Carbon Monoxide

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JTG

JTG

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I feel after driving my 68 Cuda that I am experiencing symptoms that might be brought on from breathing in carbon monoxide. The exhaust system from the engine to the rear bumper is new and has zero leaks. The trunk seal is new, actually all the seals on the car are new and the car has zero rust anywhere. Car is a show car, is it just me or is this the norm when driving a car that never really had emissions on it from factory. I had other muscle cars in the past and never had this problem. I'm at a loss considering I can't find a breach anywhere on the car where the exhaust can enter, other then driving with the door window down.
i'm actually thinking about obtaining a hand held carbon monoxide detector to verify when driving the car.
 
NOT normal. I don't care how bad (burning oil, whatever) the junk out the back "is" you should not be getting any in the car

Check the entire pass. compartment carefully for leaks and holes. Don't forget "underneath," and rust holes in the quarters, fenders, etc,

If it is "that bad" you might consider stripping the seats and carpet so you can really look over the floor. And, take a GOOD look (like from inside the trunk) at the seal

Consider using two people, flood lights "shining through" or even water spray

I CERTAINLY would consider some sort of detection for CO until you get this ironed out.

Depending on where you live and the situation with local / nearby fire depts you might even get them to sniff it for you. Those guys, generally, are concerned with safety
 
Check every single thing on the rear of the car. Tail light gaskets......anything that mounts to the rear of the car. Everything needs to be sealed. Everything.

Oh and like Del said. That ain't normal.
 
Thanks guys, i'll definitely get on top of this.
 
I have breaches all around my car. The seam between the firewall and floor open, a crack under ther the drivers seat, leaky firewall gasket. I haven't even got to the rear yet. Just some food for thought.
 
clifftt said:
I have breaches all around my car. The seam between the firewall and floor open, a crack under ther the drivers seat, leaky firewall gasket. I haven't even got to the rear yet. Just some food for thought.
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i thought that too,if exhaust is sealed fron to back,then ??? sure its not gas fumes?
 
I had the same problem. I own a "69 Fastback Barracuda. I had to climb into the trunk and close it completely with someone outside. then I had my helper shine a powerful flashlight along the seam (rubber seal). If you do this at night or in a closed garage it works much better!! I saw some gaps that I had to address. Then, while I was in the trunk I noticed that the trunk trim piece is held onto the trunk lid using holes that go into the trunk area. I used Dum Dum to putty the backside of the holes. Also there are weep holes on the bottom of the trunk lid (I guess to let water drain) I plugged those also. Then there are supposed to be seals where the bumper mounts up against the body (This is really close to the exhaust pipes).
After fixing all these leaks I can drive everywhere without smelling like exhaust when I get out of the car!!!!:blob:
Hope this helps,

Treblig
 
I had this problem even after trying to seal everything up. I switched to the "turn down" exhaust from the 'straight out" type, and it cleared up.
 
Hood to Cowl seal....

Most of the suggestions relate to the rear of the car, and that makes sense. But check your hood to cowl seal. I have seen this omitted many times! A leak at a header or whatever and the fumes from under the hood can be sucked into the cowl venting directly into the cabin.
Just another thought :)
 
AJ/FormS said:
What are your symptoms?

I know exactly how mild CO affects me.
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Hi AJ, the symptoms I experienced after driving the car 45kms was excessive tiredness, felt a bit off and some lost appetite. I didn't have any issues prior to entering the car and really didn't exert much energy prior to warrant that kind of tiredness. This is why carbon monoxide came to mind, I didn't smell any exhaust in the car will driving, but then again carbon monoxide is supposedly odorless.
 
The replies from you guys is very very helpful insight, thank you very much, I will be on a mission to try and fix this using the advice provided and hopefully have some updates soon.
 
Treblig said:
I had the same problem. I own a "69 Fastback Barracuda. I had to climb into the trunk and close it completely with someone outside. then I had my helper shine a powerful flashlight along the seam (rubber seal). If you do this at night or in a closed garage it works much better!! I saw some gaps that I had to address. Then, while I was in the trunk I noticed that the trunk trim piece is held onto the trunk lid using holes that go into the trunk area. I used Dum Dum to putty the backside of the holes. Also there are weep holes on the bottom of the trunk lid (I guess to let water drain) I plugged those also. Then there are supposed to be seals where the bumper mounts up against the body (This is really close to the exhaust pipes).
After fixing all these leaks I can drive everywhere without smelling like exhaust when I get out of the car!!!!:blob:
Hope this helps,

Treblig
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Hi Treblig, you are correct there are seals for the bumper brackets, these pieces are similar to the seal used between the inner quarter panel and filler tube. My car actually had these seals installed upon the restoration of the car over the last year.
 
