Smelly '36 Woodie needs advice

[J Franklin]

You may want to buy a CO detector at your local hardware store and keep it in the car until you solve the problem.

[39wdy]

Hi Timo,
The folks who recommended routing the exhaust out to the side are right on the money. Some Woodies were so bad at sucking those fumes into the passenger compartment that they routed the exhaust pipe up the rear corner post and turned it out away from the roof (similar to tractor trailers). They do look kind of cool routed that way and make driving underwater a lot easier (JUST KIDDING!). A beautiful car indeed. I look forward to talking with you about your great Woodie. Best wishes, Toby

[Jay in Mass]

Timo
I have been driving and restoring flathead Fords for 50+ years and I am near Plymouth Mass. which is not far from Boston. How far are you from the Plymouth area? You can PM me if you wish.
.. Jay in Mass.

[woodiewagon46]

Timo, You might also join the V8 Ford Club of America. Every year with your membership you receive a membership roster, listing people in your area that can help you. They also have a great forum on their website.

[jimTN]

The exhaust thing is correct. Some of the original fleet owners actually put a stack out and up above the top on wagons.

[Timo]

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Many thanks to all you generous experts out there! I have many things to try to remedy my smell problem and I am much indebted to all of you for helping out. There are no windows in my Woodie except the windshield, because I took the driver and passenger side windows out to repair the crank mechanisms. So yes, this is a very open car.

My tailpipe goes right out the back AND it barely sticks out much, so I'm thinking that has to be a big part of the problem. I went out this morning and put in the rear plastic window that snaps in. I will take her out for a spin a little later and see if that helps.

And I'll look into a tailpipe extension and maybe even rerouting the pipe out the side.

Thanks!

[sawzall]

Originally Posted by mrtexas

36 woodie tailpipe:



For the non-woodie owner, 36 woodie has side windows only in the driver and passenger front doors. Rear, back door, and third row openings are for side curtains.

mr texas.. thanks for clarifying for the non woodie folks in the group..

36's have no rear windows..

perhaps a carburetor rebuild or tuning might be in order. perhaps the carb is dumping MORE fuel than necessary.. did you notice a fuel smell in the oil when it was changed?

[Timo]

tailpipe.jpg

[Timo]

Here's my tailpipe. It's 1 1/2 inches in diameter, installed about 6 years ago. There's a sticker on it that says "genuine Ford parts." As you can see, it barely sticks out very far, straight out the back. Part of the problem?

[Lawson Cox]

i would say that length tail pipe would be a sourse of at least a major portion of your problem. Does the tag, or tail pipe itself give you a part number. Most original Ford tail pipes have the number stamped into the metal. On the end closest to the tail end if I remember correctly. At least it is near one end or the other.

[Brendan]

Originally Posted by Jay in Mass

Timo
I have been driving and restoring flathead Fords for 50+ years and I am near Plymouth Mass. which is not far from Boston. How far are you from the Plymouth area? You can PM me if you wish.
.. Jay in Mass.

I have seen woodies like that in old movies, I always wondered

[1931 flamingo]

Ezold's in Westfield, MA, on rte 10 near/past the airport off Mass pike.
Paul in CT

[Chris Nelson]

I had a similar problem with my 46 conv. after it had been put in the garage. It turned out to be the carb leaking fuel down into the manifold after it shut down. It made the garage stink a few hours after I parked it. A rebuild of the carb cured the problem as well as a fuel regulator to hold the pressure down.

[bigvince]

Hope your Woodie is running right. Make sure the carburetor choke is working properly. I had the same problem with my 48 and when I rebuilt the carb and made sure the choke operated properly, the rich smell went away.

However, these cars all run a bit rich unlike cars with fuel injection. It's called "the old car smell..."

[rotorwrench]

Sometimes new exhaust systems components have coating to prevent corrosion that can smell pretty rough until it finally bakes off of there. A lot of folks paint engine exhaust manifolds after a repair or overhaul and this can give off an odor too until the stuff gets baked well enough. Carbon monoxide has no odor but a lot of other things can cause or emitt odors along with it.