what is this?
 

i am wondering what is the purpose of this tube on the left in this picture? it has gas lines running up in it.

also- what exactly is the purpose of the return gas line? it wasnt hooked up on mine so i am wondering if it is neccesary.

what i am wondering is if i can clean these up a little and get rid of some.

thanks

The painted tube is the support for the back corner of your top. I wouldn't recommend removing this.

The unpainted one is the gas fill line. Only remove this after having removed your engine.

The small one is, as you say, the tank vent. If you remove this, you'll have a really hard time filling your tank because it will constantly do the "burping" thing like when you try to empty a plastic bottle too fast.

Brian

The painted tube connects to your charcoal cannister in the front, engine bay passenger side beside the battery. It has three lines connecting to it underneath. I believe its used to recirculate the gas fumes. Has nothing to do with holding up your top.
You can remove your gas fill line and overflow return (small tube) without removing your engine. Just be aware you now have an open gas tank and if it has gas in it the fumes can ignite.

thanks for the reply, so is this something that i need to keep intact when i put this all back together? is this charcoal canister something i can remove and not replace?

Yup gas tank venting system.
I left my stuff inplace. I only have one vent left as I used one for a fuel return line on my fuel injection system. The charcol canister is to alow for venting without fuel fumes entering the outside air. Haveing a vented gas tank is a good thing so keep it all inplace if possable.
Oh and I too have never heard of it doubling as a hardtop support.
Burt

thanks again for the info, seems like i am only full of questions and no answers.

You can remove the cannister but then have to plug your carb were it connects. If not you may have some vacumm issues, maybe. If I remember, and correct me guys if I'm wrong, you have three connections at the cannister, one to the carb and two back to the metal tube (sorry for being so technical) in the bed. From the tube in the bed you have one connection to the gas tank and the two going back up to the cannister. It's meant to vent fumes between the carb and gas tank. If you remove all this just remember to plug the carb and the tank.

I'm keeping mine in place also. It probably doesn't really do that much, especially after 34 yrs, but don't want to give the smog nazi's in cali any reasons to hassle me IF I ever get pulled over.