valve cover baffle dropped

[gt350dave]

Anyone heard of this before? I was pulling into my garage after coming home from work (i had been romping on it a little) and I heard a nasty knock/rattle from under the hood. I had just installed a CAI a couple weeks before, was hoping it had just came loose. when I lifted the hood it was apparant the noise was coming from the drivers side valve cover. there was a knock consistent with rpm plus a rattle. Could feel the cover and it felt like something inside wanted out.
I just pulled the valve cover today expecting carnage, and found the oil baffle for the vent tube had fell off and was being knocked around by the cam lobe. has anyone else ever seen or heard of this??? I'm trying to figure a fix, weather i can reattach it, (it is only glued from factory. ) or if i need to get a whole new valve cover. Thanks guys!

 

[trombonedemon]

Hi Dave,
When my valve cover gasket was changed on the passenger side, the baffle didn't look like it was glued in, but now we all know this fact.

You may need the baffle to keep your positive crankcase ventilation check valve from falling in.But there is a rubber grommet to keep the PVC valve in. So then again you may not need the baffle, if you have the stock set up, that baffle would keep excess oil from being thrown on the valve and entering the intake.

You could just use the pressure from the valve covers to evacuate the gasses into a catch can through spout or just replace the valve cover.

Funny, the 99-2004 are now considered vintage. Sooooo, finding a stock valve cover in new condition might be a chore.

Yep, just checked autozone and can't find anything but aftermarket and none for Fords.