Hi folks,

A little background -

1973 convertible that I sold it to a friend eleven years ago and just bought back in September. The gas tank rusted out earlier this year and he (the friend) had it replaced. The first time I filled it up with gas after buying it back I got a bit carried away and filled the tank almost to the top. I drove it directly home (about 6 miles), parked it in the garage, and it leaked quite a bit of gas out onto the floor in an area under the charcoal canister. I've put gas in it a couple of more times since then but only filled it a little more than half full and hadn't noticed any additional leaking.

Well, we went out to eat this afternoon and stopped on the way to get gas and I filled the tank to two - three inches from the top. Got to the restaurant, went inside and a few minutes later a guy came in and said that a Vette in the parking lot was leaking gas. I went out to find almost a stream of gas draining down from from the left front in the general area of the charcoal cannister and it continued draining for a minute or more. I'd guess that several cups of gas in total spilled out onto the pavement before it slowed and then stopped on it's own.

So, I'm thinking that either the hoses to the vapor/gas separator on the side of the tank got crossed during the tank replacement or the check valve in the separator has failed. Anyone have any other ideas before I spend $50 plus shipping for a new separator.

Later,
Johnny

 

I think you figured it out. The new tank was installed improperly.

 

Thanks Bill, guess it's time to get out the flashlight and crawl under there and see where the hoses go.

Later,
Johnny

 

I had that happen once when I over filled the tank. I believe I will change out the vent separator valve this spring just to make sure it doesn't happen again. I try never over fill the tank.

 

Fuel line system...YIKES!

My 80 smells like gas BAD after I drive it, regardless of how full the tank is. It happened immediately after my mechanic put on new performer Intake & performer 600cfm carb. So, somewhere along the many vacuum lines, return hoses, charcoal fuel cannister or separator, something is leaky or open. These cars have a whole slew of lines & vacuum hoses and I've tried to trace the lines back to the gas tank but quite frankly, for these mechanically untrained eyes I cannot locate where the stinky potentially explosive vapors are coming from. It does smell the strongest right around the cannister however. I am just unsure of which ones I can plug since it is an 80 with a vented system....

 

Well, looked under the rear this afternoon and the plumbing to the vapor/fuel separator appears to be installed correctly. The line from the gas tank goes to the lower fitting on the separator and the upper fitting on the separator is connected the the line running forward to the charcoal cannister. Guess it's time to send Zip $50 and ask them to send a new separator.

Later,
Johnny