My Ranch Wagon started to smell like gas real bad inside so I replaced the sending unit gasket thinking it was the problem. it went away for about a week and now it is back. Should I replace the sending unit? I dont see how it could be the gasket now since it is new and I even put some sealer on it to help further seal out the fumes. Any advise?

Durham Missouri

Kevin, Put it on a lift running and see if you can find a leaky fitting or rotted line. It's Ohio man, even wood rusts there!

Frank/Rebop

Bristol, In ( by Elkhart) 

Actually it's Eric and I am in Missouri but, I think I found the culprit, the gas cap.It's supposed to have an vented cap. I will pick one up this weekend and find out for sure.Just one of many surprises I have found on this car since I bought it.

Durham Missouri

Not familiar with the ranch wagon but my victoria has a vent line on the filler which is located in the trunk on the driver side. Check to see if you have a line and if is blocked..good luck.

56 Vic, B'Ville 200 MPH Club Member, So Cal.

Wrong guy, but do what dry lakes said also. A lot of times the lines get old and brittle and break or crack. 

Frank/Rebop

Bristol, In ( by Elkhart) 

I had the slowest of leaks in a gas line fitting -- it is amazing how a drop or two of gas in an enclosed space can really smell!

MplsMike
'56 Parklane
Minneapolis, MN

Same here I am not familiar with the station wagons but my Fairlane has a vent tube that goes from the top side of the tank up into the trunk loops around and exits through a grommet through the body behind the filler door.  If I could get my parts guide to open up for a change on this laptop I can look up a fuel tank diagram for station wagons to see how that is laid out.


1956 Ford Fairlane Town Sedan - 292 Y8 - Ford-O-Matic - 155,000 mi

The wagons do not vent out to the atmosphere like the sedans do. It has a vent but it runs from tank to filler neck for easier filling I assume. They call for a vented cap so the tank wont pressurize and leak fumes like mine was. I found this tid bit of info out after I posted my question.

Durham Missouri

This is a problem on 57 Rancheros and Wagons also and they have no vented tank. The problem is the Government/EPA outlawed vented caps back in the early 70's. The so called vented caps they sell today only let air in and none out so on a nice hot day when the gas expands it pressurizes the tank. On one 110 degree day I actually heard my tank oil can when I removed the cap.  After doing quite a bit of research I found this is also a major problem with the Bow Tie crowd on early models. Many of them resort to drilling a small hole in the cap and thats what I ended up doing after trying several vented caps that didn't...

If you want to get the correct gas cap your only bet is to find a original one either NOS or a nice used one.

If looking NOS try searching for Ford Part # B6AZ 9030-A.  This one is a Vented locking type fuel cap if you want a locking one that was used on all ford vehicles '49 to '54 and on the sedan delievery and station wagons '55 to '56.

If you want a non locking style vented one look for part number B9A 9030-C.

1956 Ford Fairlane Town Sedan - 292 Y8 - Ford-O-Matic - 155,000 mi