valve cover hoses?

Ok, I was too lazy to read all the posts...so sorry if I am redundant. The hoses are to vent the crankcase and at least ONE must remain or you will pressurize the crankcase and blow out the seals or cause them to leak oil. The reason the hoses attach to the top of the flame arrestor is so that the oil rich vapor is sucked into the combustion chambers and burned. If you left them open to the air, you would have a oil smell coming out from under the engine box at all times.

Some engines do not have PCV valves. Engines that have a PCV valves usually also have one breather (because the PCV valve is closed at high vacuum and the crankcase must still breath in these conditions.

Your setup looks like two breathers and no PCV valve. Perfectly fine and you can eliminate one breather hose if you want to.

another question...

Is there any way to get the old grommet and elbows out of the old covers to put in the new ones. I thought they would just pop out, but that doesnt seem to be the case. A baffle on the inside prevents access from the inside. Or do I have to buy new?

Kevin
I must be Dyslexic.
I didn't even see the typo, but I understood what 79 was saying and thats the main thing.
Rob

Kevin
You jumped the gun.
You Can see the PCV valve in the picture.



Below is how the PCV valve Circuit should be connected.


Regards
Rob

I don't think either side has a "PVC valve". Since 79nautique knows everything he should know that it is a PCV valve which stands for Positive Crankcase Ventilation. I don't know what 79nautique thinks a PVC valve looks like, but I know it doesn't look like a PCV valve.

I am reasonably confident that it is the way it is supposed to be, as the arrestor is set up to receive both of the hoses and I have seen other arrestors that come similarly equipped. However, in support of what the last three of you suggested, I have seen that arrangment, and the base plate of this Edelbrock does have a tubing fitting on the front, which came to me with a 1 to 2-inch piece of tubing on it that goes nowhere. I am guessing that is where the hose you guys are referring to would go. In my continued search I actually did find chrome covers with the same hole configurations. Probably go with those. Looked for chromed arrestors too. Found 'em but, boy, the sellers are mighty proud of them. Guess I can live with out those. Anyway, thanks for the feedback. It isn't going to run any differently, but will hopefully be a little more pleasing to the eye.

the hoses vent the crank case, but I 79nautique is right it should go to the base of the carb not the arrestor.

yes you need to maintain the hoses. but look at the 302 and 351 valve covers, they run the hosses out of the oil fill