Strong Fuel Smell
 

I have a 1979 L-48 and there is a strong fuel smell in the car. I have looked all over the fuel lines and fuel pump and can't seem to find any leaks. There doesn't appear to be a loss of fuel either. The car runs fine so I have to assume the carb is tuned correctly (holly 600). Not sure where to look. The smell is always there wether the fuel tank is full or half empty. Any ideas?

RE: Strong Fuel Smell
 

My '78 also had the same thing, I found the steel lines in the rear of the car where they go from the frame up to the top of the tank were rusted through. Also the rubber lines in the same area were brittle.

RE: Strong Fuel Smell
 

I will look tomorrow. Is this something that can be changed out without pulling the fuel tank? How did you go about fixing it? Never been in that area of the car but I guess it is time to investigate. Thanks.

RE: Strong Fuel Smell
 

You might check your charcoal canister. I had my purge valve crack and it finally got saturated w/ gas.

RE: Strong Fuel Smell
 

73 Shark, could you tell me where that is? Haven't heard about this before. I will look around in my manual until I hear back from you.

RE: Strong Fuel Smell
 

I have had similar problems with my 74.
First time it turned out to be the carb float settings, easy fix.
Second time, year laterit was a bad gas cap, cheap fix.
Good luck,
Schoon

RE: Strong Fuel Smell
 

On my '73, it's down on the frame below the master cylinder. It is about 5" dia by about 8" tall w/ several vacuum lines going to it. It absorbs gas vapors when the engine isn't running and then when it is, the valve opens and allows engine vacuum to draw air in thru the bottom of the cannister, thru the charcoal absorbing the gas and then burning it. Also pulls vacuum on tank while running which is why they don't use a vented gas cap. So if you have a vented cap, the cannister w/ not be purged properly.

RE: Strong Fuel Smell
 

I panicked to when I smelled gas fumes when I parked my car in the garage, there are 2 or more lines attached to the vapor canister depending on your year vette, I also had 2 rubber gas lines in the rear at the tank and a vapor seperator, I changed everything and still could smell fumes, I still have the original Q-Jet but it could be that the Holly just evaperates fuel from the carb just as the Q-Jet does. Check real good for leaks, but most likely it is not a leak or something to worry abiut.
PG.

RE: Strong Fuel Smell
 

Vapor canister

RE: Strong Fuel Smell
 

I looked at the canister today and it has several small vacuum lines coming off of it (3/8 about). One large line attached to a metal one that I assume goes to the fuel tank. There was on more large line that had a bolt in it to cap it off, any idea where this is supposed to go. I have a 1979 L-48 with a 350 in it. I assume that it is original because looking at it it does not appear to have been touched in the last 29 years. Next question, how the *&^% do you get it out without pulling the master cylinder. It looks like if I break my arm in a couple of places I may be able to un bolt it but it is wedged down in there pretty good. All the fuel lines look ok, old but ok. Thanks

RE: Strong Fuel Smell
 

I am having the same problem in my 69 convertible. It is the base engine.The fuel lines seem fine with a visual check.A new gas tank was placed in it a few years ago.The return line was disconnected twenty some years ago,but doesn't seem to affect the running of the car. I do know the original gascap is on the car. Would changing that help with the smell inside the car? And why? And am I correct in the fact this year did not have a charcoal canister?

RE: Strong Fuel Smell
 

If the cannister has been inactivated, then that might explain the smell as the tank is sealed (if it has original non-vented cap) and thevapor has to go somewhere.

RE: Strong Fuel Smell
 

Before you go thru the trouble to replace that canister why not remove the bolt and get a straight plastic connector, some rubber line and with a T connector splice it into the PCV hose.
Check the rubber vapor return line at the tank, and the fuel supply and return lines on the other side of the tank.
There are two S hoses at the fuel pump.
If they are all good and your cap and gasket are good you should be OK.
PG.

RE: Strong Fuel Smell
 

PG,
Just taking that bolt out of that line fixed the fuel smell problem. Do you think I need to connect it to a vacuum? Thanks for the help.

RE: Strong Fuel Smell
 

To be sure & safe, you should probably hook it up like it was from factory. One of the emission controls that doesn't say hp. :)

RE: Strong Fuel Smell
 

Could I just hook it into one of the empty spots on the intake manifold by where the headlight vacuum hose connects to?

RE: Strong Fuel Smell
 

Yes, any full manifold vacuumconnection will work, PG.