I called them to order the part and they sent me an invoice thru paypal I mentioned the high shipping cost and asked them to drop it in an envelope. they dropped the shipping to 6 bucks. I know I saved that in gas, time and agrivation going to and from the different parts stores and surfing for a solution online.
Ok, so after doing way more research than I wanted to on finding a proper ftting PCV grommet, here is the synopsis. So GM 1381487 was re-designed some years ago and is no longer correct for us. All the parts store replacements are based on the newer incorrect version of it. We have the same grommet as the Grand Nationals. Kirban, with the help of Richard Clark, reproduces one based on measurements of an original. HighwayStars repos one based on the original mold. Both the Kirban and HighwayStars work fine and are very similar. https://www.highwaystars.net/grommet-pcv-valve-1254119/ Here is a detailed analysis comparison: https://www.turbobuick.com/threads/...d-pcv-grommet-kirban-or-highway-stars.456972/
I just wanted to say, this thread was incredibly helpful. I made all the mistakes you guys mentioned: ripped the old grommet trying to take it out and dropped the bottom half into the valley pan; had to fish it out with a pair of surgical forceps I bought online; bought the wrong grommets twice; then saw this thread and got the one from Highway Stars. Fits perfectly, went in easily, and the valve fits great. What I can't understand is why places like RockAuto direct you to the wrong part (like the 42056). You would think they would figure it out.
I have both the Highway stars and Kirban grommets. I would give a very slight edge to the Highway Stars one only because of the slightly more pliable rubber. This is not to say the Kirban one is hard to get in, but the HS is slightly easier. Both are very very similar with only minute differences. Cant go wrong with either one, the fit is light years better than any of the others.
I think the difference for me was purely price. Highway Stars charged like $7 to ship a $6 grommet, while Kirban (or whoever was selling it) wanted to charge like $18 to ship--ridiculous!
That one is not the same as we are talking about here. That one is the same poor fitting ones as the rest that aren't made from the original molds or an original example measurements
FYI @1968_GS400 i posted a few weeks back that I used a Dorman grommet made for fords. Worked great and it was $3 on Amazon. Someone else on the board had discovered it. Dorman 42049 PCV Valve Grommet - 0.715 In. ID - 1.440 In. OD - 0.493 In. Thickness Compatible with Select Ford / Lincoln / Mercury Models
I guess with that one, the PCV valve seats further down like it would with the Dorman 42061 inner diameter? But is the outer diameter too big on that?
View attachment 562306 View attachment 562306 42049 uses the main body to seal but there is a lip on most metal PCVs that will keep it from going into valley. Obviously not concours but works well....
Fits like a glove. They had one at my O’Reilly’s. Didn’t require any tools to force it in or anything. Also didn’t require hours of cursing either.
