Put a post out there a short time ago about a strong exhaust smell in the cab of my 65 Mustang. Great suggestions from folks.

I remembered my mechanic told me that I am missing a rear breather hose. Now, I have searched high and low (including the official Mustang shop manual) and can find nothing on "rear breather hose" for a 1965 Coupe.

Anyone have insight for me on this? And could missing such a piece be a cause of the stench?

 

If it's a 289, like mine, (although mine is a 67) the only hose that is in the "emission system" is the hose that goes from the passenger side breather to the back of the carb or intake manifold. This is the hose that has the PCV (Pollution Control Valve) connected to it.
Quick review: The escaping gasses that wind up in the valve covers are handled this way The breather on the driver's side allows fresh air into the valve cover, The "polluted"air is routed to the other side of the engine internally where it picks up the "polluted" air from the passenger side valve cover and the combined "polluted" air is sucked out into the carb orintake manifold by the vacuum created at the intake manifold and/or carb. This is where the breather hose comes in. The PCV valve senses the vacuum and opens, allowing the gasses to flow through the hose into the intake manifold, supposedly to be burnt in the the engine?!?!
Well, that's what they say, anyway!
If that hose is not connected (or missing)to the carb or intake manifold you will get a gas/ oil smell, BUT if that's so, your car should run like crap unless whoever removed the hose also plugged the inlet on the carb or intake manifold. Without the plug, there would be a huge vacuum leak.I'd be surprised if the car ran at all!
Hope that helps
jay67fast

 

Breather is just a slang term. What you are missing is the PCV(positive crankcase ventilation) hose.
Page 8-61 in the manual.
If the motor has alot of blowby and no 'breather', you could smell noxious fumes from the motor.
You need the PCV system regardless, it's good for your motor for a number of reasons.

 

Engine runs great. Like I said, the mechanic specifically called out the "rear breather hose." So, if I hear what y'all are saying, the engine runs well, which means the PCV is likely in place. That goes back to exhaust entering the car because of the missing cowl seal and small holes in the trunk pan where exhaust may be coming in.

 

This is more likely your problem.

Dave

 

I ordered a new cowl to hood seal today, plus a trunk filler board and rear seat divider to help seal things off from the back. Am going to weld the holes over and see how that works out.

 

I have a 67 and that piece is VERY small compared to the 64-66's. It will do something for you, I wish one would fit on my ride!

 

What piece do you mean? The filler board or seat divider?

Oh, I ordered three-point belts for both the front and back seats from Wesco. What a screaming deal compared to other places.