Evaporative Canisters...

[Guest Anonymous]

I'm getting ready to start rounding up the things I'll need to smog my car. One of which as I mentioned in another post is a Evap canister (charcoal canister). I've got a question on the hookup though. I bought a chilton's for 67-80 camaro's which does a good job of explaining what Chevy added over the years for smog equip and when it was put in to place.

 

My question is, the Evap has one line that goes to the PCV/Carb vacuum port that purges the fumes when it starts up (or whenever, thats not important when), the other line from what I'm seeing goes to a 'vent' line. Can I use the stock 240 return line for this line, and do I change the gas cap, when it gets low on gas and you refuel theres a huge surge of air when you release the cap, does that mean that cap isn't vented and is that what I want. Any other comments on what will be required to retrofit the canister would be appreciate.

 

Sorry for the ignorant question, but I havn't put smog equip back on, only taken it off with no reason to learn how it worked. Any help would be appreciated.

 

Thanks,

 

Lone

[Two40MuscleZ]

Hey Lone:

 

FYI: I ordered my Z in Sept of '71 while I was in the military. After waiting for 5 months to take delivery, it finally arrived at the NorCal dealership in Feb '72. It was NEVER FACTORY EQUIPPED with a charcoal canister! You may want to check that out, as it may not be required since some of the early Z did were not manufactured with them as original equipment. Might save some time, money and headaches. Enjoyed our conversation. Thanks for all the insight.

 

Van

[Miles]

This raises some other questions for California cars.

 

Do we have to retain the original Datsun fuel evap controls i.e. the evap tank, hoses and purge line that connects to the intake manifold? Also, I noticed from my Chilton manual that in 74 GM added EGR to the sbc engine which means, I assume, that I would need headers with holes for the EGR connections. Seems like I should use a 72-73 SBC engine for my 240z conversion in order to avoid the EGR requirements.

 

Also, is an air pump required on 72-73 sbc engines?

 

Miles

[Guest Anonymous]

Thanks Van, I'll look into that before I leap, might be the case, mine didn't have it originally, so maybe I won't need it, I know that according to chilton Chevy put it on Cal. 1970 engines and the rest in 71, so I think I may need it, but AZ's smog is to the year of the car and its existing controls, so who knows. I'll check into it though, appreciate the info.

 

Miles, I think your confusing the systems. EGR was started in 1973. It fits on your manifold and doesn't connect to the headers, it does route some exhaust gas back into the intake from the exhaust crossover in the chevy intake manifold and its scorned by many because when they stop working, the car idles like crap and is generally miserable to drive.

 

I think the system your refering to is the A.I.R. Air Injector Reactor (started by Gm in 1967 in California) which has external tubes that screw on to your header/manifold and inject air into the area around the exhaust port in a attempt to add oxygen and burn any unburned gases before they leave the manifold/header. Some later air pumps also pump air to the Catylitic converter.

 

I guess there is also systems now that can do it without a pump by means of a exhaust driven pulse pump of some sort, I havn't seen a picture of that and don't know how that works.

 

Also unless your concerned by the current regulations and where they're headed you probably don't need any of this as the exemption is still there. I'm moving to Tempe so I have to comply or get rid of the car. That said though, if I were staying here, I'd at least be thinking about having to comply because if they (CARB) has they're way they'll roll it back to 1966 prior exemption. With todays injected motors, thats the way I'd go, leave it all hooked up, add a cat if necessary and let them pull me into any smog check they feel like, after passing drive away and find the next stoplight victim. Performance and clean air is easily possible now a days, we may as well get used to it or street driven hot rods will become extinct.

 

Good luck,

 

Lone

[Guest Anonymous]

Absolutely. In Ca. its the year of the engine or chassis whichever is newer basically to determine what year smog equip is necessary.

 

That is assuming the exemption is rolled back here, as it is now unless you get caught in a roadside inspection (infrequent, but possible) where they notice you have NO smog equip, then 73 back is still in the clear, technically, but not legally. (as its not nice to remove Gov mandated equip... )

 

I hope for your guys sake it stays that way

[Guest greimann]

One thing to remember guys is that to comply with California regulations, the engine package is the determining factor in what smog equipment is required. If you have a '74 Z with a '99 Camaro engine, then your installation must comply with '99 regulations. All of the accessories like charcoal canister, AIR pump, EGR, EFE, TAC, ESPN, BFD, WTF etc... must be from the year and model of the engine not the Z car.

[Georgia Flash]

What is the canister for again? I always thought it was for some type of fuel tank venting or something. My 1971 Ford F100(with 302 V-8) has one so I thought that all cars had to have them.

If I go strickly bare bones with my Z-8 car is it possible or wise to just leave the little black canister off?

[Guest Rattfink]

As I understand it, the Carbon Cannister is just a collection place for fuel vapors. It doesn't hurt engine performance or anything, just sits there and accumulates the fumes so it doesn't stink up the planet (in theory). If your car was equipped with a cc, then your fuel tank will not be vented (since the cannister handles it). Not running the can will vapor lock your fuel system as you build vaccum in the tank. Or you could just vent the cap.

 

I could be wrong, but that's my $.02.

L8-r

'Fink