that funky smell...

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I just got my 66 crew cab, very happy, lot's to do, I am sure I will be on this forum with plenty of questions. My current problem is this: the gas smell inside the cab! It's not real strong but it's there, how do I get rid of it? Does it mean I have a leak? The gas gauge always jumps to a 1/4 tank when I start it and stays there. Related perhaps? Gauge or sending unit?
Thanks folks,
Kim

[UZI]

kim, you may just need a new gas cap. when you get gas do you top it off til the pump goes klunk? i've learned not to top off because say you park on the right hand side of the street. same side as your gas cap. you just filled up. the street naturally slopes toward the curb. gas is running out of the filler neck right down into your engine compartment. turn the key get a spark and boom! carry a halon fire extinguisher. if you get a fire, point the halon into the engine vents. never open the decklid. halon smothers the fire by being drawn into the flame.and it doesnt get the white crap everywhere. check your fuel lines. under the gas tank. especially by the fuel pump and carb. never start your bus if there is gas or vapor present in the engine compartment. and your sending unit is prob. bad. disconnect the battery b4 changing it.
good luck with it. hope it brings you lots of good times.

[Derek]

I had the same problem. Turns out the filer neck of the gas tank had begun to crack and gas was leaking all over the compartment behind the rear seat. Once I replaced the gas tank, it was like Emeril--BAM--no gas smell.

[UZI]

yeah, the filler neck too. i didn't think of that. that'll mean pulling of the engine. good time to give it a real good once over in there including a detailing of the entire area. clean=happy becoming the next owner often means taking care of the stuff, both large and small that the previous owner didn't. i always try to raise my standards with each new bus. if i can, better than the last owner.

[Derek]

In my 65 DC, all I had to do was remove the rear seat and then remove the panels in the back of that storage area. The gas tank was right back there. It was pretty easy, but I would highly recommend letting it drain for at least a day, so the residual of gas that doesn't drain evaporates.

I'm pretty new to commercial vehicles, so I'm not sure of all the year to year changes, but hopefully yours is located in the same place. I know on my 63 Bus it's right there in the very front of the engine compartment, as opposed to the location in the pickup.

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Thanks guys for the great response. I think I'll go for the fuel lines first, leaky carbs second, then (I hope not) pulling the gas tank. You're right Derek, there are two panels that look like they'll come off, behind the rear seat.