1963 PCV valve

[Bob J.]

Re: 1963 PCV valve

I researched those 590 valves long ago and I think you will find the suffix C was added to PCV valves beginning in 1965.Bob

[Joe L.]

Re: 1963 PCV valve

Joe,
How do you disassemble the machined steel shell PVC valves without destroying them? Is it necessary? I always thought that by just soaking them in some kind of solvent for a few days would clean them.
Dave

David------


The machined steel valves generally have two halves which are threaded together. You will note that most, if not all of them, have a hex on both ends of the valve. This is for the purpose of using open end or box end wrenches to un-screw the 2 halves. Once this is done, the internals just fall out. As I recall, there is just a spring and a "plunger" in there.

The valves can also be cleaned by soaking in a solvent like Berryman's. For the 1 piece valves, this is the only way to clean them.

[John D.]

Re: 1963 PCV valve

Dave. Since my desk has more car parts on it than papers anymore I also measured the identical PCV valve as your steel Chevy one. Just using a draftsmen ruler from my old building days my valve is at least 2-1/2" long also. As you know then the 63 Corvette one is not the same.

Dipsticks. I am really into those but don't want to get blamed for switching subjects again.

[Bill C.]

Re: 1963 PCV valve

Here is a pic of an original, I believe, 1963 CV-590 PCV valve, It sure appears to be a one piece design. After looking at it from all angles, I cannot see how its not

[Joe L.]

Re: 1963 PCV valve

Here is a pic of an original, I believe, 1963 CV-590 PCV valve, It sure appears to be a one piece design. After looking at it from all angles, I cannot see how its not

Bill----


This one may be "one piece". Note that it does not have hex wrenching surfaces at both ends.

[Timothy B.]

Re: 1963 PCV valve

Thanks everyone,

I have a good idea what to look for in my search. This valve went through some changes in it's time..

How could a machined steel valve be put together without coming apart?? I wonder if that barrell unscrews (Bills valve) but at this point you would scar the barrell so it's not worth the effort.

[David L.]

Re: 1963 PCV valve

Here is a pic of an original, I believe, 1963 CV-590 PCV valve, It sure appears to be a one piece design. After looking at it from all angles, I cannot see how its not

Bill,
Could you measure the overall length of your CV-590 PCV valve? My "machined steel" CV 590C PCV valve (shown in the picture below) measures about 2.583" long. The center part that measures 0.75" in diameter (with the stampings) measures about 0.95"+/- long. The center part on the CV-590 PCV valve appears to be a bit shorter.
Dave

[Bill C.]

Re: 1963 PCV valve

Bill,
Could you measure the overall length of your CV-590 PCV valve? My "machined steel" CV 590C PCV valve (shown in the picture below) measures about 2.583" long. The center part that measures 0.75" in diameter (with the stampings) measures about 0.95"+/- long. The center part on the CV-590 PCV valve appears to be a bit shorter.
Dave

Dave,
Just to clarify, this is a CV-590 valve, no "C" at the end, its shorter than the "C" model, its 2 5/16" OAL and the main body same as yours in dia.,about .750" and main body length as you observed, shorter at about 3/4".
Bill

[Bill C.]

Re: 1963 PCV valve

Thanks everyone,

I have a good idea what to look for in my search. This valve went through some changes in it's time..

How could a machined steel valve be put together without coming apart?? I wonder if that barrell unscrews (Bills valve) but at this point you would scar the barrell so it's not worth the effort.

Tim,
After closer observation ( in the daylight, glasses on, good nights sleep)
I can see where this is made up out of two main sections, the largest dia. in my pic is "crimped" or "rolled" and retains the end with the wrench flats, that certainly explains how they got the internals inside but in my opinion also helps explain from a manufacturing standpoint why the design was short lived, must have been very difficult to control the crimp on this size/thickness/material during its assembly. Material temper would need to be very closely controlled, but hey, I guess they did the same thing with the spark plugs.

The assembly machines for all that stuff were made right here in Bridgeport, Conn by the Bodine Company. Started life and made it big assembling bullet shells in the big ones, then on to these later. Family owned and operated until a few years ago, right after another Bridgeport native , John Ratzenberger,who produced the show "Made in America" did a piece on them, they sold out and now went overseas. What a shame.

Heck, for a time, I knew where the original tooling and molds for the 63-7 kick panels vent grills lay in an old plastic molding shop down near them, the owners would not let me in to dig them out as the, yes, you guessed it, Lawyers advised against it. I'm sure they eventually made it to the scrap yards and shipped to China too.

[David L.]

Re: 1963 PCV valve

Bill,
I believe the reason why they made the PCV valve longer had something to do with the oil seeping out of the oil dipstick tube on the 1963's.
Dave

[Jim B.]

Re: 1963 PCV valve

This CV-590 came originally on my '63 F.I. unit. Appears to be the shorter style, same as Bill's. Soaked it in some carb cleaner, installed it, and it hasn't blown the dipstick out of its holder yet...