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Started diving into this 2000 Trans Am. Picked up a used catch can off here and since the PO of the car has vented all the PCV vents to atmosphere I had to pull the pass side valve cover to get the little piece of hose off. Now that its off I also have a updated valve cover from an aluminum 5.3. I know it still needs cleaned, but would this one be better to run than the original? Don't mind that bracket with the catch can. That was the air valve on the back side of the pass cyl head. It was loose, but stuck. With the valve covers and coils out of the way it fell right out
The dirty one. Looks like it's from a truck to be honest. That's what I ran on my old 01 SS.
It is, its from an old aluminum 5.3 I had laying around. Ending up selling it but still had these in a box. I've got it cleaned it up now. Used to parts cleaner at work. So its the better of the 2? Just me blowing through it there was no restriction either way, but i've read it was supposed to be better with oil passing through.
Keep in mind one of them has a PCV in it (plastic line one) and I'm pretty sure the metal tube one is just a pipe on that valve cover that went on a f body that had a PCV over by the intake nipple, so if it is you'll need to add a PCV into the system. Check by blowing both ways through the pipe.
I do not know any for sure information on those valve covers and the baffling, but they continuously updated and improved the baffling and oil consumption issues through the years, so newer "should" be better.
I personally don't like the plastic line one because they always seem to seep oil and it annoys me. But I would go with the one that is baffled better. Unfortunately I can't tell you which one that is lol.
Keep in mind one of them has a PCV in it (plastic line one) and I'm pretty sure the metal tube one is just a pipe on that valve cover that went on a f body that had a PCV over by the intake nipple, so if it is you'll need to add a PCV into the system. Check by blowing both ways through the pipe.
I do not know any for sure information on those valve covers and the baffling, but they continuously updated and improved the baffling and oil consumption issues through the years, so newer "should" be better.
I personally don't like the plastic line one because they always seem to seep oil and it annoys me. But I would go with the one that is baffled better. Unfortunately I can't tell you which one that is lol.
I tried the blowing test, but didn't get restriction on either of them in any direction. I let the newer one soak over night in the parts clearer tank here at work. So it should be looking pretty good by today. May need to get a new set of gaskets for it though. Mine has new gaskets on the valve cover I can more over, but the little ones for the bolts appear to be old on both sets.
Plastic one must be the non pcv type then. If I remember right the vc's with a plastic line or nipple that have the pcv is a straight shot in, not angle.
Those look like driver side valve covers. Any thought on a LS6 valley cover ? The baffling in my valve cover partially fell off so I removed them on both sides. Installed a LS6 valley cover and used the old pcv tubing to make a crossover from valve cover to valve cover. I do not yet have a catch can, but my oil level is not lower when I check it right before I change the oil. My engine is relatively fresh with about 14,000 on it and I have no oil consumption. In my opinion there is not a hill of beans difference between those two valve covers, neither of them appear to have a pcv.
The LS6 valley cover is a far better system than using the standard valve cover vented system
and you don't need to connect the valve covers to each other when using the LS6 valley cover. You only need a fresh air inlet to one valve cover when running the LS6 valley
My thoughts on the crossover were that it would allow air into the passenger side valve cover area and improve circulation in the same fashion that the fresh air on the driver side replaces the vapor that is sucked out. It is made out of the old pcv system so it looks factory.
In order to achieve positive crankcase ventilation the front port on the passenger side valve cover will need to be connected to the throttle body or the bellow between the MAF and TB. The other lines that tie the two valve covers together will also need to be connected to the intake manifold.
Personally I would run 10AN lines of each valve cover to a breather can and vent to atmosphere but those vacuum pumps from GZ Motorsports are the way to go if looking to ventilate the crankcase and avoid using the intake manifold to suck the blow by back into the engine.
Started diving into this 2000 Trans Am. Picked up a used catch can off here and since the PO of the car has vented all the PCV vents to atmosphere I had to pull the pass side valve cover to get the little piece of hose off. Now that its off I also have a updated valve cover from an aluminum 5.3. I know it still needs cleaned, but would this one be better to run than the original? Don't mind that bracket with the catch can. That was the air valve on the back side of the pass cyl head. It was loose, but stuck. With the valve covers and coils out of the way it fell right out
The valve cover to the right is much like the LS1 style and it connects o the rear port of the passenger valve cover and then through a PCV valve in the line before being connected to the intake manifold. The front port on the passenger valve cover went to the throttle body. You could still connect it up in stock form but run it through your sealed catch can before connecting to the intake manifold. It will help to reduce the amount of oil being sucked into the intake manifold.
My thoughts on the crossover were that it would allow air into the passenger side valve cover area and improve circulation in the same fashion that the fresh air on the driver side replaces the vapor that is sucked out. It is made out of the old pcv system so it looks factory.
If you don't have a fresh air tube into the front of one of those covers you don't have a PCV system. You only have a vacuum system. So hopefully you have a fresh air source connected that I cant see. The valve covers being connected like that isn't likely doing much of anything, but it isn't hurting either.
Originally Posted by 01CamaroSSTx
In order to achieve positive crankcase ventilation the front port on the passenger side valve cover will need to be connected to the throttle body or the bellow between the MAF and TB. The other lines that tie the two valve covers together will also need to be connected to the intake manifold.
Not with a LS6 valley cover. The valley cover connects to the intake.
And only one line on one valve cover is used for fresh air, like you said, to the throttle body fresh air source or to the intake tube behind the maf
I do have the the driver side front hooked up properly. When I ordered my LS6 valley cover I also ordered the GM LS6 passenger side valve cover pcv port grommet plug. Yes all that for about $2. The crossover was an afterthought to improve circulation. I figured if it was plugged it would be similar to putting you finger on a straw and create a vacuum on the one side limiting circulation.
The LS6 valley cover is a far better system than using the standard valve cover vented system
and you don't need to connect the valve covers to each other when using the LS6 valley cover. You only need a fresh air inlet to one valve cover when running the LS6 valley
That's the end goal. Replace this intake with a LS6 and do that valley cover at the same time. I was just working with what I had at the time to get it going for the time being. I hated driving it with the open to atmosphere valve covers. I got it back together until I pull the intake. Cause I also need to remove the air valve (pictured below) but until I can reach the back of the intake I can't get that vac line off the back. Not a necessity at this time, but just looks bad. Tried to clean them up and replace what hardware I could with matching bolts. The top line leading in it coming from the 2 rear ports of both valve covers T'ed together. This valve here, its been unplugged since I''ve owned it. Seen its removal needed the port on the back of intake capped. And just cause I cleaned it up a little.
That's the end goal. Replace this intake with a LS6 and do that valley cover at the same time. I was just working with what I had at the time to get it going for the time being. I hated driving it with the open to atmosphere valve covers. I got it back together until I pull the intake. Cause I also need to remove the air valve (pictured below) but until I can reach the back of the intake I can't get that vac line off the back. Not a necessity at this time, but just looks bad. Tried to clean them up and replace what hardware I could with matching bolts. The top line leading in it coming from the 2 rear ports of both valve covers T'ed together. This valve here, its been unplugged since I''ve owned it. Seen its removal needed the port on the back of intake capped. And just cause I cleaned it up a little.
If your passenger valve cover has a PCV valve in it then your set but if not you should install one on the line from the can to the intake.
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Which valve cover would run? Both OEM options 
