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1993SVT · Aug 11, 2010

I was told that the smoking issue that I have, coming from the breather on my valve cover, was a blow by. I have no idea how this could have happened since I hardly even drive this car. Anyway, is there anything I can do to stop it? I'm also getting this annoying hi-pitched chirping noise that sounds like it's coming from the driveshaft, possibly, after I installed the 5/8" driveshaft spacer from steeda.

Cobra912 · Aug 11, 2010

stock valve covers with baffle? is the breather oil saturated? what is teh engine ste-up and why do you have an open breather?

how often is the chirping noise? constant? only when you shift? change anything else? need more info..................

1993SVT · Aug 11, 2010

Cobra912 said:
stock valve covers with baffle? is the breather oil saturated? what is teh engine ste-up and why do you have an open breather?

how often is the chirping noise? constant? only when you shift? change anything else? need more info..................

Aftermarket valve covers ( COBRA Ford Racing ) with baffle. Breather is saturated(K&N breather). I just used an open breather because I didn't want the intake getting all messed up with oil. I'm guessing that there might have been a previous problem if it was doing that? Also, I've had this breather on the engine for about 3 years now and I've never had this problem before.

The chirping noise is pretty steady but only when I'm driving. It won't happen when stopped and giving it gas. I'm using an aluminum driveshaft and the Tremec TKO500, hence the reason for the DS spacer.

Cobra912 · Aug 11, 2010

When you say saturated, do you mean with oil or with K&N oil? If the breather is saturated, anytime the engine starts building temp that thing is gonna start smoking because of the oil. It maybe due just to the oil build-up. Take it off and give it a good cleaning. Let is dry thoroughly, give it a K&N oiling but make it a light one and re-install.

The noise has got me. Did you install everything all at once or just the spacer? There shouldn't be anything due just to the spacer that I can think of. Are the driveshaft bolts properly torqued? I know they are hard to tighten.

1993SVT · Aug 11, 2010

It's saturated with the K&N oil but I think that there's motor oil mixing in with it since I do see some residue of motor oil under the breather and around the top of the filler tube when I remove the breather. I'm thinking I should probably just take it off and put it back to stock configuration.

The spacer was put on before this started happening and yes the bolts were kind of a pain in the behind tightening back up. I don't know if they were torqued down to specs because I ended up using a pipe over a wrench to torque them down as much as I could. I also used red lock-tite on the bolts. Not alot, just a little on the middle of the bolts. I've got an exhaust leak also so I'm just going to put the car up on jacks tomorrow and check everything out. Hopefully it's nothing major.

Cobra912 · Aug 12, 2010

I would put it back if you can. If you are running a stock style fuel injected set-up an open breather is not the ideal thing to do.

Sounds like a good idea checking things out, especially before a little problem becomes a big problem. I know it's a PITA to get in there to tighten them but if you get the position and angle of the driveshaft right you can use a torque wrench to tighten them down. I did what you did the first time and I can tell you even with blue locktite, mine were not as a tight as they should have been. I run the FR aluminum shaft and steeda spacer as well for my C4.

Mustang5L5 · Aug 12, 2010

You don't want a breather at all. Put a closed cap and the hose to the TB back. A breather allows unmetered air into the engine and can affect fuel curves.

Also, what is the reason for the driveshaft spacer?

1993SVT · Aug 12, 2010

The reason for the DS spacer is because the aluminum driveshaft doesn't go in as far as it should when inserted into a Tremec TKO500. I noticed that it didn't fit all the way in, but would, when I put everything up but I didn't think it would hurt anything. Then I read that a spacer is sold for that particular problem and not using it could result in some U-joint problems or a snapped insert shaft. Thanks all for the input on the breather situation. Wasn't aware of the metering issues. I think I'm good with the ds bolts. I tightened those down til I was red in the face, several times. I rotated the ds around a few times, retorqueing(sp) until I couldn't turn them anymore.

Rick 91GT · Aug 13, 2010

The driveshaft is mnost likely too far in the tail of the trans... I haven't ever had to use a spacer on a fox, and I've done a lot of them... The spacer issue is more of an issue on 94+ cars, along with spacers for the mounts on 1996+ although I shimmed a fox to get the trans level.

Measure from the center of the front u-joint to the tail of the trans, you should have 3"-3.5" max...if it is shorter the DS may be going in too far when the car trys to squat and the rear rotates.

What is the pinion angle set to? Is the trans level in the car, meaning the tail of the trans is level to the ground so the DS comes out straight or slightly angled down?

Put a closed breather on the V/C and hook back up the vac line going from the fill tube to the intake, right now you have un metered air which could be giving you some MAF issues...I've had cars that I was able to run open breathers on with no issues, and then found significant issues with them on others.

Cobra912 · Aug 13, 2010

you need the spacer on a C4 swap........

1993SVT · Aug 13, 2010

Rick 91GT said:
The driveshaft is mnost likely too far in the tail of the trans... I haven't ever had to use a spacer on a fox, and I've done a lot of them... The spacer issue is more of an issue on 94+ cars, along with spacers for the mounts on 1996+ although I shimmed a fox to get the trans level.

Measure from the center of the front u-joint to the tail of the trans, you should have 3"-3.5" max...if it is shorter the DS may be going in too far when the car trys to squat and the rear rotates.

What is the pinion angle set to? Is the trans level in the car, meaning the tail of the trans is level to the ground so the DS comes out straight or slightly angled down?

Put a closed breather on the V/C and hook back up the vac line going from the fill tube to the intake, right now you have un metered air which could be giving you some MAF issues...I've had cars that I was able to run open breathers on with no issues, and then found significant issues with them on others.

Thanks for the info, Rick. The reason I put the spacer in is because the ds wasn't as far in as the stock one was. Then again, I'm using a totally different set up. Different trans and ds. When I was doing research about the Tremec TKO500, it was repeatedly stated that the spacer was needed. That's why I bought it. I also thought that because it wasn't in as far that I might stand the chance of losing some fluid out the tailshaft. That ds is in there pretty far after using that spacer. It does look almost unaturally too far in there also. The u-joint is almost right up against the tailshaft. I'll do all of those checks that you mentioned though. I have put the vac line back on the filler-tube to the intake. That cleared up my smoke issue that I was having and the car seems to run better. I just figured that it wouldn't matter if I ran it to the intake or had a breather. Guess I'd better do more homework next time.

1993SVT · Aug 13, 2010

Cobra912 said:
you need the spacer on a C4 swap........

I read that as well when I was doing research on the Tremec but there were alot of people stating that the spacer was most definitely needed for the Tremec. I guess I'll be taking it out. Thanks for the input.

f8tlfiveo · Aug 14, 2010

I would check the u joints for the sqeaking... Make sure they are greased well.. If they dry up they will squeak

1993SVT · Aug 29, 2010

jeepguy00 said:
I would check the u joints for the sqeaking... Make sure they are greased well.. If they dry up they will squeak

Thanks man, greased the u-joints and it's good as new.

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