is the PCV valve still needed even with total seals despite what Hahn (or was it Howell?) says, or do you take it out with total seals. i know they're crap rings, but thats not the point....

i left mine on there tim. Dunno if i should have but I did.

left my pcv in and my rings to be seating pretty good so far after 350 miles.

900 miles on this rebuild and all cyl compression is at 150. Those are of course 8.6:1 compression pistons, on the longrod kit.

compression will not be affected with this issue. I think the problem Tim is referring to is the oil consumption issue, right Tim? IF so I don't know that we will get a confirm. IIRC the issue is that the PCV will acctually suck oil out. I will tell you I have the TS rings and I have blocked my PCV completly and I did notice a small difference in my oil consumption. Now I have NO external leaks and no blow by to speak of, but mine is still loosing oil. My head has over 150,000 on it and it's still stock. So I think my valve seals are starting to go and letting oil in at higher RPM's like on the highway. Now I know that is not the answer you asked for, But I do believe it helped a bit in my case...

does your vacuum needle vibrate a little when your idle? That's an indicator of valve stem seals. That what I thought my problem was before and I guess it was because my vacuum needle is rocksteady most of the time after rebuilding the whole head. But I burn oil like a mofo like every 100 miles a quart goes into the exhuast.

anyway I noticed that my intake manifold was really oily and grimey a while back and that was with the PCV connected. The car would idle funny too.

not too long ago I routed all my valve cover vents to my catchcan and capped my intake manifold and I get NO oil at all in my catchcan so NO blowby. Since I did this my car idles much better and I don't get a CEL for IAC being outta whack. Sooooo I would think the PCV has got to go.