1st of three posts tonight.

First off, I broke one of my own rules. I had intended to never work on the classic cars here at home. I have a full blown workshop with everything I need. But, I was eager to get the Holley carbs from the 57 Thunderbird and the 70 Challenger to the rebuilder. I had done the Thunderbird in the workshop, removing the carb, and removing and cleaning the gas tank and reinstalling it with blowing out the lines and changing fuel filter. I had various cans and filters and funnels to reuse the gas. But the 70 Challenger was at home, and removing the carb is pretty easy so I decided to take it off here. It went easy. But the bowls are still full of gas. I carefully put the carb in a newspaper lined box and intended to take it the workshop, to empty it and dispose of it. I used the SRT for transport.

So, have you ever seen somebody making a turn, and swing far to the opposite side before turning? I guess that makes them think they have more room, or make a sharper turn or a broader turn. I never saw the purpose of driving out of your lane to make a turn.

Anyway, I was in the outside lane of two lane road at intersection. I approached it slow as the light was just turning green. The girl in car on the inside lane is just ahead of me and as traffic starts up, she swings way to her right, over the lane line and ends up making a left turn. Anyway, I slammed down on the Brembos so that her passenger side door would not cream the front fender and headlight area of the Challenger.

I heard a thud in the back and assumed correctly that the box had tipped over. I crossed the intersection and pulled over and checked. I knew by the smell that the carb had spilled in the trunk. Gasoline covered some papers for my class re, and the extra throw rug I keep in there, and more than a little had soaked into the trunk carpet mat. I tried blotting it, but the trunk reeks of gas, It is worse driving with windows open. Tonight, I have it in garage with trunk lid open. But the trunk light does not go off on an auto shut off, so I'll need to find the switch and figure out a way to turn it off. I wan to leave it open so the gas will evaporate.

Steve

 

Sorry for your problem. Just pull the fuse for the trunk light. Might be called courtesy lights or something.

 

Steve,

Put a lot of newspaper in your trunk. It will help absorb the odor. If it works for smelly shoes, I would think it would work for a smelly trunk. Worth a shot.

Best of luck!

 

switch for trunk light is part of latch mechanism on trunk lid. The round shaft of stubby phillips head screw driver snapped right in and light turned off.

Thanks for tip on newspaper. I'll load it up in morning and keep trunk closed at work.