72 Avanti has a line coming from the fuel line drain tee.

[Jim S]

My 72 has a line coming from the fuel line drain tee on the frame.  It goes up and ends on the passenger side of the engine.  I had to plug it or else fuel comes running out.  Where is this thing supposed to go? Or should it not even supposed to be there.  I thought the tee on the frame was supposed to have a plug in it to drain fuel if needed.

[AD]

The T-fitting on the frame should have a pipe plug in the bottom of it, which can be removed for draining the tank. 

On the passenger side of the engine, there should be three lines at the fuel filter: 

- one line going into the filter

-one going from the filter to the carb

-one smaller line going from the filter back to the tank. 

Is it perhaps this smaller return line you're looking at? Sometime in the past someone may have made a "modification" that you may need to undo. 

[Jim S]

This is the Chevy motor we are taking about now.  It has a  Quadrajet carburetor with the internal fuel filter.  There's only one line from the fuel pump to the carb.  So I don't see where a return line would connect?

 

Edited 18 hours ago by Jim S

[ronmanfredi]

13 hours ago, Jim S said:

This is the Chevy motor we are taking about now.  It has a  Quadrajet carburetor with the internal fuel filter.  There's only one line from the fuel pump to the carb.  So I don't see where a return line would connect?

 

Some of the fuel pumps had 3 connections on them.  The smaller push on fitting was for the return line back to the fuel tank. It is possible that someone installed the incorrect fuel pump that does not have the return fitting on it.  If so, you will need to plug it off.

[Jim S]

Thank-you.  I figured that was the case.  My 87 (on the Monte Carlo base) had that pump.  I wanted to install it on the 72, but there is not enough clearance for it on the Studebaker frame so I had to go with the smaller pump.

 

[AD]

Yes, there is a filter inside the Q-Jet carb. There was also originally an external fuel filter with a return line to the tank. (by the way this return line to the tank is essential for preventing vapor lock when it's hot).

Your '72 Avanti II was also originally equipped with with a charcoal vapor recovery canister as part of it's EPA emissions equipment. This would've been mounted on the right side of the engine along the inner fender. These also had fuel lines and hoses between the canister and the carb, and the canister and the tank. Someone on the past 53 years may have removed it, and one of these line could be the source of your leak.