hey got a question. my 78 has a stong exhaust\gas smell when driven. now the car has a small exhaust leak but nothing that should leave the smell on occupants like it does. the carb is a new quadra jet
installed by the a reputable mechanic but i wonder if its running rich. any thoughts.

 The NEW part has me concerned.  Sounds rich to me.

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Pull a plug and take a look after a long ride at cruissing speed. Black plugs=rich condition...  (keep yer winders open    )

Check ALL of the hoses going into/out of the fuel tank. Also, look for signs of fuel leakage running down from the top to bottom of the tank, especially at the rear. If the seal between the sender unit and the tank is old, dried up, and cracked, it will give you a very strong fuel odor inside the cabin.
If you are getting that strong of a fuel smell inside the car, you have raw fuel leaking somewhere, either from the carb, or the fuel tank/hoses.
Look around the fuel pump with the engine running, too...it could be leaking, but you wouldn't see much evidence of it just sitting, as the fuel would evaporate too quickly to leave a puddle.



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Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56    
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"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

ok fuel lines to the pump seem ok. but the lines going out of the canister are not right one may be missing can the line thats missing be capped? any ideas on where to find a fuel canister schematic so i can see where the lines are supposed to go. i have a haynes but they seem to be crappier latley with very little details. scrappy782010-11-06 06:43:58

Well looks like you found the problem..without the carb being hooked up to the canister all the fumes from the tank are ending up venting under the hood..I know evap stuff people think rob the car of power but if it still setup to have it, it should be hooked up..you can plug the canister stuff and get a vented cap..that's how mine works so it is not a big deal..I don't think the emissions police are in your part of town!
Rich

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My first parade at Carlisle 2010

ok would a generic gas cap work or does it have to be something special

If you buy the stock replacement it won't be vented..get a vented style..maybe Joel has a better idea on this also.
Rich

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My first parade at Carlisle 2010

ok thnx 

Why not just return the canister to being operational? Without it working your garage will also fill with fumes from the vented cap and the carb vent.
I replaced the canister and hoses on my 82 in about 40 minutes. By removing the side vent the access to the hoses and canister is easier.
There should be a vacuum schematic in the GM service manual.

well i dont have a manual yet so i dont even know how or where the canister is supposed to be hooked to. I mean i'm pretty sure the line to the gas tank is correct but the line to the carb or egr or whatever is non existent. i think the previous owner removed the egr too

There would be a large sized hose from the Canister to the vent tube on the carb, usually top/front of the carb. Then you'd have the hoses going back to the tank.
Your emissions decal(on the flat part of the firewall above the brake booster) should have the hose routing diagram on it...I think....


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Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56    
My Link


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"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

ok but there is no emissions label so i have nothing to go by. i'm gonna do some research tonight and see if i can find a schematic. if not i'll post pics of what i have in the hopes that someone can identify the lines.

Here's some pages from my '78 Assembly Manual that may be of interest. I can get pics under the hood too, if that would help.
Also, every time I go for a ride with the tops off my wife says I smell like exhaust when i come in the house. Same thing with both cars. Both cars stock except the cats are gone so it's that good old pre 1975 exhaust smell. No gas smells.

http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t132/JeffsVette/AIM%20pages/pa385.jpg

http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t132/JeffsVette/AIM%20pages/pa402.jpg

http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t132/JeffsVette/AIM%20pages/pa403.jpg

http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t132/JeffsVette/AIM%20pages/pa404.jpg

Part of the problem with the smells is the design of the ventilation system. "Fresh" air for the cabin is taken from the wiper plenum..which is right behind the engine area. Even with the rubber seal across the rear edge of the hood, those sweet engine smells are gonna eventually waft their way into the cabin. Add in all of the small holes in the firewall for wiring and such, and it's pretty much a done deal. You can also get odors coming in from the rear of the car, thru the sometimes not so sealed body joints in the rear compartment.
It ain't no Cadillac...it's a Corvette...smell em if ya got em!
Adams' Apple2010-11-09 06:02:32

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Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56    
My Link


(click for Texas-sized view!)             NCRS

"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

ok the pics and advice were great now this weekend i can check everything out

I actually prefer them smells to the old green pine tree air fresheners...

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Nothing like the smell of a corvette exhaust in the morning!!  Almost as good as NAPALM !!!  lol

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