Vapor Canister

[PHOENIX]

I have had problems with my truck smelling like gas after shut down.
It takes about 20 minutes, then the smell is extremely strong.
I wouldn't even think about having any open flame near the truck.

I traced the smell down to the vapor canister.
For those of you who don't have the emissions equipment, please consider yourself very lucky. Emissions components are the majority of the problems I have had in the last few years. The required emissions components also considerably raised the cost of the exhuast system.

I get out my shop manual and decide to start checking the vacuum lines to the canister.
I start with the fuel tank line (fuel tank vent hose).
The inside of the line appeared wet. I attached my Mityvac and tried to apply vacuum.
"Apply 15" H2O pressure to the fuel vapor line"
"Observe for excessive loss of pressure."
Well the line will hold no vacuum. So it appears something is wrong there.
What do you suggest I do?
I plan to trace the line and check for leaks along the way.

I stopped testing the lines there and decided to remove the canister.
I suspected it had filled up with gas. I had my carb flood a while back and
I believe the fuel flooded into the canister.
See attached images for the 12+or- onces of gas I drained out of the canister.
Also some small black rock type things came out, I assume this is the charcoal.

I understand there are some filters and charcoal elements inside the canister.
The service manual says to pull the filter out from the bottom.
They didn't design this for easy removal, or maybe no removal.
I believe the bottom "cap" is glued onto the canister wall (cylinder).
The bottom also has indents for tightening the cap only, nothing for removal.
I remember reading on here somewhere about this, I believe it was Swervin Ervin that had some issues here also.

So here are my questions:
Do I even need this canister for emissions "sniffer" inspection?
How do they check this canister?
It looks like they only pinch a couple lines and verify they are connected.
What if I put ball bearings in all the lines so they dont do anything, but appear to be hooked up?
Or should I get the canister open and replace the filters and possibly the charcoal elements inside?

thanks,