Gas Tank vents

[dawgs 73]

'73 Cuda, small block. Replacing the gas tank, which has 4 vent(?) tubes coming out of the forward edge; on top. The tubes are all in a horizontal row and apparently there are rubber gas lines that lead to a manifold of sorts, mounted just to the front of the tank. All of the rubber lines on mine are missing in action and I need to know if there is a specific line tube-to-manifold tube order. I am assuming that, since the tubes kind of line up to one another, that this would be the order for putting on the lines, but I'd like someone more knowledgeable than I to confirm it if possible. Thanks in advance..........

[MEK-Dangerfield]

It depends on what was done up front on your engine. You might just want to plug those tubes if the air polution stuff was removed already. Is this a stock setup? You might just need one line for fuel feed, and one line for fuel feed and one return line. 

  Mike

[Bullitt-]

I have a '73 & the 4 vent tube lines run parallel just as you suspect.

[71 DEPUTY]

Aa you see it-in and out- no crisscrossing- it doesn't really matter as this was for the vapour recovery system. your guage unit has the main gas feed to the engine. just a note- if you do cap them- make sure you use a vented gas cap or you will collapse your tank!!!

[dawgs 73]

Thanks you all. My car is a lightly built 318, and I will probably just use the lines as they should be. Won't be much more than about 2 feet of fuel line, which will probably cost a whoppin' $3.00 or so.
Before I'm done with this car though, all of my hair will be on the floor from having pulled it out. Took it apart almost 3 years ago, finally got it back from the body and paint last week and have no idea as to where everything is anymore. Worst part, besides finding everything, is that my computer went belly up and I lost most of my disassembly pictures.
S.W.A.G.ing most of the re-assembly here. (for those who don't know what swag is, it's scientific wild a** guess)
Thanks again

[Bullitt-]

dawgs.....NEVER FEAR CC.Com is here......If not sure jest ax...

[heminut]

Dawgs, I feel your pain. I went through the same thing when I put mine back together. A lot of it will come back to you as you go, the rest just use the S.W.A.G. method you mentioned and don't be afraid to ask questions here. The only stupid question is the one that doesn't get asked.

[dawgs 73]

I can't begin to tell you all how much I have gotten to depend on this site. A ton of my questions are being asked by others before I even realize that I need to know the info too. So I look every day, use what I need, then ask what I haven't already seen brought up yet. More questions will follow and I really do appreciate everyone and everything.

[matt63]

I know what you are going through.  I bought my 'Cuda as a painted shell.  Everything was disassembled and in boxes.   The parts had been sitting around for 6 years and it was not "complete" as the seller claimed.  Even if you have reassembled other Mopars they do vary from model to model and year to year!

[WVUFELLA]

another question......... i have the main fuel line goin from the sendign unit to the fuel pump (duh)........... ok then the four lines that hook to that vent box or what ever it is. Then there is another fuel line that runs to the front of the car from the topr front of the tank..... where does that line go to?? do i even need it ?? and also just to clerify... if i take those four line off and the vent box or whatever you call it then i HAVE to run a vented fuel cap?? any help guys?? I knwo this is a bonehead question but i cant see where that extra fuel line runs to thanks in advance

[Bullitt-]

WVUFELLA,  You are probably missing the charcoal canister that mounts on the right front of the inner fender that connects the second "fuel" line, via the little manifold with the four tubes going to the gas tank, to the carburetor. The OE carburetor has a couple of vent tube ports that vacuum out the fumes from the gas tank..... If all of this is not in place the fumes escape into the atmosphere smelling up your car...
Not having this you can block off the vent tubes to the tank but this can cause vapor lock creating fuel starvation problems. The simple solution to this seems to be a vented gas cap or drill a couple of small holes in the OE cap to allow air in to replace the fuel as it is depleted.....clear as mud right? 

[dawgs 73]

Bullitt99
Talking about clear as mud, I have to ask a follow-up. If I don't put the charcoal cannister back, and I just plug the vent tubes, what kind of, or, I guess, what specific gas cap do I use in place of my closed system cap. Or, where would I drill the holes in the cap, and how big would the holes need to be, to allow the tank to ventilate as needed. Frankly, I haven't found my cannister yet, and might not so I am trying to guess the next step.

[WVUFELLA]

so as long i have a vented fuel cap i can do away with the second fuel line that goes to the front of the car??? cuz i am most certain that i do not have the canister and also nothin on the engine is stock (bigger carb and such)

[pandamarie]

The 70 challengers didnt use a charcoal canister. just had a return line back to the vapor recovery tank that should be on the right side, runs up next to the fender.when you get into it there will be 5 lines coming out of the vapor tank, 4 from the gas tank and one return line from the front. If its hooked up as the factory did it then you will need a special valve cover cap with 3 lines coming out of it, one goes to the carb one to the air cleaner and one back to the vapor tank, If you have a shop manual it shows everything. on the big block cars they also used a fuel vapor separator fuel filter. If your putting it back after 3 years invest in a shop manual, it will make it easy.

[Bullitt-]

dawgs...either drill the hole in the non vented cap or find one for a '70 model.
WVUFELLA you just need to cap it at the best place for you & get a vented gas cap.....I don't know of a way to make the vent work w/o the canister
What pandamarie says is true for 70-71 I guess I'm referencing the later model smog cars with the 4-vents at the gas tank.