Raw gas stink near front

[jimavey]

My '76 911 has been stinking of raw gas and it seems to be from the front of the car. I looked around the gas tank area and saw no obvious leaks or rust. But from another post I read here this morning describing similar symptoms it sounds like my tank may be rusted.

Or maybe there's another place to look for leaks?

If the tank is rusted, are there any tips or tricks to removing the tank? Can they be welding or resealed? What other options are there short of a new tank?

[randywebb]

are all the vapor hoses yellow/brown & cracked?

are the various vapor tanks in good shpae & not cracked?

what makes you think the tank is so rusted that vapor is getting out?

[TRE Cup]

not usually rusted tank. open the front hood, pull up the carpeting covering the tank. take a close look at the float lever sender , close to the filler neck. any signs of staining? look at the filler neck itself- is the rubber hose section cracked or smells like gasoline? look at the vent hoses from the tank to the filler neck- connected properly?
those are the most obvious places to look first. For the underside you will need to put the car on a lift to inspect- so take it to your mechanic if you don't have the expertise. otherwise do a search here for fuel line replacement, fuel pump replacement so you familiarize yourself with the areas where potential repairs needed

[daepp]

The exterior gasoline smell from my 72 T diminished entirely when I put a new gas cap on it. The original cork seal looked flat and shot. The new one uses rubber.

Now - if I could get the inside to smell a little better...but I think this is pretty much par for the course.

[RSBob]

Besides tightening all the clamps of the various gas lines, take out and inspect small black expansion tank under the instrument panel. Either the box itself develops cracks with age or the nipples into/out of the box crack or deform.

[copper]

My vote is on a dried out cork fuel level sender. Ask me how I know. Exact same odour.

[smestas]

Originally posted by copper
My vote is on a dried out cork fuel level sender. Ask me how I know. Exact same odour.

*ditto*

[notmytarga]

My smell came from a leak in the fuel-out hose before it went over the steering rack - replaced. There was never enough leak to create a drip below the car - it evaporates. The smell was worse when the tank was full because there was more hydrostatic pressure as it sat.

[jsandrews]

I have a fuel leak in that same place in the line. Same symptoms. Got new lines but haven't installed yet. Pondering if I'll tackle it myself or take it to a shop. Shops are hard to find here in Montana.