Vapor Canister Question - UPDATE WITH PIC - HELP

[donerehart]

I just discovered that my under the hood vapor canister top is broken and the lines from the top and bottom aren't connected to anything. The metal line going to the fuel tank isn't capped... I have a 76 spider with Mark's empi carb that was installed by a local mechanic. There doesn't seem to be any problems, but... What should I be concerned with and what should be done to remedy the situation?
Thanks,
Don

[azygoustoyou]

Some people don't even use the canister. You can get a new one off ebay. Of course the guy only lists them once in a while. I think he sells them for about $10-15. Shipping is $10 though. I do have a couple used ones. I think they wear out after a while though.

[donerehart]

Are you going to hook yours back up Brady? Do your used ones have any life in them? I need to purchase one!

[azygoustoyou]

I have a new one to put in the car. I think I have a round one and a oval or square one. You can have it. Just pay for shipping. I don't know how old they are. If you can get the one off ebay if he still sells them, it would be better. There is a post on here talking about who sold them there. I can't remember who I bought it off of. Just search for vapor canister.

[donerehart]

Can someone post a picture of how their vapor canister lines connect to their carb? I have one of Mark's Empi 32/36 carbs and I'm not sure how the vapor canister is supposed to hook up. I have scoured all the posts and I'm still a little confused.
Thanks!
Don

[calvinconrad]

i have a 76 with the empi 32/36. i'll try post a pic of the lines soon.
calvin

[donerehart]

Thanks so much Calvin!!!

[donerehart]

I am attaching a picture that I need some help with. I'm trying to determine which is the input and which is the output of what I believe is the one way valve that goes from vapor canister and to a fuel return line, but I don't know which port is which. Can you help me?

[calvinconrad]

I having trouble with photobucket. don't have time to figure it out. sent you a pm.

[So Cal Mark]

The Empi version doesn't have the nipple for the float bowl to attach to the vapor cannister. It could be drilled if you absolutely want to vent the bowl to the cannister, but I usually just leave the tank attached to the cannister and cap the port that attached to the carb bowl. All you need if you want to hook it up that way is to have the tank line attach to the bottom of the cannister and the vacuum line attached to the top of the cannister

[donerehart]

Thanks Mark - by the way the Empi Carb works fantastic! Let me make sure I understand though:
Bottom of canister port goes to fuel line as normal???
Top of canister goes to vacuum line on carb above idle jet screw???
Middle of canister port gets capped ???
And do I cap the metal tube that heads back to the gas tank, or just let it vent open???
Is that what you are saying?
I appreciate you chiming in!
Don

[majicwrench]

Properly hooking it up is more involved than just a vacuum line to the top. It SHOULD NOT be sucking fumes from the gas tank as engine is running. You need some sort of valve that SHUTS OFF the line to the tank with engine running.
If you also have a line to the carb bowl vent, you need a valve to shut that off when engine running too. And the vacuum (purge) line needs to be ported, not straight manifold, vacuum.
The purpose is to absorb fumes from the float bowl and tank when the engine is off. Then once engine started and warmed up (now you need another valve that works off engine temp) the valve(s) in the vent line(s) close, fresh air is drawn thru canister, picks up fuel vapors from charcol, is sucked into the engine and burned.
Hope any of that makes sense
Keith

[So Cal Mark]

Fiat originally connected ported vacuum to the top of the cannister, and that's how I hook them up to the Empi carb. The only difference is the bowl vent. I cap the cannister port that originally connected to the bowl vent and leave the tank vent connected as it was. I do cap the return line to the tank as the Empi carb doesn't use it.

[donerehart]

Thanks Mark! That was the final piece I needed to get my hooked up! Much appreciated Fiat team - as usual this site is fantastic!!!!
Don

[majicwrench]

OK, to clarify (maybe), if you have a ported vacuum source to the top port, and the lower hooked to the tank vent, and no way to shut off the tank vent line, you are sucking tank fumes anytime you are moving down the road!!! This is NOT how it should work. There has got to be a valve of some sort to seal off the line going back to the tank when the canister is purging. If you are sucking tank fumes your mileage is gonna suffer, among other things.
Keith