The OneLapCamaro complete build thread

[Jr]

James,
Did you use the solid body mount bushings from ATS?

[James OLC]

Originally Posted by DJW32

James,
Did you use the solid body mount bushings from ATS?

Body bushings are global west pieces that we stripped and painted. Blake at SpeedTech has some great bushings as well that I probably would have gone with if they had been available at the time.

[James OLC]

So... one of the things that showed up on the post race inspection after 'Vegas was some differential fluid that pushed out the vent and past the woefully inadequate filter that I had been using. I had expected problems there but at that point in time hadn't found a solution that I felt I could depend on (and by depend on, I mean something that I could have in the trunk that wouldn't stink up the entire car while properly doing it's job).

Fortunately I decided to give Mike Norris (Norris Motorsports) and John Parsons a call after seeing their new fuel breather on Steve's car. After a bit of discussion they came up with a clean, simple, and (hopefully) effective solution that I just about have installed and plumbed...

The basic components of the kit as supplied is the breather itself and a tidy billet mounting clamp:



When the breather cannister is dissassembled you can see that this is more than just a simple vented catch can:



Drain holes allow what differential fluid is collected to gravity drain back into the differential while at rest:

[James OLC]

To complete the installation, you need to supply your own AN hardware and hose, as well as a small breather (I used a K&N). For hardware I needed a 1/4" NPT plug and two -6AN to 1/4" NPT 90 degree fittings. I have used Earls Ano-Tuff fittings throughout the OLC build but, unfortunately, none were available locally (one of the joys of trying to build something like this in the great white north) so I grabbed some traditional fittings from my stock to get things together for now - I'll change them out later.

First a plug for the extra/optional vent outlet, in an ideal world this wouldn't be here but it is and it's not much of an inconvenience:



I used 90 degree fittings top and bottom to mimimize height (and save a bunch over 90 degree hose ends). The "in" and "out" are clocked at 90:

[James OLC]

The recommended mounting of the breather is for the "in" port to allow a straight drain back to the differential; obviously the whole assembly needs to be above the differential at all times. Since trunk space is at a premium in the OneLapCamaro, I fabricated a bracket on the back of the rear bulkhead "Y" supports (behind the upholstry) which puts the breather well out of the way:



I have two large rubber grommets for the remote reservoirs which I am using to pass the line from the differential through up into the trunk. On the input side it will be a straight shot into the breather, on the "out" side which will terminate with the K&N filter I ran a line across the trunk, and out on the other side:



Unfortunately, I ran a touch short of -6 hose and will have to wait until Monday to finish this up...

[awr68]

Nice James! I think I need to get one for my fuel system...it seems everybody has issues with the fuel tank vent/smell and this is the best solution!

[Steve1968LS2]

Originally Posted by awr68

Nice James! I think I need to get one for my fuel system...it seems everybody has issues with the fuel tank vent/smell and this is the best solution!

I have one from Parsons/Mike Norris and it's great.. no more fuel sloshing out.

[awr68]

Steve, what happens at the end of the hose that goes threw the floor? Is there a filter to help with smell? Is there any odor when using this system? That's one thing that I just can't have...smelly garage!

[parsonsj]

Anthony,

Exactly right. Put a K&N crankcase breather filter on the other side of the bulkhead fitting and you won't have any gas smell (from there anyway).

If you still use Russell or Earl's flex line that doesn't have a teflon liner, then your fuel lines will permeate (and eventually fail). But that's a whole other story.

jp

[awr68]

Thanks John! Yeah, I actually read your story on plumbing...lesson learned there!