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Man it smells in here....

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Old Jan 23, 2010 | 04:08 PM
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Default Man it smells in here....

I’m confused. I have been researching previous threads about gas smell in the garage. I have a 1970 350/300 with that problem. According to my diagrams for a 1970 it shows a vapor canister mounted somewhere on the left side by the left wheel. My car shows no sign of this ever being there. No line and no bracket. Did all 1970 small blocks have this component? Also, I need a new gas cap. Some show a “Vented” and some show a “Sealed” cap. Which one is proper? I’m sooooo.. confused!!!!!
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Old Jan 23, 2010 | 05:29 PM
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A sealed cap is used on a system with a Vapor Canister!! If you don't have a vapor canister, or the line from the tank to it is cut and plugged then you probably need the vented cap. If you do have the vapor canister and it is all connected up and functioning, then the sealed cap would be appropriate.
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Old Jan 23, 2010 | 06:06 PM
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Look at the emissions label under the hood. If it's a 49-state car (non Calif) then it may not have the cannister but the label will tell you.

My '70 Nova had one but it was a CA car.
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Old Jan 23, 2010 | 06:21 PM
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Hi AC,
I believe SDP is right, the 1970 model year cars didn't have the Evaporative Control System (the carbon cannister) UNLESS they was delivered to California (option NA9).
1970 gas caps were the 'sealed' type.
Some times just the gasket in the cap needs to be replaced.
Regards,
Alan
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Old Jan 24, 2010 | 12:31 AM
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Originally Posted by Alan 71
Hi AC,
I believe SDP is right, the 1970 model year cars didn't have the Evaporative Control System (the carbon cannister) UNLESS they was delivered to California (option NA9).
1970 gas caps were the 'sealed' type.
Some times just the gasket in the cap needs to be replaced.
Regards,
Alan
Alan, if the '70 has a sealed gas cap and no vapor canister how does the gas tank control pressure build-up? Is the pressure only vented when the gas cap is removed?

cc
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Old Jan 24, 2010 | 10:43 AM
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Hi CC,
How are you?
My understanding is that the cars without EEC still had sealed tanks that were vented through the small button valve on the top of the tank located just to the left of the filler neck. The valve is about the size of a quarter. (The EEC tanks had the valve too.)
You can just see the valve in this picture of my 71 (EEC) tank. Upper, right corner of picture.
The Quanta site mentions and shows what tanks have the valve but doesn't describe it.
Regards,
Alan

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Old Jan 24, 2010 | 12:15 PM
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Interesting. My neighbor has 2 1970's, one a 350/350 and the other a 454/390. Both are in body off mode right now so I'll need to go check out his tanks and see if they have those buttons. I know he has the sealed gas caps and he went to a lot of trouble making sure he had the correct gas tank.

The small block is going to go for NCRS judging when he is done with it. The big block is going to be a driver.

Actually, we just took the big block frame to Arkansas City Friday to be straightened and the tank wasn't in it so either he doesn't have it or it's in his attic storage area.

I need to post the story on this car some time. It's quite a tale of "barn" find, chasing the original body/frame/engine etc.

cc

Last edited by CCrane65; Jan 24, 2010 at 12:19 PM.
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Old Jan 27, 2010 | 11:58 AM
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Default Gas Smell

I think the smell is simply gas evaporating from the huge carburetors on these cars. I have a fully sealed tank, relatively new vapor canister, and all vent lines are new and tight. But after driving and pulling into the garage, there's always a gas smell for the first day. Big carb, big fuel bowl, evaporates out the air filter assembly. The smell disappears after a day.

If you smell gas all the time, then there's a problem somewhere.
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Old Jan 27, 2010 | 03:08 PM
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could be a tiny leak in the fuel pump or connection to it.. not enough to leak on the floor.. or only leak some when running..it may leak so slow that it evaporates before dripping on the floor. I had this problem.. run your fingers all around the fuel pump both before and after running the engine and check for wetness. There is a tiny vent hole on the fuel pump where the diaphram seal may be broke where gas may be comming out.
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Old Jan 27, 2010 | 04:07 PM
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Originally Posted by joewill
could be a tiny leak in the fuel pump or connection to it.. not enough to leak on the floor.. or only leak some when running..it may leak so slow that it evaporates before dripping on the floor. I had this problem.. run your fingers all around the fuel pump both before and after running the engine and check for wetness. There is a tiny vent hole on the fuel pump where the diaphram seal may be broke where gas may be comming out.
I had a leak at the mechanical fuel pump. Did not know until it started dripping on the floor one day. Replaced the fuel pump and no more gas smell. Replacing the fuel pump is no fun, and a PITA.
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Old Jan 27, 2010 | 04:17 PM
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I agree with K that these old carburated cars always smelled more than our new injected cars do. I also agree with JoeW that even a very slight weep at a connection will give a surprising amount of odor in a fairly well sealed garage.
My car is in a garage in the basement, so I (and my wife) was very aware of any gas odor when I finaly put gas in the tank as the restoration was ending. It took a while to track every little weep down and I even ended up replacing a couple of original rubber hoses I really wanted to re-use because the gas would seep through the old rubber.
Good Luck!
Regards,
Alan
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Old Jan 29, 2010 | 03:21 PM
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Originally Posted by texbeasr3
I had a leak at the mechanical fuel pump. Did not know until it started dripping on the floor one day. Replaced the fuel pump and no more gas smell. Replacing the fuel pump is no fun, and a PITA.
I got rid of mine and got an electric pump--- great becaue it starts up on the first crank because the pump has already refilled the carb before the starter even turns!

--although they dont reccomend these for racing if you get a fire and power is still on it will continually pump fuel to the fire!!!! Never intend to crash mine though so it was a nice fix!
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Old Jan 29, 2010 | 07:26 PM
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Default 70's sealed system

I am the original owner of 1970 bought in Texas. Have no cannister. Do have the original gas cap and it says sealed on it. When I remove the gas cap to install gas, there is pressure. Acutally lots of pressure. I keep my 70 in my garage. No smell of gas.

Over or about 25 or so years ago started out on a trip. Driving down the interstate noticed the gas guage had moved off FULL to quickly. Stopped and checked the rear of the car and saw gas coming from the fuel return line going to the gas tank was dripping fuel. Was not that far down the road from starting my trip and returned home and replaced the original rubber return line coming from the return metal line to the gas tank.

Both the supply line and return lines at the rear of the car get over looked sometimes as a source of a gas leak. The right muffler is right below these gas lines.
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Old Jan 29, 2010 | 07:57 PM
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my 73's check valve (mounted on the tank) was stuck open.
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Old Feb 1, 2010 | 05:00 PM
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check the cork gasket between the filler neck and the tank
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