Was thinking about this part. Can this part be internally cleaned.? What is the exact function of the separator.? What is the outcome should this part not function properly.? Thanks for any response. Stephen
Yes, it is a hollow can. (or the early ones were... I borescoped mine) It allows condensible oil vapor to be collected and drained back into the sump. Oil would back up and flow back into the next lowest point of the available hose outputs. I just went through cleaning mine and repainting it. Should you need to replace it, be careful as to get the correct one. Working with Dave Helms and Brian Keegan I just learned (as did they) there are differences in the model years. Early ones had a straight exit drain at the bottom - Later models had a bent drain tube at the bottom (helpful, but insignificant). Early ones use a slightly smaller tube on the large ports (~20mm) and the later models used a slightly larger tube on the large ports (~22mm). Why??? who knows? But it makes a difference in the hose that connects this separator to the heads and air box... Fortunately, the hose Dave sent me was the correct one so he didn't have to ship anything new as he had suspected. Rick Image Unavailable, Please Login
I recently removed mine, hand sanded it back to bare medal and then resprayed it. It looks absolutely brand new. In the process, I replaced all of the tubing as well. Immediately after I removed it, I could tell that there was something loose inside. Turns out to be hundreds of rusted bits of medal that took at least an hour to get out. WIth that level of loose debris, I am confident that it was impacting whatever it supposed to do.
Do you happen to know the specific years you mean by "early" and "late"? The separator on my U.S. spec 1975 308 GT4 has a bent bottom drain tube, has a different bracket than what you posted (very short with a 90 degree bent tab which attaches to the top-most, forward bellhousing stud) and has 19mm tubing for vapour collection. It also does NOT have that smaller tube on the side. Finished in a semi-gloss black paint.
Quite the coincidence. I re-finished mine about 22 years ago, and it's starting to rust pretty bad, so I bought a new one. I don't know what to do with the old one. I figure if it becomes rare, cut it open glass bead away the corrosion, braze up any holes etc. Here's an idea!! Any thoughts about filling the motor up thru the top of this thing to flush it clean OR throw a fresh quart thru it when the motor is hot just before an oil change to flush it out. It gets funky sludge from oil, combustion moisture and gas vapors built up in it.
It should be removed and cleaned during the services. It does get water vapor from the crankcase and that is supposed to be drawn up into the intake and burned off but if the car sees many short trips and few long enough to get the oil over 212 degrees they can rust out.
Hmm, I suspect that refinishing the interior with 3 coats of POR15 gloss black would both eliminate the rusting & also provide a slick, easily cleaned surface.
Yep. Add Just a few naked nuts and bolts, and a good bunch of 'Break-Free', plug the nipples and do the 'Hippie-Hippie-Shake' for a few hours and it cleans right up. Mickey Maus Simple.
If you don't punch holes in it ! My original one rusted out in several places - looked like swiss cheese. I don't think they were made of very substantial metal.
They are pieces of junk like most of the rest of these cars. You can find them on ebay nearly all the time for less than $200 and often around $140. Find one at that Price Point, offer the seller $80 via 'Contact the Seller' and see what you can get. I almost NEVER Pay the 'Buy It Now' Price. Take advantage of the 'During Corona' NO SALES. 30% OFF to me is not an unusual Selling Point at this point. I've bought LOTS of parts in the past 3 months. And those who treated me WELL now, Ill patronise MORE Later. This part aint even worth $10.00 in reality so if time is not of the essence ... wait and shop and Lowball Offer. Just treat the 'Takers' better later. They're trying to survive too.
