77-308--fume recovery system...

Look at the exploded view of the system under the spare parts section at www.owners.ferrari.com .

 

We need to start an FAQ for early carb 308 owners. Even if it's hooked up properly you will not eliminate fuel odor. Let me guess, it's strongest from the passenger air intake?

 

Greg, check your weber carbs as each one has a couple of lead plugs and they somtimes blow out or seep a bit.

 

I had a pretty bad fuel smell from the engine area and replacing the fuel lines cured the problem. I bought a length of the correct size fuel line and cut the lengths to fit.

You have to get the air filter assembly off, which isn't too difficult but you have to be careful not to drop anything down the carb throats when you remove the trumpets. The most perished lines on mine where the short ones linking the carbs under the air filter assembly.

 

A 308 should not have a persistent strong fuel odor. If it does, something is wrong and your car will likely end up as a parts donor due to an engine fire. (Have you ever noticed how many 308's seem to have engine fires?) Yes, you get a bit of fuel smell from the intake, but most cars with a strong fuel smell have old, seeping fuel lines. Replacing them makes a world of difference in not only smell, but potential for the car to catch fire and burn to the ground. Since it only takes a few hours and costs about $25 to change the fuel lines, there is really no reason not to do it.

Birdman

 

This car just had it's major service...that's the head scratcher..

Greg328 personally watched them do it, was my understanding.......

 

Would a major include replacing the fuel lines? Unless the owner specifically asked for it or one was visibly leaking, I doubt they would do that.

The problem with the old lines is they don't appear to be visibly leaking, but they smell. I suspect that they are getting thin and porous, and molecules of fuel are getting through someplace here and there, and evaporating. My old fuel lines STUNK BAD and my car was very "gas smelling". My wife wouldn't ride in it because of it. After I changed the fuel lines it was much much better.

Birdman

 

I think they all smell of fuel. I always get the normal smell out of the carb intake duct and I have replaced ALL of my hoses. I do not have the evap can on my car as all of the emission stuf was removed before I got it. Even if it were there you would still get the smell from the carbs. I believe that the fuel system is vented and not a closed system simular to todays cars. That contributes to the smell. I do not have any fumes in the cockpit only in the garage after a run. Just vent the garage for an hour and the smell is gone.

 

If you are going to drive the car while you are trying to find the smell, buy a fire extinguisher, in fact, buy two, a halon unit you can use if you catch it in time AND a 5 pound dry chemical for back up.

My gas lines were not leaking, (77 with 22 k on the clock), but the evap and cross over pipes looked good, but were TOAST. When parked on a slope, with a "full tank" fuel poured out either the evap hoses on the right side or the cross over pipe on the left side - bad. sometimes this is not very aparent unless you are cornering hard with a ful tank. SCARY STUFF.

Do EVERY hose that carrys fuel or vapors.

Some of these hoses are a contortionist's nightmare to replace.

Do it, you will sleep better, might even get rid of some of the fuel smell.

best,
chris

 

My car smells too. It didn't smell until I changed the idle jets from 55's to 60's. There are no leaks, so I really don't care. Most of the line look good, and the ones that run along the firewall are brand new, so I just keep a watchful eye on things. My emission equipment is disconnected as well, and I figure that's a big part of it too.

 

are 77's supposed to have evap canisters? mine doesnot, nor is there a place for one. i have no issues with fuel smell. i hate screwing with that damn airbox. I FREAKING LOVE THESE INDIVIDUAL AIR CLEANERS! i have to replace my carb fuel lines asap as well.
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Michael
It's under the towel!!!!
John

 

Actually that IS about where it's located! LOL!

Did you find the diagram showing all the hoses, Greg?

It is the '77 Supplement to the Owner's Manual that shows it......IIRC.

 

There's a pic of the canister in your Manual as well.........it's bolted to the trunk firewall with a plastic clamp.....or WAS......by the coolant tank.

 

I just removed the passenger gas tank on my 78 308 today (PITA!!); there are about 5 vapor hoses on top of that one tank alone. Checking all those lil hoseclamps can be quite difficult. I would also look at the connection pipe between the tanks under the car, there are 4 more hoseclamps that could potentially be clamping on to bad hoses. There is also a drain plug on that pipe which could be slightly leaking. To check all that you need to raise the car and get under it.
Then there are several more on the driver side gas tank. To get ALL of the big and lil hoses right is quite a job.

Helmut

 

I am in the process of changing out the last few hoses on my fuel system that were missed the last time. None were leaking and I don't get gasoline odor when shut down. Mine does not have the evaporative cannister either.

So why am I doing it? Because it is all 25 years old! If you have ANY original hose on your fuel system ANYWHERE, change it now or you will burn your car sooner or later!