Replacing PCV Valve on '96 302

I went to change the PCV valve on my '96 w/ 302 today for the first time and realized that's it's mounted on the pass side valve cover above the #4 cylinder. It's really tucked in there with the manifold hanging over the valve cover.

So... what is the easiest way to get to it? I'd like to avoid pulling off a bunch of stuff? Hopefully, I'm missing some obvious strategy.

TIA.

Don't see a way around it.
I tried to finagel mine and ended up
removing stuff anyway

I just stuffed my hand in there,pulled it out,put the new one onto the hose, and put it back in the hole with my fingertips.

Hopefully, you don't have the hose clamp on it.

http://www.superford.org/getfile.php?id=71809&toggle=fullsize&f=PCV.JPG

So then what is the easiest way to go about it?

I'm about to dive into my '95 302.....but after reading this thread I'm getting nervous!

Hopefully, you don't have the hose clamp on it.

http://www.superford.org/getfile.php?id=71809&toggle=fullsize&f=PCV.JPG

Oh, that sucks! What evil BAAAstard did that to you...that was factory?


It also helps to have long, thin fingers.

I have always just crammed my hand up there and pulled it out with the hose attached. Then put the new one on the hose. Too difficult to put the hose back on with the valve in the hole.

If you do plan to remove the upper intake, you might want to find the part to move the PVC like in the picture. My 96 351 is mounted like the picture.

Did it.

Took the PCV valve out using nimble fingers. When I removed the PCV valve the elbow broke inside of the hose. DON'T WORRY....easy fix. Removed the entire hose and got the broken plastic out of the hose. This is an ample opportunity to make sur ethe hose is free of debri. Re-rout the hose, insert PCV into hose, insert PCV into engine.

Took my maybe 40 minutes, and 30 minutes was spent just trying to figure out what to do with the broken plastic in the hose.