1972 Cutlass 442 with 455 engine. There are two rubber hoses from it....one goes to the carb and the other one connects to a fuel line sized metal tube that appears to go back to the gas tank? My question is, do these hoses carry anything other than fuel vapor? Is the cannister really necessary and could you remove the lines and plug up where it connects up by the carb?

Thanks,
OLE442

 

The hoses carry fuel vapor.

If you plug the hose to the tank, you will have to provide another way for the tank pressure (or vacuum) to be relieved.

There is no performance penalty for leaving everything in place and your garage will have a lot less fuel smell.

 

X2. The thing costs nothing to operate and only takes up a little room underhood.

Only service it requires is change the filter at the bottom of the canister as part of a regular tune-up and it was still available last time I checked about 4 years ago. I've heard of the charcoal settling out and clumping to where you couldn't get a vent for the fuel tank, but, I'd think a little "agitation" either shaking it or some low pressure air would correct that.

 

I'm not planning on removing it but was just curious about the function. I do have a new filter replacement somewhere in my parts. I'm getting ready to change all the hoses by the gas tank soon so I'll pull the hose off the other end and blow some compressed air through it.