fuel sending unit question

[MarcDeSoto]

Well, I finally removed the fuel sending unit from the trunk of my 48 DeSoto.  The sending unit is toast, since it's 72 years old!  Ever seen a 72 year old cork that's been sitting in stale gas forever!  What is the going price for these sending units.  I know Ebay has them for $89 plastic float, and $99 real cork float, and free shipping.  Does anyone sell the same thing for less?  

[Go Fleiter]

Bernbaums sells tank uniuts for 85$.

https://www.oldmoparts.com/parts-fuel.aspx (scroll down a bit)

I got mine 2 years ago, this one had no cork float. Don´t remember what kind of,

but seemed trustworthy.

The old one was cork  and couldn´t swim any more.

Be sure to have the hole gas- tight, as gas may flood out when filling the tube above!

Greetings from Düsseldorf!

Go

 

[plymouthcranbrook]

I bought one from a parts reseller in Pa. about five years ago for $65.00

[etzmolch]

I replaced the old cork float with a plastic type from yunk yard with approx. same size. Cutted both steel wires and soldering the "new" one with a smale sleve to the old steel wire. Works fine. 

[Sniper]

I was in my local Ace the other day getting hardware for a project I was building.  They sell corks there. 

[Plymouthy Adams]

Personally I like the modern pivoting floats as found on most newer senders today...these are so easily adapted to any old or newer unit and allow you to replace any damaged, shrunk or deteriorated cork.  

[MarcDeSoto]

On 6/22/2020 at 5:14 AM, Sniper said:

I was in my local Ace the other day getting hardware for a project I was building.  They sell corks there. 

You don't mean corks for sending units do you?  You probably mean wine bottle corks.  

[Sniper]

All I know is they are corks.  I sure wouldn't use them in anything touching food or drink though. 

[Sam Buchanan]

A cork float fuel cap gauge is common in some of the antique aircraft. I've purchased corks at the hardware store (Lowes the last time I needed them) and after they are sealed with a thin coat of tank sealant (in the olden days shellac was used) they will last several years. I see no reason why this wouldn't work with an automotive sender if someone was determined to save an old sender. The photo shows two corks working in tandem.

 

Edited June 25, 2020 by Sam Buchanan

[harveyspoint]

Marc....I had the same problem....Cork floats are sealed at the factory with shellac...Alcohol is the solvent for shellac...Most gasoline used now has alcohol

in it....Don't put a new cork float in...Snyders Antique Auto Parts in New Springfield, Ohio, ( Model A & T's), sells, for a few dollars , a float for a Model A Ford,

that is some kind of plastic and is guaranteed to never absorb gasoline...I bought 2 for my '47 Plymouth Coupe....They are slightly shorter than the Plymouth 

float, so I thought if one is good, two have got to be better....I'm 87, so it saved me a lot of hair pulling, as I don't have much to spare...Works like a charm...

[Young Ed]

1 hour ago, harveyspoint said:

Marc....I had the same problem....Cork floats are sealed at the factory with shellac...Alcohol is the solvent for shellac...Most gasoline used now has alcohol

in it....Don't put a new cork float in...Snyders Antique Auto Parts in New Springfield, Ohio, ( Model A & T's), sells, for a few dollars , a float for a Model A Ford,

that is some kind of plastic and is guaranteed to never absorb gasoline...I bought 2 for my '47 Plymouth Coupe....They are slightly shorter than the Plymouth 

float, so I thought if one is good, two have got to be better....I'm 87, so it saved me a lot of hair pulling, as I don't have much to spare...Works like a charm...

Thanks for that. I am just about to order the same part from macs