breather cap.
I have a Rambler I thought was noxious but this thing wins by a long shot.
The air cleaner has a second smaller hole near the breather cap so I'm going figure out a way to hook them up and see if I can stop running red lights cuz I don't want to sit and smell the engine.

[Skybolt]

I have, as I mentioned before, a setup from a CA Studebaker that has a hole in the valve cover to draw fumes to the carb. It was on a 63 and it had a PCV and the breathers in the covers as well. Does not look factory installed.

Depending on what you are really smelling will determine the fix. I had a Flathead six and installed a PCV that was working well but still smelt like oil/gas, it was not nice. I had what I thought were fumes coming into the car for quite a while until I fixed the seal on the gas tank level sender. After that I didn't smell like car fumes anymore.

Len

[karterfred88]

I know it won't be stock, but you might try one of these to replace the valve cover fill cap and run a hose to the air cleaner. Will oil up your element pretty quick, but as a stop gap before an overhaul to control the blow by it might work. https://www.bing.com/images/search?q...31&FORM=IDBQDM

[57pack]

If there're still around, JC Whitney used to sell a kit that "would rebuild your motor as you drive" .
It consisted of a bunch of small pellets and a liquid additive. You would remove the spark plugs and drop these pellets into each cylinder, replace the spark plugs, add the additive to the crankcase and start up the car. As you drove, the pellets would melt and coat the cylinder walls and collect on the worn rings. Thus reducing the blow by and increasing compression.
Room mate from college days used this product in his very tired Triumph TR2, seem to work if I remember correctly.