You could extend the tail pipes a bit more...

View attachment boso-1.jpg


Sorry, I couldn't resist. Seriously though, where do your tips end at? If they are still really close to the end of valance, you could still be pulling fumes under the car.
 
Why not buy a co2 monitor from the local hardware store and temporary mount it in the car?
You can always install it in your house when done with it.
 
sireland67 said:
Why not buy a co2 monitor from the local hardware store and temporary mount it in the car?
You can always install it in your house when done with it.
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GREAT suggestion!

I started a thread awhile back about our house Carbon Monoxide detector going off. Short story. It went off, reset it, went off again, called fire department. They come with their meters, read CO, set up their big fan, wait, check it again, no CO. Figured out it was me working on my car about an hour before. Had car pulled "most" of the way out of the garage. From now on I make sure it pulled ALL the way out, lol.
 
Trunk weatherstrip, trunk weatherstrip, trunk weatherstrip!!! Make sure it goes all the way around the trunk, including the bottom ledge just above the bumper! I had this same issue in my 69 Barracuda Conv, and it was the lack of WX strip along the bottom edge...
 
Revhendo said:
You could extend the tail pipes a bit more...

View attachment 1714832483


Sorry, I couldn't resist. Seriously though, where do your tips end at? If they are still really close to the end of valance, you could still be pulling fumes under the car.
Click to expand...

lol,Those tail pipes on one's car would definitely warrant a beat down from a crowd at a car show for desecrating a Mopar. The attached pic shows the placement of my tail pipes.
 

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tomswheels said:
Trunk weatherstrip, trunk weatherstrip, trunk weatherstrip!!! Make sure it goes all the way around the trunk, including the bottom ledge just above the bumper! I had this same issue in my 69 Barracuda Conv, and it was the lack of WX strip along the bottom edge...
Click to expand...

Hi tomwheels, the trunk weatherstip on my car is new and goes all the way around, are you suggesting thats not adequate that I should implement another strip in conjuction with the one on the car along the bottom ledge?
 
sireland67 said:
Why not buy a co2 monitor from the local hardware store and temporary mount it in the car?
You can always install it in your house when done with it.
Click to expand...

I was contemplating the hand held setup so I can get a reading on the carbon monoxide level just to see out of curiosity how bad it is.
 
JTG said:
Hi tomwheels, the trunk weatherstip on my car is new and goes all the way around, are you suggesting thats not adequate that I should implement another strip in conjuction with the one on the car along the bottom ledge?
Click to expand...

Like I said earlier, climb into your trunk and have someone shine a bright light along the seal, preferably inside a closed "dark" garage. I had a brand new seal on my trunk seam and it was bonded well but when I climbed into the trunk I found a 1 1/2 foot long gap. It wasn't a big gap (maybe 1/32") but carbon monoxide doesn't need a large gap because the car creates a vacuum inside the passenger compartment when you're driving down the road. This low pressure causes the passenger compartment to "SUCK" the outside air into the car. If there is any exhaust around the trunk seal or in the trunk lid or the bumper/tail light seals it will get sucked into the car. If there are any exhaust leaks under the car exhaust will get sucked into the car through any teeny tiny holes/cracks/creavases in the floor boards. It took my a few months to plug all the small leaks in my car even though it was a complete restoration and it was done well but climbing into the trunk was the best idea I ever had!!! JUST DON"T GET LOCKED IN!!! I took a screw driver and a light with me just in case, even though I had someone on the outside.
GOOD LUCK!!
Treblig
 
CO poisoning will give you a piercing headache & then dizziness, at least that's my experience!

Before my 273 died in my '65 Barracuda I had so much blow-by that visible smoke was coming into the car up through the steering column tube!
 
Treblig said:
Like I said earlier, climb into your trunk and have someone shine a bright light along the seal,.......................... carbon monoxide doesn't need a large gap because the car creates a vacuum inside the passenger compartment when you're driving down the road. This low pressure causes the passenger compartment to "SUCK" the outside air into the car.
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EXACTLY what I was trying to get across earlier, and doesn't only apply to the rear of the car
 
If all else fails, find a party fog machine and run a hose from that in through a vent window. Seal up the opening and see where the fog comes out. Or, you can make your own fog machine for a few bucks.
 
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