First ever mods, some issues 2013

[Souths1der]

These modes were done on my 2013 Big Horn QC. I got the S&B Intake and BT Catch Can from Moe's. Nice and easy transaction.

S&B Intake Fitment

I have a 2013 and I installed the S&B intake last night. In the instructions it mentions that people with 2013's may have a clearance issue with the AC line, and to loosen the brackets so you can shift it forward a little bit. Before I loosened the brackets, I noticed that they were as far forward as they could go, so my first thought was "This should be an easy fit". However, I then lowered the intake into the bay, and I couldn't raise it up high enough for the mounting bolt to match up with the hole. So my issue wasn't a shift forward but a shift up. The top part of the air inlet tube was hitting the AC line that runs under the upper lip of the fender. I completely removed the bolt mounting the AC line bracket (the one closest the intake), I could then raise the line up high enough to mount the intake. I had to shift it up over .5", so the holes don't line up and now that AC bracket is not mounted (the forward one still is though). I don't off-road, at worst I'm on some mediocre gravel roads 2% of the time. Should I worry? It was getting late last night and I was frustrated, maybe I missed another way to approach the problem.

Here is a pic of the AC line bracket as it is now, and of the intake installed:






Billet Tech Catch Can

This was more straight forward. I don't really have issues, more questions/concerns. I did not need the male/male coupler on the front valve by the TB. When I removed the existing tube, what was left had the perfect size connection. The coupler wouldn't even go into it, so I just put the supplied tube on existing valve and it was a nice snug fit. I did have to cut 5-6" off the supplied tube. For the rear valve I did not have to trim off excess tubing, but man was it a ***** to get on there. Maybe because it's so hard to reach that far back, and my arms are almost already fully extended, but I just couldn't get it more than .5-.75" on the valve. I gave it a good tug to see if it would pop off, and it didn't budge, but I don't know what kind of pressure goes through that tube. Should I be worried that it will pop off? Should I be concerned that I did not need that male/male coupler on the front?

These were my first mods ever to a car, and at 41 you wouldn't think I'd be nervous about things like this, but I am. I was hyper-sensitive to any little sound this morning driving to work. My first impressions are that the intake gives the truck a very nice growl, but only adds an insignificant amount of volume. I go on a 120 mile journey after work today, and plan to check the catch can for oil to see if it's working. I will also check all the bolts and tubes, and other connections to make sure they haven't loosened.

Thanks for listening, it's nice to have a sounding board.

 

[Etroze86]

First off nice job with working around and getting things to fit. I know a ton of people that would've just given up. I would be careful shutting the hood with how high the shreader valve looks in that picture. For the catch can you can run a hose clap on the end you could only get .75" onto the outlet if it really worries you, that system should be pretty low pressure so I wouldn't worry about it popping off.

 

[Casper]

Nice install--I love that S&B almost stock look.
As far as the A/C line, I bet you could partially straighten the bracket you removed to still provide some support and still use the rubber bushing to protect the AC line. Your call, but with the service connection there all you need is for some grease gorilla to jam the hose on and crimp or crack the piping. It's probably fine, and there are good techs out there, but there are also a lot of hung-over clock watching hot heads, newbies and barely qualified-types to at least suggest you might consider restoring some level of support.

For the Catch Can I used a small amount of WD40 on the inside of my hoses--it made all the difference in the world. I'm surprised there wasn't a 1/2" ID nipple sticking out of your intake below the TB to accept the male/male brass fitting. If you inserted the hose over the rubber nipple, you may want to watch it a first to make certain it doesn't suck air. No big deal at WOT, but could lean you out at idle and cause a stall since it is after the air sensors.
Maybe a little WD40 and you could make the brass fitting work?

http://www.ramforum.com/attachments...ch_cans_diy_threads-hemi_showing_pcv_vent.jpg

 

[WhiteExpress]

Man, that mounting bracket is made out of thick metal with lots of gusseting.
My personal though is they don't put a heavy bracket like that on for nothing.

Can you maybe oval some mounting points on the S&B to allow it to shift out of the way?

Or perhaps you can bend the small AC line a touch to allow the other bracket to line up?

 

[Souths1der]

First off nice job with working around and getting things to fit. I know a ton of people that would've just given up. I would be careful shutting the hood with how high the shreader valve looks in that picture. For the catch can you can run a hose clap on the end you could only get .75" onto the outlet if it really worries you, that system should be pretty low pressure so I wouldn't worry about it popping off.

