Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums - Camaro5.com - View Single Post - Elite Engineering Catch Can Problem: Car won't start and left me stranded

adub4185 · 06-29-2011, 01:16 PM

As the one who designed the bracket and the mounting position, it is critical that you first remove the nut and tighten the shaft to the block. The two failures (with pictures) both had the nuts on the threaded rod and at this point, I will have to attribute the failures to not having removed the nuts first. Removing the nut allows the shaft to grab a lot more of the threaded rod and allows the installer to tighten the rod against the engine and not against the nut. I designed the threaded rod to have a deep hole and good deal of threads for this very purpose. I have installed these cans on setups where the nut has been difficult to remove, so my advice is to properly disconnect the battery, remove the threaded rod as a whole, and use penetrating oil on the nut to help break it free. I can assure you (unless GM changed the design) that it will break free, it just may be difficult. I would also suggest using a spring washer between the threaded shaft and the grounding cable to keep it from backing off for those that are worried about the installation. I am also going to take a look at my setup and look for any sign of fatigue on the threaded rod. With the vibrations created by my cam it may only be a matter of time before it breaks, but I will do a good deal of analysis on it and let you guys know what I come up with. I'll be traveling till early next week, but I will try to get to this issue as soon as I can.

Steve-

It may be wise to offer a higher grade threaded rod for this application for those that want to stick with this mounting position.

Keith-

Take a look at the second picture in post #30. That setup should work just fine with your tensioner. I saw Rick's setup the other night and suggested he contact elite about the V6 style mount.

Hope this helps guys and I am really sorry that you have been seeing failures like this! For those of you that installed it without removing the nut, did you try to remove it and have no luck getting it to come off, or did you just skip the step? It may be something that we revise in the installation instructions and place a little more emphasis on.

06-29-2011, 01:16 PM	#44
adub4185 Drives: 2010 2SS RS, 2023 Camaro ZLE Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 633	As the one who designed the bracket and the mounting position, it is critical that you first remove the nut and tighten the shaft to the block. The two failures (with pictures) both had the nuts on the threaded rod and at this point, I will have to attribute the failures to not having removed the nuts first. Removing the nut allows the shaft to grab a lot more of the threaded rod and allows the installer to tighten the rod against the engine and not against the nut. I designed the threaded rod to have a deep hole and good deal of threads for this very purpose. I have installed these cans on setups where the nut has been difficult to remove, so my advice is to properly disconnect the battery, remove the threaded rod as a whole, and use penetrating oil on the nut to help break it free. I can assure you (unless GM changed the design) that it will break free, it just may be difficult. I would also suggest using a spring washer between the threaded shaft and the grounding cable to keep it from backing off for those that are worried about the installation. I am also going to take a look at my setup and look for any sign of fatigue on the threaded rod. With the vibrations created by my cam it may only be a matter of time before it breaks, but I will do a good deal of analysis on it and let you guys know what I come up with. I'll be traveling till early next week, but I will try to get to this issue as soon as I can. Steve- It may be wise to offer a higher grade threaded rod for this application for those that want to stick with this mounting position. Keith- Take a look at the second picture in post #30. That setup should work just fine with your tensioner. I saw Rick's setup the other night and suggested he contact elite about the V6 style mount. Hope this helps guys and I am really sorry that you have been seeing failures like this! For those of you that installed it without removing the nut, did you try to remove it and have no luck getting it to come off, or did you just skip the step? It may be something that we revise in the installation instructions and place a little more emphasis on.