1969 Dodge Super Bee HELP

[72 Charger]

Hi all I am in the proses of building the engine for the 69 super bee and I have a problem with which way round do the valve covers go ? in the instrutions one pic shows the smooth cover on the left bank and in the next one it shows the oil filler and breather on the left bank and the smooth one on the right? So which is it ?

Please someone put me out of my misery

Thanks Dave

[Snake45]

This is a case where Google-image is your friend. Shouldn't take you more than about 20 seconds to be looking at multiple photos of fully restored '69 Super Bee engines.

--Snake, Part-Time Fishing Instructor

Edited January 31, 2017 by Snake45

[72 Charger]

Thanks Snake . So far the ones I have looked at show the breather on one valve cover and the filler on the other . Not as the kit has them both on one cover. Also the shape of the covers are different on the 1/1's compared to the kit .    

[High octane]

Thanks Snake . So far the ones I have looked at show the breather on one valve cover and the filler on the other . Not as the kit has them both on one cover. Also the shape of the covers are different on the 1/1's compared to the kit .    

While the Coronet body looks pretty good, the engine is definitely 20th century where the engine halves are glued together and include the oil pan. I owned a '69 Super Bee back in '69, and the kit engine would need a lot of work to make it look good. I wouldn't worry about it too much as it is a model and this is a hobby to enjoy.

[Vietnam Vet67]

Here is the ad from 1968...............this should help.

[72 Charger]

Well after a day of research I have come to the conclusion that the valve covers are from the 70 Super Bee not the 69 . The 70 has got the breather and oil filler on the right bank and a smooth cover on the left bank

[6bblbird]

Chrysler changed the location and type of breathers and pcv valves from year to year. Model instructions are usually not accurate when it comes to these details. Snake's info is good regarding photo research ......but what happens in this case? Both are supposed to be '69 Dodges!  More research required!

The one on the right is correct. Notice the hood hinges  and air cleaner on the left photo  (this is an owner installed six pack).

The pic on the right shows hood pins at the rear. This is a factory A 12 car and is correct for the '69 Super Bee.

 

WF

Edited February 2, 2017 by 6bblbird

[Vietnam Vet67]

Well after a day of research I have come to the conclusion that the valve covers are from the 70 Super Bee not the 69 . The 70 has got the breather and oil filler on the right bank and a smooth cover on the left bank

You "cannot" have both on one side. The PCV system won't work properly. I worked on developing these engines at the Chrysler Tech Center back in the 1960's and 1970's and that's the way it is. You have to have cross flow from one bank of the engine to the other.

[Vietnam Vet67]

You "cannot" have both on one side. The PCV system won't work properly. I worked on developing these engines at the Chrysler Tech Center back in the 1960's and 1970's and that's the way it is. You have to have cross flow from one bank of the engine to the other.

[Vietnam Vet67]

Here is a picture of how a typical system works. There has to be flow from one bank of the engine to the other.

[72 Charger]

I cant upload a pic at the moment ? Too big  .  I understand what you are saying Ed. But my kit parts clearly has one smooth cover and one with a breather and oil filler ?

I did find a pic on the net that shows the same set up bet that's too big too So I'm even more confused now!

[Jon Haigwood]

Doing a google search for 440 valve covers you do find a few that are smooth but they are after market may be intended for non street use.

Pre PVC days there was setups that had a breather on one cover and a overdraft tube coming from the other cover (see pic 1)

 

Older styles had a breather on the intake manifold and an overdraft tube on the back of the intake (see pic 2)

 

PVC were basically a safety valve for positive ventilation systems. The fumes in the crankcase are volatile and the valve (anti-blowback valve) prevented any flames from coming from the air cleaner in a backfire situation.     

 

 

 

[6bblbird]

In '69 the p.c.v. was on the passenger side valve cover. The breather and oil cap were one and the same and it was located on the driver's side cover.

I just checked my Monogram/Revell kit and the valve covers in the kit are incorrect! Since the chrome is also incorrect for a factory A-12 car, you can strip them and make them correct.

 

 

[Vietnam Vet67]

oing a google search for 440 valve covers you do find a few that are smooth but they are after market may be intended for non street use.

Pre PVC days there was setups that had a breather on one cover and a overdraft tube coming from the other cover (see pic 1)

 

Older styles had a breather on the intake manifold and an overdraft tube on the back of the intake (see pic 2)

 

PVC were basically a safety valve for positive ventilation systems. The fumes in the crankcase are volatile and the valve (anti-blowback valve) prevented any flames from coming from the air cleaner in a backfire situation.     

 

 

 

The rotation of the crankshaft plus the up & down motion of the pistons causes a positive pressure in the crankcase. If there was no ventilation for this pressure the gaskets would fail (rocker cover, oil pan). Therefore before PCV systems were invented we had the breather in one rocker cover and a road draft tube in the side of the crankcase somewhere. With the addition of the PCV system with a breather in one rocker cover and a PCV valve in the other we had a constant flow of gases out of the crankcase into the engine which is then mixed and burned with the fuel mixture. That's the way the system has to work. In picture #2 the breather is attached to the cover on the lifter galley which is connected to the crankcase area. Just because your kit has 2 covers with no vents doesn't make it right. Who knows where they got their info from.

[Jon Haigwood]

Pre PVC systems removed the positive pressure by air flow as stated above. PVC systems used the intake to recirculate the un-burned  fuel.

I worked as a lube tech at a Chrysler/Plymouth dealer in the early 70's and I never saw a single engine with a smooth cover. 

Your best option like 6bblbird said above, dechrome and add a PVC

 

[72 Charger]

Thanks guys for all your help . I am going to alter the covers to be correct

[Jon Haigwood]

Thanks guys for all your help . I am going to alter the covers to be correct

Actually thanks for posting the question I have been building a lot of Mopar Muscle and continually try to improve my detailing and accuracy on their engines. This has made me stop and think about the PVC systems and how they are installed on various engines. Now I have to go back and check the finished cars for correctness 

[72 Charger]

Jon I am just getting in to MOPAR's really . I'm on my 8th or 9th one now and I cant get enough of them . I own a 1/1 1972 Charger as my first car and I love her . She's not a Super Bee just a base model but hey its a Charger and over here its rare . I'm trying to push myself in to doing more detail on my projects . I was originally just baffled by the instrutions as one drawing shows the filler on the left and in the next one it was on the right . I guess the artist was not a MOPAR fan

[Vietnam Vet67]

Here is a promotional picture for the 1970 440-6bbl  for info for future builds.