1973 Vapor canister, do you need it??

[Dick W.]

Re: 1973 Vapor canister, do you need it??

To be certain you are getting a genuine Wix filter or product, go on their web site and check for a local dealer in your area. They usually are not the chain type auto parts stores, rather some "Mom and Pop" out of the way store usually found near truck depots or airports. That's where I found mine here in Orlando and it has proved to be a motherlode of old parts, and they will usually sell to you with a wholesale discount as I guess they figure if you walk in their door you must be in the business.

If I had the notion to make one major modern improvement to my 63 , it would be to add a closed fuel system with a canister to eliminate the gas stink in my garage. I've done everything I can short of doing that and it has helped, but now that the hot summer is here again, I'm still having a problem. I have to shut it down and leave it sit outside for at least a half hour, start up again and move it in, then shut down right away.

Stu Fox

Stu, NAPA and Carquest filters are made by Wix. Compare the part numbers, just a variation of the Wix #'s

[Stuart F.]

Re: 1973 Vapor canister, do you need it??

Dick;

I don't doubt that they are, and I trust my local NAPA dealers a lot. But, the main reason I went looking for the Wix filters was, believe it or not, their color (black). I was planning to install a spin on filter adapter kit on my 63 and I just wanted it to appear correct to the average commando viewer at cruise ins (weird huh?). You always get some "Frank" guy coming around trying to impress his buddies about how much he knows about cars, i.e. "you'll notice he's missing a choke tube", or "that's not the right air filter (I have a K & N), etc.". I haven't installed the spin on as yet as I still have a lot of cartridges laying around, but I'm tempted each time I change oil using that messy cannister. Also, searching out the Wix dealer allowed me to find a real good small store where I can buy filters by the carton for wholesale simply by walking in the door. They also still maintain a good stock of NOS parts including points, fuel pumps, carb kits, and the like.

Stu Fox

[Patrick H.]

Re: 1973 Vapor canister, do you need it??

Alan------


I don't know of a way to replace the charcoal. These things are serviced by replacing the entire canister. Unfortunately, the canister for this application is now GM-discontinued. I don't know if an aftermarket equivalent is available.

Here's what you need, though:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/215-1...item3efd349a02

I'd bet that you could carefully disassemble and use activated charcoal (think aquarium filter or similar) to replace what is 40 years old and have a very functional replacement.

[Joe L.]

Re: 1973 Vapor canister, do you need it??

I'd bet that you could carefully disassemble and use activated charcoal (think aquarium filter or similar) to replace what is 40 years old and have a very functional replacement.

Patrick------

I think the canister material is something like linear polypropylene and I think it's sealed by some sort of "plastic welding" process. Linear polypropylene is very gasoline resistant. However, I've never found any adhesive that would effectively and durably repair it. I don't know how or if one could replicate the "plastic welding" process originally used.

[Jack H.]

Re: 1973 Vapor canister, do you need it??

I'm with Joe on this one... Theoretically, the carbon should last indefinitely and not need to be replaced.

Plastic items like this were typically sealed by sonic welding techniques and not intended to be opened/serviced.

I can think of two ways you'd get UNUSUAL odor from a VRS though...

(1) The body of the cannister is split/cracked.

(2) The system is being ABUSED by over-filling the gas tank resulting in liquid gas being forced into the vapor recovery can.

Item two is rather rare, but I HAVE seen folks do it TOPPING off their gas tank aggressively rather than simply stop filling when the pump's automatic cut-off clicks in...

[Clem Z.]

Re: 1973 Vapor canister, do you need it??

I'm with Joe on this one... Theoretically, the carbon should last indefinitely and not need to be replaced.

Plastic items like this were typically sealed by sonic welding techniques and not intended to be opened/serviced.

I can think of two ways you'd get UNUSUAL odor from a VRS though...

(1) The body of the cannister is split/cracked.

(2) The system is being ABUSED by over-filling the gas tank resulting in liquid gas being forced into the vapor recovery can.

Item two is rather rare, but I HAVE seen folks do it TOPPING off their gas tank aggressively rather than simply stop filling when the pump's automatic cut-off clicks in...

this over filling is the big reason that caused the gasoline gauge problems with C-5 corvettes as it would move the slider up onto a unused part of the sender and send the system crazy. once i stopped "topping off" the tank on my C-5s the gas gauge problem went away.