There is actually a lot of room above the intake and those mounting brackets, so it's not close to hitting anything. I was worried about that too, so I checked the clearance.

 

[Souths1der]

Nice install--I love that S&B almost stock look.
As far as the A/C line, I bet you could partially straighten the bracket you removed to still provide some support and still use the rubber bushing to protect the AC line. Your call, but with the service connection there all you need is for some grease gorilla to jam the hose on and crimp or crack the piping. It's probably fine, and there are good techs out there, but there are also a lot of hung-over clock watching hot heads, newbies and barely qualified-types to at least suggest you might consider restoring some level of support.

For the Catch Can I used a small amount of WD40 on the inside of my hoses--it made all the difference in the world. I'm surprised there wasn't a 1/2" ID nipple sticking out of your intake below the TB to accept the male/male brass fitting. If you inserted the hose over the rubber nipple, you may want to watch it a first to make certain it doesn't suck air. No big deal at WOT, but could lean you out at idle and cause a stall since it is after the air sensors.
Maybe a little WD40 and you could make the brass fitting work?

http://www.ramforum.com/attachments...ch_cans_diy_threads-hemi_showing_pcv_vent.jpg

That metal bracket is really thick, so I'd have to take it out to bend it, and there doesn't seem to be an easy way to do that at first glance.

Didn't think to lube up the ends of the tubing. I'll try that.

 

[Souths1der]

Man, that mounting bracket is made out of thick metal with lots of gusseting.
My personal though is they don't put a heavy bracket like that on for nothing.

Can you maybe oval some mounting points on the S&B to allow it to shift out of the way?

Or perhaps you can bend the small AC line a touch to allow the other bracket to line up?

Good point about the reason for the thickness, but that also could be because they needed to support it a tad better for the spacer that is also there. I can't shift the intake down because the lower mount bolt and also it would not line up with the opening in the fender where it gets it's air. I was thinking I could try and do something with a 2"x1"x.125" piece of metal. Drill a couple holes in it at either end. Fasten one end to the original mount point in the fender and the other to the bracket that's raised up. Should work. But that's a lot of talk for a guy who has never done metal work before...lol. I sent in a note to S&B support, maybe they've seen the issue and/or can offer me some guidance.

 

[Hemi450hp]

The intake looks great. Easiest solution is to just slightly bend the bracket so that the mounting holes line up to the fender. I do know a few guys that just left it as yours is, and it has not shown any problems. I would just try to bend the bracket though for peace of mind.

As for the catch can, that is a low pressure system, so you should be fine with the way your hoses are mounted. If you can slide that rear hose on a bit further, it will just give a little added insurance. As for the front hose, some of the 2013's do not require that male/male fitting, but we decided to include them anyways. We have not been able to find the connection of when Dodge changed this, so we just include the fitting anyways. better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it.

 

[Souths1der]

Thanks for the responses. It's real good to not hear "That's messed up man, it shouldn't be like that you're going to blow up". It's also nice to hear that others have the same situations as me and all is well. I'm less worried now.

Thanks everyone.

 

[Pull Ya]

When I installed my catch can I thought that attaching the hose was part of some physical fitness program, or that I needed the help of that guy that puts oil filters on new trucks at the factory. After fighting, cussing, drinking an extra beer or two, skinning up my knuckles and having my neighbor complain about my "colorful language" I finally got the hoses on far enough to feel comfortable that they wouldn't come off.
Jay

 

[Designflaw]

Nice little write up - any work done yourself is rewarding and I promise you, it won't be the last thanks to this stupid forum. I'm doing my catch can and AirLift 1000 this weekend - damn forum, damn damn damn

 

[Pull Ya]

The best advise that I never followed----LEAVE YOUR TRUCK ALONE!!!!"
Jay

 

[cux211]

I didn't need the brass fitting either on my truck for the catch can and it's always a good idea to keep a small jar of vasoline around the garage just a dab on the fittings and they push right on as far as the S&B I had a similar situation with that bracket and the holes not lining up on the air box but with some manipulation of the ac lines and tweaks here and there it all bolted up as it should you just have to play with it a bit

 

[Souths1der]

Drove up to the cabin, 2+ hour drive. Impressive results in terms of MPG, haven't checked the catch can yet. The first picture is of a return trip a couple weeks ago that was done on a Monday morning (just went straight into work). The second picture is last nights trip (went to the cabin from home after I got home from work). Based on the price of gas and how many miles I put on my truck in a year and I get an ROI on these mods in under a year.