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Fricken fuel sending unit....and it get's even uglier -argh!!

cmayna

cmayna

DILLIGARA?
Donator
First I'll start off saying how much I'm looking forward in getting plastered at the upcoming Knotts. It might ease some pain even if its temporary.

Here we go:

After I put gas into Shag the gauge pegged out beyond Full. Didn't want to address it until today.
Did all the testing such as grounding the sending unit wire and it resulted in the gauge going to empty. Went onto Autometer's website and they kept talking about matching the ohm ranges of the gauge against the sending unit. I looked up the ohm range on the meter I have (#3517) and guess what? I fricked up big time.

It has a range of 0 empty to 30 full.

Hmmmmm better pull the sending unit and measure it. Well here goes my next ouch. When I pulled it out of the tank the filter sock was not attached to the sending unit.

:po :po :po :po :po :po :po :po :po :po :po

So there is another issue I need to deal with. Going fishing for a filter sock.

Nevertheless I measured the sending unit and get the typical 75 empty to 10 full.

Summary:

I need to buy Autometer's #3515 which has a range of 73 empty to 8-12 full.

Because of the loose sock, I'll need to get another sending unit. The guy at Autometer warned me about repro sending unit's linear range not be consistent like original ford sending units. So maybe I'll snoop for a used Ford original.



2the-bar!!!


173_21_08_09_4_49_33.jpg
 
When I bought this '66, the PO had the wrong gauge as you found. I got the right gauge and still I have a constant 3/8 to 3/4 tank reading. No drain plug so I have just waited....may tackle it this week. I can feel your pain.
 
Maybe I'm dense...you bought a 0-30 ohm sending unit, but when you measured it, you got the 73 to 10 ohm reading?
 
"Midlife" said:
Maybe I'm dense...you bought a 0-30 ohm sending unit, but when you measured it, you got the 73 to 10 ohm reading?
Click to expand...

The way I read it is the 0-30 was what the gauge he has is set for, the 73-10 is the sending unit he has.
 
I bought the 0-30 ohm gauge not realizing it's rating. If I remember, it was a series that was recommended by another Mustanger so I didn't even bother to look at the rating in ohms. My stupidy. