Gas Tank Removal & Fuel Gauge Sending Unit Service

[Desotodav]

I recently replaced my old fuel-logged float with a plastic one from a 70's GM after finding that I had no float left in my float. I guess that one could be obtained easily enough from a car wrecking yard. I'm not sure that I would call going away from cork 'cheating' Hank, and who's going to see it? I ran out of fuel once because of a faulty gauge and I have now ensured that will never happen again by having a working fuel gauge. I heard that they use to coat the old corks in shellac.

I am running a modified 12v sender in my 6v truck - which has a 12v fuel tank fitted. I suppose that an earth lead could be screwed into the side of the sending unit, or you could fit one by placing bare wire under your round sender locking-ring before turning it into the lock position, and then have a fitting to the other end of the earth wire that you could attach to the chassis somewhere.

Lizard spit hey... never heard of it here in Oz !!!

[Jeff Balazs]

Back on topic for a moment. Sort of. Shellac is made using a resin secreted by the Lacq beetle. The resin in it's raw form is dissolved in alcohol to make shellac. As you might imagine it will not last long in a tank of modern fuel which contains a percentage of it's primary solvent.

 

Jeff

[HanksB3B]

O.K.

 

Lizzard Spit, or Beetle Juice...I just can't make up my mind.....

 

 

A plastic float makes perfect sense, but I'm not convinced that raw cork is a bad way to go either.

 

These days, obtaining a part from a Dealer to fix something becomes not about you but about them. My local Mopar or GMC dealers would be happy to sell me a complete sending unit for about $300. My junk yard drills holes in gas tanks when they receive a wreck (makes sense to get rid of the gas but is sure the lazy way to do it.  They want $40 for a complete sending unit and I don’t feel like pocketing the float.

 

The last part I need is a 4” piece of 2-1/4” id filler neck to gas tank hose. NAPA will sell me a foot for $21.  I convinced the owner to sell me 4” for (21/3=$7) but in his world its $10.75. Kraken O’Reilly wants $26 for 3 feet. 

 

Hank   

Edited November 22, 2013 by HanksB3B

[Jeff Balazs]

Hank;

If you are going to use these sorts of photos......maybe Stacey Keach aka Sergent Standanko .......turning into a lizard in Cheech & Chongs Nice Dreams would be more appropriate. Their Ice Cream truck was a pilothouse.......

 

Don't go buggy on this.

Jeff

I wonder how much cork it will take to stop up a fuel filter?

[HanksB3B]

Hank;

If you are going to use these sorts of photos......maybe Stacey Keach aka Sergent Standanko .......turning into a lizard in Cheech & Chongs Nice Dreams would be more appropriate. Their Ice Cream truck was a pilothouse.......

 

Don't go buggy on this.

Jeff

I wonder how much cork it will take to stop up a fuel filter?

 

No, unfortunately it was  a Chevy.

 

 

Now as far as your question "I wonder how much cork it will take to stop up a fuel filter?"

That's just not fair....something I'd picture a lawyer saying in court...I object on the premise "Calls for an opinion"

Judge: "Clerk strike this form the record.."

 

 

Hank 

[Jeff Balazs]

Hank;

I was alluding to the idea that it would not take too much crud like disintegrated cork to stop up the average fuel filter.

 

But really...and I am joking of course....go ahead and put a cork in it Hank.

 

Jeff

[HanksB3B]

Moderator,

 

I think we need a bigger  LOL   Icon 

 

Hank 

[Don Coatney]

Moderator,

 

I think we need a bigger  LOL   Icon 

 

Hank 

Here ya go

[John-T-53]

Aiight, Aiiight...

 

I took out my sender last summer, actually 2012, when I had the tank cleaned and sealed. Never had any prior issues with the gas gauge. The sender had the original cork, and like discussed here, appeared to have a sealer on it. Some of the sealer was worn off, but I just put it back in and still works fine. When the needle hits "E", I still run out of gas, lol.

 

Actually on the way back from the Clements BBQ last April, I almost made it there and back, plus another destination, on one tank. But ran out one block from my house. (lol again)