Keeping fumes out of the car

[matt63]

I've recently put my Cuda on the road.  One of the things I hate is rattles and fumes getting into the interior.  It smells a bit like burnt oil but I have no oil leaks so I suspect that the PCV valve isn't always working right causing the crankcase vapors to be dumped into the engine compartment through the breather.  I've got a cheap PCV valve which I'll replace again.  I had a billet one but it never worked right - too heavy a spring perhaps.  I've noticed that there is a couple of empty holes in the firewall that need to be plugged somehow.  I'll probably weld up one the of the TTI exhaust joints as they don't need to be clamped - don't know if they leak.  Anybody done anything specifically to prevent the smells from getting into the interior?

[422STROKER]

Check the gasket at the cowl vents.  Usually a source of fumes getting straight in car

Tom

[matt63]

Check the gasket at the cowl vents.  Usually a source of fumes getting straight in car

Tom

Is this the rubber strip that runs across the top of the firewall?  I do have this installed but I don't know if it seals against the hood - I've never checked.  I do have a new one but didn't install it as the old one looked okay.  The other thing is that one corner of the hood doesn't always come down fully.  I'm sure that this wouldn't help any!

[MEK-Dangerfield]

Can you tell if they are exhaust fumes? Maybe a leak somewhere there. I had exhaust fumes getting in my car because the gaskets around my tail lights were useless. It took me quite a while to figure that one out. 


  Mike

[matt63]

Can you tell if they are exhaust fumes? Maybe a leak somewhere there. I had exhaust fumes getting in my car because the gaskets around my tail lights were useless. It took me quite a while to figure that one out. 


  Mike

You might have a point here as I suspect that the tail light gaskets are not sealing as I haven't been able to keep my trunk dry (it leaks when I wash the car).  How did you fix your tail lights?

[Chryco Psycho]

if the 1/4s were replaced or reworked they are often not sealed up properly again to the floor pans & wheel tubs , you may need to seam seal it
 the other product that works well is Lizard Skin insulation , it i sa ceramic foam product that seals , waterproofs & stops heat & noise too

[MEK-Dangerfield]

You might have a point here as I suspect that the tail light gaskets are not sealing as I haven't been able to keep my trunk dry (it leaks when I wash the car).  How did you fix your tail lights?

My problem began when I bought re-pro gaskets. They were much thinner than the originals. It never occured to me that if water could get in my trunk, then so could the exhaust fumes from my tail pipes.  I found a set of originals on E-bay in fine shape, and that solved my problem. It is a sponge-like material, so I think you could probably make your own if you can't find any originals.


  Mike

[422STROKER]

Is this the rubber strip that runs across the top of the firewall?  I do have this installed but I don't know if it seals against the hood - I've never checked.  I do have a new one but didn't install it as the old one looked okay.  The other thing is that one corner of the hood doesn't always come down fully.  I'm sure that this wouldn't help any!

Yes if your getting crankcase fumes in the cabin this is a likely culprit.  Check the height of your new one vs the old one if it's higher swap it(pretty easy I just took mine off today).  If the gasket doesn't seal properly then the vapors will suck right into the vent system!  Good luck w/this one.

Tom