I have a 1966 e-type withy a strong smell of fuel in the trunk.
I checked the fill hose area and found the main clamps tight and the hose in good shape, the hose from the fill area was cracked and plugged with sand and a rusty screw. What does that hose connect to?
The other small hose was intact but the clamps were loose. Where does that go?
Should I pull the tank to replace the hoses question?
It seams reasonable just to have peace of mind that the tank is not leaking into the trunk.
That said; how do you remove the sump from the tank?

Submitted by mr.jwhey@rocke… on Sun, 12/01/2013 - 11:17

I had same problem w/ my 66 coupe. Finally tracked it to the copper washers under the top cover plate. If this was off and some point and the washers weren't replaced, they can weep ever so slightly (not visible to naked eye). As Michael said, it doesn't take much.

Submitted by krloring@comcast.net on Sun, 11/24/2013 - 18:08

Thank you for your input. I found the vent hose clamps loose and the drain hose can be patched since it only carries water. I will cut off the top few inches and put in a new piece. If the smell persists I will pull the tank to inspect the sump area.

Submitted by alan.barc@veri… on Sun, 11/24/2013 - 16:14

I just went thru that nightmare of water in the gas tank due to a blocked and pinched original drain hose and 6 inches of overnight rain while on the road. I don't normally drive in wet weather. My 1970 S2 FHC is a perfect model for rain water to drain from the roof into the filler compartment. After finally getting home, I had to pull the gas tank to get at the hose, not that difficult on the Coupe. The hose was rotted, blocked by a mud dauber nest, kinked and pinched by the gas tank (removed for a repaint by a PO). On the S2 FHC the drain hose is a truncated S rather than straight down, which makes it difficult if not impossible to run a wire or similar if the hose has a problem. I had tried all types of flexible devices and compressed air without success. Since fixing the issue, I have not had a repeat of the occasional gas odor inside the car

Submitted by mfrank@westnet.com on Sun, 11/24/2013 - 10:36

When you open the fuel flap, you should find a hole in the back of the "box". This is attached by hose to a matching hole directly below it on the fender. This allows rain water to drain from the fill area. If it's plugged, you will eventually get water in your tank, not good. Sometimes you can run a wire all the way through to the opening, sometimes not. After fifty years, probably best to replace the hose.

If you remove the cap and look inside the filler neck, you will see another hole in the side of the neck. this connects to a fitting in the top of the tank, and allows air to bleed out as you fill it.

However, the usual place for a small leak is around the sump area. It doesn't take much of a leak to create a lot of stink. The only way to adequately inspect all of this is to pull the tank. It's a bit of a job, unfortunately.