is the small tube connecting the passenger side valve cover to the air chamber needed? mine has been broken(but in place) for a while and i am going to do the valve cover gaskets so should i replace it and if so does anyone know the part #. i checked the #thread but i think it gves the # for the grommet but not the actual tube.thaks to all.

i took and replaced the upper intake tube that goes between the throttle body and the middle resonator with a spector intake tube. when i did that, i replaced the tube with a small filter from auto zone. that tube is just to vent air into the crank case.

Unless you are in a state that does a visual inspection when you have to have it smogged the answer is no. In fact it is a good idea to take them off the air cleaner and run them in to a catch can. Those hoses are the reason that the 3.0 will hydro-lock if it is laying on its side for a while after a flop. The oil runs up into the valve covers, into the hose, into the aircleaner and is sucked into the engine when you try to start it.

thank you for the info. should i just plug the holes where the tubes went into the air chamber and resonator tube?

OK so i finished the valve/cam cover job and have everything back together. i put a catch can on each valve cover opening and a small filter on the openings that went back into the system. i did notice that when i plugged the hole on the passenger side of the intake manifold my idle dropped slightly. I did an engine swap last year and since then my idle seemed to be slightly high so with the hole plugged it is almost exactly at factory recommendations. should i plug it or put a filter on it to allow air in? sorry, just because i can do an engine swap does not mean i know what all those stupid hoses do. Are there any other hoses etc i can take off for performance? Inspection is not an issue. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Reconnect the tubes from the valve covers to the intake like they were from the factory. They are there for a reason, positive crankcase ventilation (PCV). Keep the catch cans in the lines if you want. And yes, there is a difference between ventilation and positive ventilation.

The reason your idle changes is because you are creating a vac leak by disconnecting the hoses.

Without PCV your engine can sludge up, big problem. Read here for more info: http://www.yotarepair.com/Sludge_Zone.html

what?? you mean i cannot get the extra 110 hp my truck needs by simply pulling a few hoses off.what if i pulled the hoses and jammed in some whip cream canisters as a nitrous system? (i think cheese whiz would lead to a lot more sludge don't you?) seriously though thanks for the info.i'll get it all back the way it was before i started messing with it. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

As surprizing as that may be LOL.