Something smells weird after a drive

[Bagherra]

This is the strangest thing...
I have a 72 Road Runner with a 413 engine. I took it out for a little drive today since it was nice out for once.

I did not drive it hard, just a little cruising and picking the wife up from class. Anyway, when we got home and turned off the car there was a burning smell (but no smoke). It did not smell like a fire (with smoke), but like something either rubber or metal was either smoking or really hot. The engine was not overheated.

I popped the hood and saw nothing - no smoke, no leaks, no coolant leaks. If anything the smell actually seems to be coming from the rear end, but I did not find anything out of the ordinary there. Give it about 5-10 minutes and the smell goes away.

Is this something to worry about? I'm kind of nervous about it, but for now I can't seem to find the root of problem.

Help??

[Kevin Garceau]

Sounds like you may have had a brake pad hang up, or some foreign material in there making that smell.

I took my buddy for a ride in the daytona one time. I put it on the transbrake and took it up to 5800 and let it rip...something smelled funny then too. ....but it was shorts

[amxauto-x]

Maybe a brake shoe or dry axle seal? Exhaust too close to something? Rag stuck on exhaust pipe?

[23T]

Check you exhaust system, I bet something got on it, but check for any fluid leaks under the car after it sits. If none start it up and let it run and see if the smell comes back, and track it down.
once stored a car and a rat died and got caught in the headers, Whee UU

[rtdonell1]

I had a grocery bag stick to the exhaust on my truck once. smelled burnt for about three days.

[Bagherra]

Originally posted by 23T
Check you exhaust system, I bet something got on it, but check for any fluid leaks under the car after it sits. If none start it up and let it run and see if the smell comes back, and track it down.
once stored a car and a rat died and got caught in the headers, Whee UU

Never thought a rat would get on the headers, I bet that stunk. LOL

The more I think about it, the more I think you guys are right on as far as the exhaust system. I have a very small oil leak, but other than that no leaks from the car.

I just checked the car and the smell is mostly gone, but the smell seems to be coming somewhere around the passenger side tailpipe, I bet it is rubbing against something. When I was driving it I could hear the passenger side tailpipe rubbing against the bottom of the car (like a metal on metal rattle).

Thanks a lot guys!

[darren509]

E-brake on maybe Did that to my parents suburban once. HE HE HE, and they thought I was just doing a brake job because I am nice

[dave571]

Easy way to tell if a brake is hanging up, is to touch the center of the wheel after driving.

If one's hot, and the others aren't it's sticking.

Don't worry, they aren't USUALLY hot enough to burn you. Not badly anyway.

[Bagherra]

I'll check the brakes too. Thanks!

[71dart666]

Maybe some exaust fumes are leaking into the car? I ground out the rust in my trunk and primered it up, forgot to put one of the rubber plugs back in the trunk pan and exaust got up into their and thus sucked into the cab of the car... Was an annoying and nausiating smell untill i put the plug back in.

[Bagherra]

Hey all,
I put it on a lift and took a look see...

I found out what the problem was and you guys were right on with the exhaust. One of the mufflers is too close to the drive shaft so as the drive shaft spins the muffler bumps against it. This creates the burning metal on metal smell. It does not seem to be doing damage (if anything it is to the muffler) right now, but I'm fixing it soon.

Thanks a lot for all your suggestions!

[fastmopars .inc]

Well i think we are just doing a guessing game her, so i say take day and get under the car and see whats up, it could possibly be your rear end oil? Im not sure, But sounds funny to me, nothing to worry about I say

[fastmopars .inc]

Well, we had that same problem where we would go out for a cruise and smell a burning smell, it was our head light switch in the dash which was letting off a burning smell, but no smoke.

[kenabody]

Sometimes a small leak may occur in the heater core. I recently had this problem, which I cured temporarily with stop leak. In addition to my windows fogging up with the heater on, I noticed a kind of a burnt smell as well. Note that the actual anti-freeze accumulation inside the car was limited to a very few drops, and therefore I missed this trouble sign.