dodge dude94
Millennial Boomer
- Joined
- Sep 5, 2013
- Posts
- 27,745
- Reaction score
- 6,426
- Location
- East Texas
- Ram Year
- 1998 Ram 1500
- Engine
- 5.9 Magnum
*NOTE: I would like to thank Brakelate for originally making the write-up for this DIY, 10 years ago when he was heavy into modding his 01 Cobra. It's quite possible that if it weren't for him making the original DIY that was stolen a couple times, I wouldn't have been able to adapt it for Ram owners. Thank you again, Brakelate! 
*
A couple folks have mentioned to me that I should make a write-up for my homebrew oil catch can that I've got in my Ram. Well, since I've told people how to do it and no one has done it, I guess I'll make a DIY for it. lol
First off: Why install a catch can in a truck that is a minimum of 13 years old? A spotless intake manifold and clean valves. That's why. I've personally found on my truck that it keeps the ping down as the engine isn't sucking the fine mist of oil it used to always do. In fact, it works so well that I pulled my air cleaner a couple weeks ago to find my plenum pan nearly spotless in the area of the PCV tube in the manifold.
Now, I had done my research prior to making this up to see what a catch can was (and this was before the huge buzz with the 4th gen guys) and I was intrigued, however, I did not want to spend the $80 for a nice, pretty can. So I found a DIY on a Cobra forum using an air/water separator for a shop air compressor.
What you'll need is the following:
A Kolbalt 3/8in Air Filter (air/water separator) PN 0221014- Found at Lowes for something like $20.99 or so
A pair of 3/8in NPT (this is crucial, as I found out) brass, barbed air fittings.
A roll of telfon thread tape
4ft of 3/8in PCV hose
2 1/4in (ish) band clamps
JB Weld
What I used for mounting onto my inner fender:
2in EMT (electrical conduit), 2 hole strap
and
Stainless Hex-head self-drilling screws 14x3/4
I actually went and dug that crap out of my toolbox for you guys, so be grateful!
I then went to the Dollar Tree and bough a package of 3 copper scrubbers for a buck (everything in that store is a dollar or less).
Now for putting it together:
You're going to, first, take the stone filter that's already in the can, out and should have three pieces:
Now, instead of that filter, you're going to either stuff in, or cut and place the scrubber. I chose to cut mine in half because I didn't like the fact that it was displacing a LOT of volume. You're going to put this in the can.
After you do that, take your fittings, wrap the threads with teflon tape and carefully screw them into the can.
It should look like this:
You're also going to need to epoxy the drain on the bottom. I just used JB KWIK for that. Just make sure you do it right the first time so you don't get oil that leaches past and FUBARs the glue like I did.
After that, take your 4ft of hose, and unless it's pre-cut into 2, 2ft lengths like mine was, do that now. Attach one 2 ft length to each fitting. Shove that sucker on. It's gonna take some force. Slide your clamps along the hose and tighten them down, better to be safe than sorry, IMO.
It's ready to install, but WAIT! You're not done yet. Time for the truck side, this is where things get....interesting. If you're like me, you don't like drilling into your truck, but this is the best way to mount.
Now, I don't have any pictures of me screwing the mount to the fender, but it's pretty simple, just take your time and make sure you apply firm pressure to the screws so they don't skip.
This is what you'll have when you're done:
And unless you bent the clamp while drilling, it will just slide right out to dump it.
And here is my result after 100mi of driving during this summer:
Nasty stuff.
Hope y'all enjoy this and it helps someone!
*A couple folks have mentioned to me that I should make a write-up for my homebrew oil catch can that I've got in my Ram. Well, since I've told people how to do it and no one has done it, I guess I'll make a DIY for it. lol
First off: Why install a catch can in a truck that is a minimum of 13 years old? A spotless intake manifold and clean valves. That's why. I've personally found on my truck that it keeps the ping down as the engine isn't sucking the fine mist of oil it used to always do. In fact, it works so well that I pulled my air cleaner a couple weeks ago to find my plenum pan nearly spotless in the area of the PCV tube in the manifold.
Now, I had done my research prior to making this up to see what a catch can was (and this was before the huge buzz with the 4th gen guys) and I was intrigued, however, I did not want to spend the $80 for a nice, pretty can. So I found a DIY on a Cobra forum using an air/water separator for a shop air compressor.
What you'll need is the following:
A Kolbalt 3/8in Air Filter (air/water separator) PN 0221014- Found at Lowes for something like $20.99 or so
A pair of 3/8in NPT (this is crucial, as I found out) brass, barbed air fittings.
A roll of telfon thread tape
4ft of 3/8in PCV hose
2 1/4in (ish) band clamps
JB Weld
What I used for mounting onto my inner fender:
2in EMT (electrical conduit), 2 hole strap
and
Stainless Hex-head self-drilling screws 14x3/4
I actually went and dug that crap out of my toolbox for you guys, so be grateful!
I then went to the Dollar Tree and bough a package of 3 copper scrubbers for a buck (everything in that store is a dollar or less).
Now for putting it together:
You're going to, first, take the stone filter that's already in the can, out and should have three pieces:
Now, instead of that filter, you're going to either stuff in, or cut and place the scrubber. I chose to cut mine in half because I didn't like the fact that it was displacing a LOT of volume. You're going to put this in the can.
After you do that, take your fittings, wrap the threads with teflon tape and carefully screw them into the can.
It should look like this:
You're also going to need to epoxy the drain on the bottom. I just used JB KWIK for that. Just make sure you do it right the first time so you don't get oil that leaches past and FUBARs the glue like I did.
After that, take your 4ft of hose, and unless it's pre-cut into 2, 2ft lengths like mine was, do that now. Attach one 2 ft length to each fitting. Shove that sucker on. It's gonna take some force. Slide your clamps along the hose and tighten them down, better to be safe than sorry, IMO.
It's ready to install, but WAIT! You're not done yet. Time for the truck side, this is where things get....interesting. If you're like me, you don't like drilling into your truck, but this is the best way to mount.
Now, I don't have any pictures of me screwing the mount to the fender, but it's pretty simple, just take your time and make sure you apply firm pressure to the screws so they don't skip.
This is what you'll have when you're done:
And unless you bent the clamp while drilling, it will just slide right out to dump it.
And here is my result after 100mi of driving during this summer:
Nasty stuff.
Hope y'all enjoy this and it helps someone!
Last edited:
