Gas fume issues... Help!

[s8bayer]

Ok, I have an 82 camaroZ thats been pretty well redone.

350 4-bolt carbonated from a 75 truck
All emissions pretty much removed due to the much older 350
Had a Holley 3310 750 cfm - just changed to a Summit carb 600 cfm (I really like the aluminum summit carb, drives great!)
T-56 (95 Z donor car)

I am experiencing a lot of gas fumes in the cabin while driving.

I think the main culprit is the removal of the charcoal vapor canister. The line is now open in the engine bay... obviously, not a great idea (glad I don't smoke). Years ago a buddy said "oh, it is just for emissions, get ride of it" well, I dumbly believed him and ditched it. Well, the car is finally back together and I have driven it a bit to check it out. Well, that isn't going to work. I am going to put some parts back in to fix the problems.

I know I am not the only one to deal with this, so I figured I would send it out and see what sort of feedback I get.

(obviously, if you prefer not to comment due to the legality of removing emissions stuff, I completely understand. I am not an official and I am not going to turn anyone in, but the web is the web. What you write stays in cyber space.)

My plan:
-Replace vapor system with new parts. I can get a vacuum controlled purge valve (ACDelco 214-552)
-Replace the actual canister
-check all fuel lines for leaks and replace rubber lines
-replace fuel cap for safe measure.


Any other suggestions guys..?????????????

[meissen]

Did you remove the canister entirely or just remove the line from the canister to the engine?

[s8bayer]

Yeah, I removed the whole thing a while back. Really haven't driven the car for like 8 years (married and had two kids... time flies) so it is hard to remember. Right now there is nothing between the driver headlight and the washer fluid tank.

I might just plug it and drive it on a few mile loop to see if it solves the problem.

Did you remove the canister entirely or just remove the line from the canister to the engine?

[TylerT/AZ28]

if you plug it it will not help but worsen the problem, itll smell like gas without it simple as that. it did on my 85 constantly especially with rotted floors. the best way to fix that is to cut the line far back as you can, mount it up high and put a vent or brether like a trans or diff has or put a fuel filter hose clamped on the line. get it away from the are of the cabin where people are. its purpose is to make those fumes not smell like gas and emissions, not letting those fumes vent into the air. youll always have that smell.

i did read somewhere a few years back you can plug that line into the carb where the fumes recirculation hose already is depending on if you have a quadrajet and just use a t fitting.

[s8bayer]

Cool, thanks. I might try that. I think spending the $70 on the parts isn't too big a deal either. I will just run it to the carb base allowing it to draw in when the engine starts. I think it should work. Especially if "just pluggin' it" won't work.

Thanks, that experience is what I am looking for. I figured someone has tried this. No sense re-inventing the wheel.

if you plug it it will not help but worsen the problem, itll smell like gas without it simple as that. it did on my 85 constantly especially with rotted floors. the best way to fix that is to cut the line far back as you can, mount it up high and put a vent or brether like a trans or diff has or put a fuel filter hose clamped on the line. get it away from the are of the cabin where people are. its purpose is to make those fumes not smell like gas and emissions, not letting those fumes vent into the air. youll always have that smell.

i did read somewhere a few years back you can plug that line into the carb where the fumes recirculation hose already is depending on if you have a quadrajet and just use a t fitting.

[TylerT/AZ28]

i tried plugging mine and it didnt help and i dont think it was functioning right either. it still smelled too tried the filter and it still smelled, cut the line back and put a fuel filter on it. lots of ways to do it, alot of them are preference. problem with an open end is during the summer that gas will evaporate quicker. on a friends he didnt want that so right at the tank we use two t fitting one to a differentail breather sticking out by the gas cap area, and then the line just circled into itself, worked pretty good from what we saw and wasnt a huge loss in fuel due to evaporation.

i think if you can route that line so that carb can reuse the fumes itd be most efficient.

[Darren]

you need to plug the line for the charcoal canister. I removed mine and just plugged it, also routed it out of the engine bay under the car.

[meissen]

Seems like YMMV (Your Mileage May Vary) when disconnecting the canister filter. The reason why I asked is because I disconnected mine on my 4th gen by cutting the plastic line at the driver's side wheel well. The charcoal canister is still there, it just doesn't connect to the intake manifold to have any vacuum to pull the fumes out. I haven't ever noticed a gas smell ... but then again, everyone always complains when I'm parked that my exhaust smells really rich, so who knows

[hoogiesngrinderz]

Can you tell me a little more about your fuel system? Electric or mechanical pump, does it have a return line, etc.

[Nocooler]

You can plug the line - just make sure you get a vented gas cap.

[s8bayer]

Mechanical pump with a return on it. Both are 3/8 lines. That side seems to be solid, though I will be looking it over very closely for leaks or old rubber lines. Just in case. I am pretty sure the pump and lines are original from 82. The line from pump to carb is new with a filter and a pressure gauge in it.

I am not sure about my gas cap. It doesn't look original (its red) but I have not purchased it since I bought the car back in 2000. The only other thing is when I bought the car the only new parts on it were tires, water pump, and battery. At that point, since I was 21 years old, I beat the crap out of the car. I took care of it, but I pretty much always drove it like I stole it. Right up till I started rebuilding it... very... very... slowly.

Can you tell me a little more about your fuel system? Electric or mechanical pump, does it have a return line, etc.

[s8bayer]

I will probably try this first since it is the least expensive option. Either way, it will be a good test to know I found the source of my problem.

You can plug the line - just make sure you get a vented gas cap.