[TR] Triumphs Digest, Vol 2, Issue 514

[CarlSereda at aol.com]

John D,
Congrats on getting your resto on the road!
IMO for the first 23,000 TR4s or so I would go with the totally 
'open-breather' setup as the factory did for TR3s and most TR4s. Filtered air drawn through 
'gauzed oil cap', and crankcase gases drawn from draft tube under car are 
left behind (you might smell a little old-fashioned sportcar fumes at a long stop 
light though!) 
The original design provides internal engine cross-drafting, helping cool 
engine and of course relieving pressure. If you want to reduce crankcase fumes 
into atmosphere you might consider getting the late TR4 smog set-up - it draws 
gas from inside valve cover to carbs (admitting air through a pin-hole in oil 
cap since the draft port is plugged), but you forfeit engine's internal 
cross-drafting system. 
Some TR4A folks simply dump the SMITH's smog gear and drop a rubber hose from 
valve cover to below the engine, it does let pressure out (and fumes into 
atmosphere).
TR draft tubes come up on eBay a few times a year. Loosening the crankcase 
draft plug with a chisel or screwdriver or auger would enable you to grab edge 
and/or draw out with magnet. Add a little gasket sealer at draft tube/crankcase 
connection. Oil drip from end of draft tube should be minor or non existent 
if you have good piston rings.
Good luck,
Carl
'63 TR4 since '74

<< I think the natural
air flow is for air to come in from the vented cap , thru the motor & out
the crankcase vent pipe.  Do I risk trying to get the plug out, >>

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