Air Draft Tube

Posted by Owen_Dyneto On 2007/12/5 9:28:34

Does anyone have any authoritative information (as in a Packard Service Letter or other communication to dealers) about what I'm calling an ?air draft tube?, a horizontally mounted thin wall tube about 1-1/2 inches OD and 10 inches long, fastened by two welded legs to the engine oil filter bolts? It's located at the front upper left side of engine, above the oil filter, and in line with the oil filler cap. This part is seen on some 356 engines between 1941-47 but has no numbers or markings on it and apparently is not listed in the parts books. Its purpose apparently is to direct a small portion of the engine fan draft to a slot opening the oil filler tube cap. Its been suggested that it was provided for customers who complained about ?oil smells? and functioned by pressurizing the crankcase and forcing fumes out of the road draft tube when the car was not moving forward.