Strong fuel odor

[Jeff in Va]

I just bought a 1975 Stingray Coupe for my wife. The motor was rather tired, so I had a GM Performance Parts 350/330 installed. The problem is, after she drives it and pulls it into the garage, there is a really strong fuel odor that as best as I can tell is coming from around the passenger rear fenderwell. I can't see any leaks anywhere...on the floor, on the car, etc.

Any ideas?
Thanks in advance.
Jeff

 

[Bill75]

Jeff,

The fuel feed line runs along the frame on that side then passes thru to the top of the tank. Coincidentially I have a 75 and I had an issue when I first got mine in the same area. Someone had repaired a leak and replaced part of the line with a compression fitting which was leaking right behind the wheel.

That line makes some crazy bends as it goes thru the frame in front of the wheel near the swing arm pivot. You might want to inspect that area closely for a small leak from rubbing or damage. Jack the car up and look underneath where it exits from that area also.

Best of luck

Bill

 

[Chuck-75]

Hi ,I also have a 75 Vert. ,The problem that you described has been asked in the past almost excatly,If I remember corectly all the responces were saying to also check your fuel Vapor canistor.some people have disconected this part and experienced the same problem of fuel smell in the garage after driving the car and it sits in the garage overnight.I replaced my tank this summer and theres a fuel line and return line on the passenger side .and theres a vent line that runs down the frame on the Drivers side,to the vapor canister under the windshield washer tank.
dont quote me but I think that the vapor canister is to help equal the pressure in the tank and filter the gases so you wont smell them in the garage or closed in area?.
hope this helps?,

 

[Craigi]

dont quote me but I think that the vapor canister is to help equal the pressure in the tank and filter the gases so you wont smell them in the garage or closed in area?.
hope this helps?,

Hiya Chuck. Had to quote you Close. Really, the canister "stores" fumes and evap from the tank - then purges into the intake the next time the engine starts. If it isn't hooked up properly or removed, those fumes end up in the atmosphere (of the garage or wherever). Overfilling the tank can potentially overload the canister, causing odors, also.

 

[78SilvAnniv]

Sounds like the problem may be diagnosed, but I wanted to add my 78s gas leak problem as an area to check, also.

My fuel line that ran over the top of the tank deteriorated and was leaking...down over the gas tank, into the spare tire well and onto my HOT mufflers! Replaced the line and problems solved. Thank goodness I didn't go up in flames.

When we looked underneath the 78, you could clearly see the gas drip marks at the bottom of the gas tank and on the mufflers.
Heidi

 

[Bill75]

My fuel line that ran over the top of the tank deteriorated and was leaking...down over the gas tank, into the spare tire well and onto my HOT mufflers!

Yikes!!!!!:eek

 

[Jeff in Va]

Thanks for all of the replies....Now I have some things to look for. Hopefully I'll get to work on it this weekend and will let you know what I find.

 

[Chuck-75]

I knew I was going to be Quoted .:L , but anyways, when I did my work this past summer I found that it had been pulled before at sometime?, and the intake fuel line was pinched under the gas tank strap. this is why when I went full throttel the car stumbled.:ugh
so if you have to pull the tank and replace the lines, dont let the lines get under the straps.
when I reinstalled mine , I had the rubber lines extra long and installed the tank ,then made the connections to the the frame lines afterwards..
as an after thought----- the 75 has a internal Bladder. this is to compensate for a collesion in the rear. mine was secure, but Ive heard storys of them coming lose after time. the bladder ,if torn will let gas in between the bladder and the metal tank inclosure, this might get in the way of yr sending metter .the bladder in my 75 is made to inclose the inside of the tank and somehow was gluded to the inside of the tank. it also is a seal for the sending unit . this is why you might not be able to find a seal for the sending unit for the 75 model car .
again hope this helps. chuck-75