The odors in the garage of these trucks (a brief rant)

[jabborabbo]

When I park my ‘67 GMC in the garage and get out, the odors of those incomplete combustion products fill the air…mainly hydrocarbon compounds and nitrogen compounds (and of course carbon monoxide, but ya can’t smell that deadly stuff)…. I bought the truck cuz as long as I can walk out to the garage, open the hood, and bend over and turn a wrench, I can keep that truck running all by my lonesome. New vehicles? Forget it. However…if the powers that be HADN’T computerized auto engines, even small cities like Podunk Texas would occasionally have smog problems. Cities like Dallas? You’d need a gas mask and a hazmat suit to survive.

I love my truck….

[WorldsCrappiestTruck]

When I did the LS swap on my ‘68…..I very purposefully put small 8” converters right off the full length headers, just to help get rid of “the smell”.

When I pass an old car on the road, I take a whiff and smell it.

My old ‘69 Z/28 with the DZ302 needed to run 108 leaded gas to not diesel, and it literally stung my eyes to be around it idling (which is great for Macho, not so great for the Mother Earth).



I think it’s a fine line between responsible and NannyState. Should a ‘’75 Laguna puke fumes….no. Should your car get a sniffer in the tailpipe and only pass if cleaner than clean…no.


You’re right, if companies didn’t lean into tech to help with emissions….this place would look (and probably taste) pretty awful.

[weq92f]

.

Right up there with the aroma of the interior of certain classic cars, I LOVE THAT SMELL!

-Kevin

['68OrangeSunshine]

You're not supposed to notice past the smell of your burning Camels.
Leaded Regular had a sweet smell to it. This unleaded with alcohol in it is crap.

[GASoline71]

Originally Posted by '68OrangeSunshine

Leaded Regular had a sweet smell to it. This unleaded with alcohol in it is crap.

I used to dig the smell of Leaded Ethyl as well.

Gary

[Steeveedee]

Remember that smell from an early '50s Chevy six cylinder engine's exhaust when it drove by? It actually smelled kind of nice, in small quantities.

[MikeB]

Originally Posted by GASoline71

I used to dig the smell of Leaded Ethyl as well.

Gary

Have you ever smelled 105 octane? It's awesome! I used it a few times in a two-stroke motocross dirt bike.

[GASoline71]

Originally Posted by MikeB

Have you ever smelled 105 octane? It's awesome! I used it a few times in a two-stroke motocross dirt bike.

Oh yes! My Dad ran some hot stuff in his '75 CR250 Elsinore. That bike was wicked. All on or all off... no in between. My Uncle at the time had a YZ400 and my Dad's Elsie would walk that thing all day long. Well, the old man was an excellent rider too.

I had a 1988 ATK406 that I used high test in once in awhile with Redline oil mixed 40:1. I went from a YZ80 as a kid, to a YZ125, then a few KX250's. Man I miss the old bikes we had!

Gary

[Rust_never_sleeps]

If you're old enough to remember the smell of Autopia at disneyland in the old days, you know the smell of a 70's car ahead of you on the freeway

[chevmn]

If the older vehicles are in proper tune they really do not have that much of an odor. Many probably do not recall what a properly tuned engine running high octane leaded fuel was like......light gray exhaust, and not much odor at all. I, for one, miss those days. To me there is no way to make a V8 sound even close to good with converters on it. My guess is many of todays vehicles that have issues (check engine light on, and not properly repaired) probably put out as much or more harmful emissions than a properly tuned big block from the 60s without a cat. And, there are lot of later model vehicles with problems, usually because the owner cannot afford the cost to repair. Many land in the scrap yard due to high cost to repair. Not too sure these "throw away low emisions" vehicles are helping in the long run especially if they end up scrap early. Just my opinion, not trying to offend.

[KQQL IT]

Mine stinks when it's due for a tune up.

[Luke87gt]

When I bought this ‘69, the one aspect I didn’t anticipate is the overwhelming fuel smell in the garage

[67 twins]

Originally Posted by Luke87gt

When I bought this ‘69, the one aspect I didn’t anticipate is the overwhelming fuel smell in the garage

If you have an overwhelming fuel smell then you have a leak. Best be finding it.

[72c20customcamper]

Originally Posted by Luke87gt

When I bought this ‘69, the one aspect I didn’t anticipate is the overwhelming fuel smell in the garage

Only time I get a raw gas smell is when there is a drastic change in temps . All my old vehicles are atmosphere vented . Gets cold tank sucks in air gets real warm tank vents .

If you get raw gas smell all the time something is leaking

[jjzepplin]

I finally found out why my 58 Bel Air was smelling so bad in the garage. The new gas tank had a seam leaking. Over half full it would stink like crazy!

[yuccales]

"Smells like freedom"

[71CHEVYSHORTBED402]

I rebuilt a truck with a nice, but used can. First couple hundred miles it stunk after a drive, but for whatever reason it stinks no more

[Sheepdip]

Make a fun family trip to the Top Fuel Drags and visit the pits....you'll never complain about gasoline fumes in your garage again!

[Steeveedee]

^ Man, I LOVE the smell of burning nitromethane!

[Sheepdip]

Originally Posted by Steeveedee

^ Man, I LOVE the smell of burning nitromethane!

You're way tougher than I am!

[MikeB]

You must have an almost dog-level sense of smell! All I ever notice is gas fumes from the vented tank. If I let it sit outside for a while after driving, it's not a problem.

I've got to address that some day. I already use a 71-72 sender with a capped vent tube, but need to route a line to the engine compartment. However, I'm not sure where the best place is to connect it.

[chevmn]

Originally Posted by Sheepdip

Make a fun family trip to the Top Fuel Drags and visit the pits....you'll never complain about gasoline fumes in your garage again!

There you go......I made my first trip to a non-sanctioned drag race almost 40 years ago. Many of the big racers were there as it was an off weekend for the NHRA races. I had never witnessed a nitro burning engine up close and personal. An eye opening experience is putting it mildly. Especially at that track where the stands were very close to the track, and very few rules. I had been to several race tracks, including some blown alcohol stuff, but nitro is in completely different league. If I go again it will be to one of the "outlaw" type races, not a sanctioned race where the rules have pretty much taken away the actual competition.

[Sheepdip]

For all you true seasoned 2 Stroke Jockeys out there they actually make a "Blendzall" scented candle. Perfect Xmas/Birthday Gift for the wife! We all know they like little candles around the house.

https://coolmaterial.com/lifestyle/h...-smoke-candle/

[yuccales]

Originally Posted by Sheepdip

For all you true seasoned 2 Stroke Jockeys out there they actually make a "Blendzall" scented candle. Perfect Xmas/Birthday Gift for the wife! We all know they like little candles around the house.

https://coolmaterial.com/lifestyle/h...-smoke-candle/

Awesome! The smell of Bel-Ray from my Ace 100....unforgetable!

[MikeB]

Originally Posted by yuccales

Awesome! The smell of Bel-Ray from my Ace 100....unforgetable!

Wow! Haven't heard that name in a while. Hodaka, right?

I was a Yamaha guy when I first got started, then moved to Bultaco, then KTM, then Honda. Rode from early 70s to late 90s.

Favorite bikes: 73 Bultaco 350 Pursang (actually 325cc) and 77 KTM 250 Cross Country.