[Greg Reimer 7376]

That round canister looking thing in the rear of the lifter valley is a baffle to prevent engine oil from exiting the engine through the draft tube.It used to plug itself solid with sludge. Any time I built a stocker motor using a small journal 327 block,I put a brass freeze plug in the hole at the top of the block behind the intake,dispensing with the baffle altogether. It would have been in the way of the valley tray anyhow. I use later valve covers with PCV grommets in them, and use a dual PCV valve system,using the OEM vacuum fitting on the carb base. I use a screw on oil filler cap,non-vented. This depressurizes the inside of the engine and helps in both ring seal,and eliminating any oil misting or leakage. They do stay dry this way. The PCV first came out in 1961 on California cars, 1963 nationwide. PCV was great to keep condensation out of the oil, and blowby fumes out of the air.Pulling the vacuum out of the valve covers seems to be a better way to circulate air through the top of the engine.