I recently purchased a 1946 model 61 coupe with a 472 (year unknown). The motor was rebuilt and runs great with the exception of two problems. After the car is shut off, I get a gas smell, but there is no sign of gas leaking either on the intake manifold or near the fuel pump. Could the carburetor be leaking internal?
Second problem is what I feel very low oil pressure. Just over 25 pounds at startup. Car has a remote oil filter, that leads to an oil cooler, then back to the oil pump.
Any suggestions or comments appreciated.

Even when cold it's 25 psi? If so, that does sound low. What is it at idle when hot?

Where is the smell typically coming from?
At the rear of the engine? Front? Up near the air cleaner? at the rear of the car.

Do you have a charcoal canister? If none,this may be your problem.

You didn't indicate whether the pressure reading is from the dash gauge or external pressure gauge reading. THe 25 psi sounds low

25psi is on the low side. Is it a stock or Melling oil pump? Could be possible the oil pump spring is weak or too thick of a gasket was used...

Double check the accuracy of your oil pressure reading instrument. Maybe try another one altogether before digging into the engine.
How is your fuel line hooked up? Do you have a return line back to the tank? You might be boiling the fuel in the pump to carbonator line without a seperate return from the pump to tank.

Double check the accuracy of your oil pressure reading instrument. Maybe try another one altogether before digging into the engine.
How is your fuel line hooked up? Do you have a return line back to the tank? You might be boiling the fuel in the pump to carbonator line without a seperate return from the pump to tank.


There is no return line to the tank. I purchased an extra fuel pump as a just in case to have around and noticed that the new pump has three connections. One for the line to the carb, a second connection for the line from the tank and a third smaller nipple type connection.
The fuel pump on the car has only two fitting. It is the long cannister type pump which Caddy used from 69 up. I spoke to the individual who owned the car about the pump and he said the fuel pump on the car came out of Canada.
One other thing I noticed. Had the car on a drive on lift while it was running. It could have been my imagination, but the short flexible line which connects the steel line from the tank to the fuel pump seemed to be expanded. As if it had pressure in the line. I know that sounds stupid, because that should be the suction side.

Probably best to replace any unknown old fuel line. The idea of a return line is to have a pressure regulator valve in the fuel pump. Any available fuel over a certain pressure is circulated back to the pump. This helps keep the fuel to the carbonator cooler and helps a lot with hot restarts. Without the 3rd line, fuel is trapped between the fuel pump outlet valve and the carbonator needle and seat. This fuel will boil at normal underhood temperatures. Most Cadillacs with the 472 on series of engines used the 3 line setup.

i have a 74 with the 472. i recently had the same sort of problem, fuel smell not oil, and realized the hoses going into and out of my fuel pump had dry rotted and were leaking. im not sure how long it had been going on but ive put in new hoses and no longer have the issue.

if you have the return but its just not connected because your fuel pump only had two connectors i would think it would be a good idea to use the new fuel pump and get everything hooked up correctly.