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Working on an exhaust manifold leak, had to remove the intake and exhaust manifold. To get clearance, had to remove the crankcase ventilation tube located on the right side into the base of the carburetor manifold. In series with the steel pipe is an unusual fitting, a check valve?, followed by a series of kluged up brass fittings.
Any idea what that item may be? Only an orifice now, maybe .125 dia.

Your description does not sound at all like any part of the crankcase ventilation system which comprises the road draft tube usually fitted to the rear valve tappet cover for an fume exit and the oil filler cap as the fresh air inlet. What you describe sounds to me like an intake manifold drain tube with a check valve at the bottom. See a concurrent thread on here right now titled "38 120 poor running".

Or provide a picture?

Should have provided a picture first time. Front of car is to right. More I look at it, something was kluged together over the years. So where would the tube go? Even the tapped hole into the base of the intake manifold below the carb is not correct

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Since you are in California and assuming the car has been here awhile, I wonder if someone has tried to either duplicate the taxicab PCV system or perhaps the car was one caught up in the clean air laws of the 60s and 70s where DMV required a bunch of pollution stuff added -- even on old cars -- before they could be transferred or sometimes even reregistered.

Here is a thread with a couple of photos showing something similar and a bit of commentary from some of those having history with the pollution control add-ons.https://packardinfo.com/xoops/html/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?post_id=92928#forumpost92928

Actually, car just got here from Michigan in November. It was my Dad's and we have been working on it long distance for about 30 years. Car came out of Missouri I believe. Looking at the other thread, this is the same part, same issue. Spring in side, no check ball and filled with old gunky oil residue.
Interesting, taxi was mentioned in the other thread. We did research and we believe this engine is a taxi motor as well.
So, on a factroy engine of this vintage, where would that pipe normally go or any idea where I would find one of these? Being wide open, certainly sucking a lot of fumes from crank directly into intake manifold, lean conditions possible unless over compensate with needle valve

There may be a photo on site but I believe the six with PCV systems had a fitting the copper tube attached to that would fit the same hole the road draft tube normally used. Look at the right side rear of the block just above the bellhousing where a road draft tube would normally be attached and see if the tube ends there. For the eights that had an adaption, I believe the opening was in the center of the rear valve cover.

Finding an authentic Packard valve may take awhile but I am wondering if something else could be used. There was mention of a similar looking Jeep valve in that other thread that might be an option. Since passenger cars did not have PCV maybe removal and back to stock is an option too.

According to Service Counselor Vol.21 ,No.13 Dated July 15, 1947, all new replacement 6 cyl. engines will include the crankcase ventilating equipment which was used only on the taxicab engines....This counselor also explaines the various parts used intake manifold to engine block with some pictures.......

Interesting. From what we have found, this is the original engine. Curious why everything is pointing to an engine transplant with PCV

Thanks Howard!

Think I'll head back to my local NAPA dealer. Was there a couple weeks ago and the counter guy spent a good hour looking in the back for a fitting for the oil canister brake line. Small town NAPA guys rock ! Bet he would dig through Jeep PCV valves as well

I don't know for sure about 1939 Six but all my 1940 110s either had nothing there or perhaps just a square-headed plug.

Even in California, all I ever had to add for emissions to any of my old cars was a device that went into the upper radiator hose where it connected to the radiator, then had a couple small tubes to the distributor's vacuum advance. California did not know how to handle one of mine that did not have a vacuum advance so I was able to get away without the device on that car since it would have done nothing anyway.