exhaust fumes again

[Duffman]

What is a good solution to filling the gap between the filler tube and the floor opening?

[Z Speed]

Don, I believe I read somewhere here on this forum that the smell could be attributed to and exhaust leak from the front as well (manifold, header). Therefore the smell could come through the firewall or up through the shifter boot. Have you inspected your full exhaust system....

I too, have had the issue of the exhaust smell in the cockpit for the twenty plus years I've owned the Z. However, I have never had an issue with the fuel smell some here have experience....

I have a spook on the front and rear of my Z and this has done nothing to help in this matter. I do believe one of the best cures, besides culking, is to extend the pipe past the rear bumper. I have not attempted to do any sort of cures for my smell issues and my pipe is about even with my rear bumper. This will be addressed once I begin my refresh and/or restore....

P.S. Guys, once I pull the car out of the garage to clean inside and out, I will do an introduce thread....

[Z train]

So far four cars with the exhaust smell with the window down all were cured with the tail pipe being extended. Past the bumper.

This means that you're saying every Z car had this issue.

[Zs-ondabrain]

What is a good solution to filling the gap between the filler tube and the floor opening?

I used 3M Strip Calk. It's a black calk that comes in strips that are like a tar, usually used for AC fittings thru the firewall. Water Proof, sticky, non hardening and won't freeze either. You get 60 feet (60-1 foot strips) for $16

3M strip Caulk at Eastwood

Also hold emblems, weather stripping, seals holes, stops squeeky panels, etc, etc. I LOVE THIS STUFF. I also use it to reseal the taillight lenses to their back plate after I do the LED conversions. Better than the glue they use.

[Duffman]

Thanks, Dave, have seen the stuff but didn't know what it was!

[wa5ngp]

Actually I think you could say that if you have a z with perfect hatch and tailight sealing back there, everywhere, then you probably won't have a problem. Problem is that its not possible to make the seal perfect easily so if the tailpipe pushes the exhaust outside the envelope so that it can't be sucked back in then perfect sealing in the hatch area may not be such a strong requirement.

I'm pretty sure the whole exhaust system is solid from beginning to end. This one has held up remarkably well. Must be the thickness of the pipe.

I wish I'd had that 3M stuff. For that fuel pipe filler gap I just squirted butyl rubber caulk in there all around it. Its sealed off now, but also kinda permanently glued in place too.

regards

Don

[m4xwellmurd3r]

i must be lucky because window up or down i never get exhaust fumes. and i've never replaced any seals or anything in my 78.

it's all stock too.

but i think maybe the best thing is to make sure the exhaust is longer than the rear bumper, and have nice seals along the hatch like everyone says.

[Z Speed]

I had a "78" 280-Z and never had the smell issues I've had with the "72" 240-Z. The smell never really bothered me too much however, it use to bother my girlfriend/wife. One positive note though; I never had to worry about her wanting to drive it. I guess that's one of the reasons I never tried to hard to fix the issue........

[wa5ngp]

My wife never was too interested in driving it anyway since "it rides too rough". Now she thinks she would like to have a Miata convertible or the Pontiac whatever. Mid life crisis I guess. Problem is that it will have to be a slipamatic.

Unfortunately, what we really NEED is a 3/4 ton turbo diesel long bed puller truck so that will have to be my new sports car I guess. So that's why I gotta keep the Z going for me.

Don

[AndysPlit]

I had a "78" 280-Z and never had the smell issues I've had with the "72" 240-Z. The smell never really bothered me too much however, it use to bother my girlfriend/wife. One positive note though; I never had to worry about her wanting to drive it. I guess that's one of the reasons I never tried to hard to fix the issue........

Before I started addressing the fume issue, my girlfriend use to tell me I smelled like exhaust everythime I walked in the door. Nice.

[Z Speed]

Before I started addressing the fume issue, my girlfriend use to tell me I smelled like exhaust everythime I walked in the door. Nice.

Same here Andy. You know to this day, even though the car has not been driven in many many years, the cockpit still smells of exhaust. I suppose the main culprit is the carpet and real wool sheep skin covers....

Don, the ride quality, or lack there of, is another reason she hated the car. One thing I made very clear though; I had the car before I met her and it isn't going anywhere. Although, she has tried over the years, they are both still here. The smell issue will be dealt with as the time comes....

Funny story. This in is a main reason for me getting the Z bug again. I had a friend of over seven years walk into my garage and for the first time see the corner headlight cover of the Z buried underneath a wealth of boxes, bubble wrap, and non-harmful clutter. The car, to me, was out-of-site and out-of-mind for many years. When he saw the car he was shocked (I found out he is a big Z lover too). he couldn’t believe it. He was dumbfounded that I had never even mentioned the car in passing. I never realized I hadn’t mentioned it either as most don’t care even when I do (there are exceptions though). I knew he was a car buff, but in truth, the Z never crossed my mind….

He has tried to get me to sell the car to him ever since. His wife in conversation with my wife has stated he really wants to buy my car. Like a true champ, my wife has matter-of-factly stated I will never sell the car. She told her that from day one, I said that car isn’t going anywhere and I would never sell it. I am happy to see she truly understands and has excepted it’s place in my heart….

I guess I can thank my friend for waking me up and rekindling the fire I once had for this car. It feels good. It’s what has prompted me to find this board and the many people I would like to call friends during my long project. I just wish I had a better understanding of what I am doing….hehe

Sorry for the babble and hijack Don….

[/hijack]

[d240zx2]

The fumes in my '70 were so bad I had the hatch vents welded shut in '75. Absolutely TERRIBLE fume problem. CO headaches all the time. :dead:

When I got the car back a year ago, I decided to re-open the vents and try some other stuff just to see if I could get it to stop killing me.

I installed an air dam from MSA and found an IMSA style three piece spoiler at my Z guru's shop. Went stacked on a 3 into 2 exhaust system (twice pipes?) So far, so good. I have not had any exhaust-in-cabin problem at all. But since all of the work's been done, I've got a pretty good fuel fume problem, especially after fill-up. I'm going to use that 3M gasket stuff once I can get the interior panels off to inspect everything.

Regards,