At 08:40 PM 9/11/05 -0600, Pat Bloom wrote:
"I have fuel odor in the garage once you shut her down. I assume it is fuel left in the carbs, goes away in a day but stinks the place up in the mean time."

Fuel odor after shutdown is NOT normal. If you have a strong fuel smell, you have a fuel leak. Not good!

Look for a fuel leak anywhere between the fuel tank and the carburetors. Shut engine off. Switch key on so the electric fuel pump will run. Follow the fuel system from the carburetors back to the fuel tank. Look for fuel dripping at the base of the carburetors, which would be leaking seals at the main jets. If you have fuel gushing from the float chamber overflow pipes it's a stuck float valve. Fuel leaking at the base of the float chambers would be failed rubber seals on the banjo bolt holding the float chamber to the base of the carburetor. Fuel leaking from the top banjo fittings or fuel hoses should be obvious.

If it's dry around the carburetors, follow the fuel line from the carbs back. Look for seepage anywhere along the line from hoses or steel pipes or connectors. Check every inch of the fuel plumbing for kinks, dents, or pin hole leaks from rusted steel lines. Replace any fuel hoses or pipes which are suspect. At the fuel pump check the line connector fittings, the joint between the pump head and body, and the tail cover (which would indicate internal leaks). If you have an aftermarket fuel pump there may be a leaky connector hose or hose clamps. Ditto for an in-line fuel filter.

It may even be a leak between the pump and tank, or the tank itself leaking. Also check the large bore hose connecting the fuel filler pipe to the tank inside the boot. This piece must be proper fuel hose. If a piece of straight radiator hose was used for this connection it may be badly deteriorated from contact with fuel.