When taking the valve cover off the '96 XJ I broke what's listed as number 2 (the 'fixed orifice fitting') in this pic below as well as the tube leading off it to the intake manifold. Guy at O'Reiley's said it's only available from the dealer, not even from NAPA. Is this true?

Nope, I got that elbow at advance auto for my 99. The 96+ don't twist out like the early ones do and it sucks to get the plastic pieces out of the top section of the valve cover.

oh good grief... i work at Oreilly's and I purchased that from my store... hold on I will get you the Dorman part number...

Find a better parts guy!

You broke the actual plastic tube? or did you tear the rubber hoses on each end?

the breather tube itself is going to have to come from ebay, junk-yard, google search from specialty vendors, I do not believe that its widely available aftermarket...

Or if you are handy, you could just fashion yourself up one?

I ordered mine from Amazon.

dorman 47079 - most likely sitting in his help section along with the new grommet.
I forget if this one is for the front or rear... it has the wide open orifice


Dorman 47057 - Parts Idiot might have to order this one.. if I remember correctly it is not listed in the computer catalog, but the Borg Warner is, and a quick cross reference would snap this one right up.. much smaller orifice on the bottom..

NEVER EVER EVER believe a counter jockey who uses the phrase "dealer only"

that's just lazy

yea, and google is your friend when the parts guys say something stupid:

I broke this part too when I did mine:
http://www.partsgeek.com/gbproducts/...-01141645.html

Large opening goes front, metered orifice sits at the rear. Half the time it's listed as a PCV valve despite not being a valve or even PCV lol