Excessive fuel smell- please help

[zdude1967 8]

Here is the issue. I have a 260z that has headers and many of the original pollution control items have been removed. 

The carbs have been rebuilt by Z therapy - I have tuned them according to the video. The car is not running rich to the best of my knowledge. 

There is no air pump, with headers there is no exhaust gas tube, therefore no exhaust gases through the balance tube, the control valve is not hooked up. No water through the balance tube. The carbon canister purge valve has a crack in the lid, but otherwise seems to be intact. The car runs fine but after a strong acceleration the car wreaks of gas. Sometimes in the past to the point of eye stinging. 

 

 

What do I need to do to fix this.

I have attached some photos to show areas missing their potential pollution control attachments.

 

Thanks

Z dude67

[siteunseen 3,436 5 Vehicles]

The float bowl overflow bung should have hoses connected to the air filters.  You could test that with some clear water bottles and hoses.  Zip-tie the bottles to something that won't get too hot and run the hose down into them.  Take it for a spirited drive and see if any fuel has accumulated in the bottles.  If raw fuel is coming out you're looking at a potential fire.

If they're newly rebuilt your floats may be keeping the bowls completely full and fuel is sloshing out the bungs.

Where your thumb is here,

Here's the way the factory air filter does them,

Edited September 26, 2017 by siteunseen

[Mark Maras 1,119]

 Are you sure the gas smell is coming from under the hood or could it be coming from the fuel lines tucked behind the rear panels? Does the amount of gas in the tank affect the gas smell? Fuel leakage under the hood is usually easy to see.

[rcb280z 282 1 Vehicles]

I've not had a fuel smell burn my eyes but have had strong exhaust burn my eyes. Are you sure it's fuel and not exhaust? Just asking. If it does turn out to be exhaust, check your rear hatch seal.

[zdude1967 8]

Thanks everyone- I tried the water bottle on the fuel bungs no fuel came out into the bottles. I do not know if the fuel smell is coming from the passenger side fuel recovery area . I need to take that apart and look for bad hoses. I am thinking it is not as I did check this a year or so back. I do not think it is exhaust as my exhaust pipe muffler is in good condition - how else would the exhaust be getting into the cabin.

 

Please advise

Thanks

[zdude1967 8]

Would the carbon canister be the issue. Does anyone have theirs hooked up or do we all run without it

[Mark Maras 1,119]

9 hours ago, zdude1967 said:

Thanks everyone- I tried the water bottle on the fuel bungs no fuel came out into the bottles. I do not know if the fuel smell is coming from the passenger side fuel recovery area . I need to take that apart and look for bad hoses. I am thinking it is not as I did check this a year or so back. I do not think it is exhaust as my exhaust pipe muffler is in good condition - how else would the exhaust be getting into the cabin.

 

Please advise

Thanks

 The hatch , tail lights, and fuel lines all have seals that can allow exhaust to enter the cabin.

[rcb280z 282 1 Vehicles]

32 minutes ago, Mark Maras said:

The hatch , tail lights, and fuel lines all have seals that can allow exhaust to enter the cabin

And I've experienced those areas to leak exhaust in my Z 

[zdude1967 8]

what did you do to fix it replace all seals in aforementioned areas

[rcb280z 282 1 Vehicles]

I started with the hatch seal--it was shot. Then discovered my tail light assembly gaskets were leaking a little. Once I did those all was good and is still good after 14 years.

[zdude1967 8]

Well I will start there. Does your Z have the carbon canister system hooked up

[Patcon 1,928]

He's in California, I bet it does!

[madkaw 542]

Big difference between gas smell and EXHAUST smell . It seems you are referring to exhaust . Many ways for it to get in the cabin if car is not properly sealed . Start searching exhaust fumes on this site and others.

Biggest culprits

tail light seals

hatch seals

inner hatch panel seal

[rcb280z 282 1 Vehicles]

8 hours ago, zdude1967 said:

Does your Z have the carbon canister system hooked up

Yes I do but again, I think you are smelling exhaust instead of fuel. If you're running a little rich, it's probably mixed in your exhaust and you might smell that as well. You can get a smoke machine and look for cabin leaks and I bet you'll find them in the areas noted above.

[zdude1967 8]

Thanks- the car is set for paint. The rubber will be replaced directly after so I may have to deal with the smell until late spring 2018.