I am looking to figure out if I can cut down on the exhaust smell going on in the van. Currently the rear door hinges don't have their seals and I know that has got to be a big part of it. But even just standing outside the van it has a strong exhaust smell.
I was also trying to find the Charcoal canister on the van but I am unable to locate it. Can anyone upload a picture of one mounted?
The oil breather hose was just sitting in the valve cover so I replaced that yesterday and added a grommet along with a new pcv valve and grommet.
I can snag a hightop for cheap and I am currently debating installing this on the van. First of all will this fit on my 77'?
Do you think this would devalue the van? It's fiberglass and in good shape minus the seals and some minor holes. We will be building out the inside for camping and possibly multi month trips. Basically I don't want to wire the inside up without the top and then feel like we need to add it later.
For the exhaust smell, make sure all your exhaust gaskets are new, and make sure they are all tight. There should be gaskets between the manifolds and the heads, there should also be gaskets between the manifolds and the downpipes. Also check that all of your other connections between exhaust pipe (where one piece of pipe connects to other pieces of pipe) are tight and not deformed. Obviously a good weld will give you the best seal in those areas, but even the clamps should seal well if done correctly. Old mufflers with holes in them will also allow the fumes to escape easier giving you the bad smell. Just some areas to check.
As for the hightop, I prefer your van without it, but ultimately it's your van and you have to love what you do to it, not us. As for "value" of the van, I see more value for "unmolested" vans personally. The vans that haven't been cut a bunch seem to hold more value, unless you are a fabrication wizard and do a wild custom van with all sorts of stuff, which would be a different story altogether, but generally speaking when I come across vans for sale that have been cut up and altered by regular vanners like most of us here, they don't tend to sell as quick and easy as those that have maintained most of the stock body. Just my 2 cents.
I will get moving on the exhaust leak. I found a video on line where someone attached a shop vac to the tailpipe. They put it in blower mode and were able to pinpoint all the locations with some soapy water.
I picked up a charcoal canister and mount at the salvage yard. However I have an Edelbrock carb and I am not sure where to plug in the hose that says 'Carb' on the canister.
As for the hightop I am back and forth on this. I agree the original look is optimal but the function of the hightop would really allow for more comfort while traveling. So first of all will any G20 hightop fit? I am also thinking of picking it up, refinishing and setting it on top to see what we think before we cut the roof.
Last edited by jtozier406; May 20th 2020 10:03 am.
As long as the high top comes off the same model van and same wheelbase, should work just fine. Swamp Wizards on Instagram did one not long ago and they used something like two or three high top sections to make one, cut and keyed them to fit together, was quite an undertaking but he made it work.
Not sure on the Edelbrock and charcoal canister, might be some info on that on the hot rodder forums all over the net. I usually deal with Holley and I've always removed the charcoal canisters as opposed to putting them back on.
As long as the high top comes off the same model van and same wheelbase, should work just fine. Swamp Wizards on Instagram did one not long ago and they used something like two or three high top sections to make one, cut and keyed them to fit together, was quite an undertaking but he made it work.
Not sure on the Edelbrock and charcoal canister, might be some info on that on the hot rodder forums all over the net. I usually deal with Holley and I've always removed the charcoal canisters as opposed to putting them back on.
When removing the Canister did you just plug the Fuel vent line? Mine is just sitting there open at the moment.