If you haven't already...also check around the charcoal cannister as billha suggested. If that goes, or gets saturated with fuel, you could end up with a fuel odor.

I will be sure to check that as well. I have not smelt any gas now for a few days, like I said before, it'* not all the time. Keep the ideas coming, I'm sure we can find it.

Oh, and I'll check the gas cap as well. I'm just hopping it'* not a hole in the gas tank or something like that. That would suck.

When I bought my car I also had a strong gas smell,especially on hot day.
It was evapor canister not working due to blown fuse #5 at passenger site.After replacing it no more smell at all.
Maybe it helps you somehow.

One thing I didn't see verification on, is the access panel to the gas tank in the trunk. Might want to make sure it'* not loose or damaged in any way, if the '97 has one.

It'* used for easy access to the fuel pump. Any gearheads know if the '97 has that or not?

Just the 2000+ have the trunk access panel for the fuel pump in the trunk.

You might want to double check all the connections along the fuel rail for the injectors and also the gas line connectors to the fuel rail. Chrysler mini vans had a recall for this type of problem..basiclly a very small amount of gas leaking onto the hot engine creates a lot of raw gas smell, don't look for big gushing leaks, it only take a very small seepage...

Spit

I gave the fuel rail a good look and saw nothing that jumped out at me. I will take a real close look with the engine running. I have not smelt any gas in some time now. One thing I had done was pull the vac. lines at the FPR then put them on again, perhaps there was a small leak and that fixed it. I will have to look in to changing them if I start to smell gas again. I hate intermitant problems, they never happen when your looking.

Latest findings on gas smell

Ok, I have not smelt anything for a while, until today. I pulled in to my driveway, turned around and backed up to my house. When I stopped I smelt gas. I jumped out popped the hood, and smelt nothing under the hood. I then looked around under the back of teh car, saw and smelt nothing. Could this be from the exaust?

How much gas in the tank?