The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot '60-'66 Trucks Major Gas Smell!!

Help! Every time I fill the tank up I get a major gas smell in the cab. You really can't drive it because the gas smell is so bad. I replaced the rubber grommet on the filler neck and also checked the gasket on the sending unit, which was fine. It looks like there is some gas residue on the area where the neck goes into the tank and there is a strong gas smell there also. Any suggestions?? Is it time to replace the tank?

The primary cause of the gas smell is normally the filler neck hose connecting the filler neck to the tank. The neck sticking out of the cab through the grommet is a separate piece, not part of the tank. The connector hose is about 5" long and has two clamps, one on the bottom at the tank and one at the top at the neck. In some cases one of the clamps is missing, but normally after decades of age the hose itself is deteriorated to the point it's split letting fumes into the cab. Gas residue on the tank would tend to confirm this. Unless you have a hole in the tank somewhere, replacing the hose should cure your problem.

At least it should cure it back to as good as original. Gas stink in the cab was always a problem with these trucks even when new, on a full tank and especially in the summer. It's because the cap is a vented style, so to allow air into the tank the cap also allows fumes to escape right next to the window.

Can this be done without taking the tank out?

its alot easier to cut the tank loose to do this loosen the hold down straps and the gas line and slide to passenger side.Then its much easier to get the clamp at the tank-hose connection.I had this problem for years and changing that hose cleared it up Takes a bit of time but its worth not gettin gassed timbuk

timbuk, is right. I had to do it on one of my trucks and cured the problem. The clamps are not easy to, and having the tank does help. I was able to get my replacement hose from NAPA.

Larry

Thanks for the help!! Looks like I have some work to do!

keep it half full till you get it replaced.

It may be easier with the tank out, but you might want to check out the following link before you pull it:

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/showthread.php?t=360086

It can be done with the tank in as indicated by a few people.

I had a tank split at the seam on the pass. side. Just replacing the hose would never have cured it. If you haven't already restored your truck, I suggest pulling the tank and checking it out front to back, inside and out. Maybe repaint it while it's out, and then you have piece of mind that the job is done. You may want to add some sound deadener while it's out. And clean all those leaves and mouse droppings!

Look in side as you fill it if it runs down thats your hose. Rubber does not last for ever. 40 years aint bad though. I have always left the tank in there and had no big problem, but iam 5' 9" 125 soking wet so i can get in tight palces. And I have "Worked my fingers to the bone. What do you get? Boney Fingers" Good luck whatever way you do it.

i once had the welded rear cab mount bolt under the tank break lose on a rather rusty 71 chevy pickup i had many years ago...the bolt actually poked a hole in my tank!

I thought the dead leaves and mouse droppings WAS the sound deadener lol