Valve Cover Oil Separator Install

[BrianM]

Somewhere along the line the previous owner of my car removed the oil separator in the valve cover and replaced with a bit of hard line which looks to be secured with a bit of the red RTV. I recently picked up a replacement oil separator and want to get it back together properly. Before I pull it apart I want to make sure I have the proper parts. Was there a rubber grommet in the cover which the separator plugs into? If so anyone know the size I need to find as a replacement?

[MikeFleming]

Pre-1987 VC's did not have a grommet in the cover. There was an ~3/8" hole that either a short tube stub was placed or the stub was removed and the small-diameter tube can was installed directly into the cover hole.

On the 87 and later engines (with the dished cam cover) that hole was much larger and used an ~1" outside diameter grommet to mount the larger can with an ~1/2" stub that pressed into the inside diameter of the grommet.

If your current installation has some Loctite or hard glue holding the tube in, take the cover off the engine to remove the tube and clean the hole. Don't want any of that hard glue residue to go into the engine.