Strong Fuel Smell
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Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 89
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From: Apollo PA
Strong Fuel Smell
On my 81, after you put it in the garage, within a few hours the whole house wreaks of gas. I've pressure washed the motor and complete underneath of the car. Let it dry and traced the fules lines looking for a leak. The floor under the car is bone dry. It seems the smell is eminating from the fuel pump side of the car, but again. I can't find a drop of fuel anywhere. Not even any weeping. After the car sits for a few days, the smell still just pours out. Hey... winters comin... leaving the garage door open isn't gonna be an option soon. This one has me baffled. Anyone else ever seen such a thing?
Battin 1000...
Battin 1000...
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Joined: May 2005
Posts: 99
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From: Lincolnton NC
leaking?
I have a similar problem, but my 81 has set for the last 6 months getting a trans conversion to a four speed and I suspect the float is the culpret...but I know little about carbs, but anytime I pull the air cleaner off, the top of the bowl is wet (moist?)w/gas which makes no sense other than it is leaking in the carb itself...i think. I'll be watching this post hopeful you get a GOOD answer. good luck , jim
also, my MPG has dropped
also, my MPG has dropped
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 4,135
Likes: 1
if the fuel system has one of these (i dont know if the 81's had them or not) check to see if it leaks from the top of this piece when the tanks topped of,,, if it has one,,its called a fuel vapor seperator and its located at the drivers side of the tank,up top,,like i said my 73 has one and you may or may not have it in 81,(the part is no longer available except thru salvage ) if it does have one and you see gas leaking (drops) it usually gets the muffler or pipes after topping off, needs to come out and the top removed and re-glued(inside is a needle seat and a ping pong ball like float)-i got one from corvette mike and re-glued his and my old one then a quick shot of black paint,,,no leaks since and i have a spare--------------------
Last edited by carl a; Sep 11, 2005 at 10:29 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 5,752
Likes: 4
From: Austin Texas
Inspect the fuel tank area closely. An 81 has at least 2 fuel/vapor lines going to the tank. They are on top of the tank. Also look for staining on the mufflers, a sign of fuel leakage. Check the gas cap, too. 
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 918
Likes: 5
From: Gainesville FL
I can second the rubber lines connecting the top of the tank to the steel lines running along the frame rails. I had the same symptoms - bad smell in the garage but no obvious leak. One day it got to the point where it was dripping onto the passenger side muffler after returning from a short drive 
Dropping the tank is a bit of a pain, but not too bad a job to replace the rubber lines. One trick is to remove the side marker light so you can see where you are trying to attach the rubber lines on the fuel supply and return.
Dropping the tank is a bit of a pain, but not too bad a job to replace the rubber lines. One trick is to remove the side marker light so you can see where you are trying to attach the rubber lines on the fuel supply and return.
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