V8 hoses and carbs

Right then I've got my intro done so now down to the questions...

My defender 90 is running on a V8 with twin carbs.
Having bought it with negliagable service history I decided to do a substancial service on it and as I'm sure we've all had, one thing lead to another and the job grew arms and legs...

So I'm looking at some nicely perished rubber hoses currently an planning their replacemnt.
Currently I have a small filter on a breather and the rear of the engine around the centre (right to left). I also have two flame catchers piped one from each rocker cover to it's respective carb body. One of these is straight in and out between the cover and carb.
The other has a second opening on the rocker cover side that is just left open to the engine bay.
So, is there a reason to have two different flame catchers? Do I need to replace like for like or is there a neater alternative?
A second reason to ask is that the current set up has a 3/8" hose from rocker cover to flame catcher then 1/4" hose from flame catcher to carb. the 1/4" hose is somewhat bodged with various forms of tape to the flame catcher so I'm looking to fit a slightly neater solution.
A friend has offered me an oil catch can if I want it. Has anyone fitted one to a defender? Is it worth it? And how would you have it plummbed in?
Do I need to keep the two sides separate or can they be combined?

Apologies for the many questions, bear with me although I can find my way around an engine bay fairly comfortably, this is my first foray into the world of carbs and a V8...

Thanks all.

ClimberTom said:

My defender 90 is running on a V8 with twin carbs.

Click to expand...

What year? Original or conversion? These might help.

Post up some pics it always helps....

Thanks those diagrams will definitely help.
I should have said, it's an F reg. I'm led to believe that it's an original V8 but I'm not 100% sure.

Hopefully these pics will work...

F reg you would have had a large cylinder air box at the rear of the engine. This would have two aluminium U -Bends fitted to the SU carbs respectively. Now between the U-Bends a T pipe fitted to the Airbox. On this T pipe was a lead off pipe for another filter that would continues to the breather on the driver side of the rocker cover.
The rubber tubes that would ha connected were designed to fit each respective breathers which if old would or might had contamination that would drain to the Plenum.

I should have added when they put separate Air filters on the SU carbs do they feels sluggish because they are harder to tune in this way than the original Airbox version.I had mine converted to LPG via the carbs on an Open system called BIGAS but I kept the original air box for best results when being tuned. Pity I sold my old F reg 110 for a Gaylander 1

The filter at back of engine is between airbox and a connection below the inlet manifold gasket on the block...not sure what you mean by extra vent on rocker cover...yes pipes are different diameters on flame traps just replace them don't alter...

Thanks for the info, I'll probably be back with more questions before too long.
I've only owned it with separate filters on the carbs so don't know any different. However I'd say it does feel sluggish yes. Balancing the carbs is on the list of jobs to figure out...

Shippers - yes that's the filter on the rear of the engine, although mine is just open to the engine bay as the original air box is gone.
Sorry I wasn't very clear on the extra vent. I meant on the flame trap. In the first pic I put up theres two connections showing on the flame trap, one is plumbed to the rover cover, one is open. I just wondered if there was a reason for this as the other side flame trap has just one in and one out.

Both flame traps should be the same one in one out...not sure with that set-up where you could attatch filter...on my engine its in a 101 forward control you initially balance carbs with airbox and elbows disconnected....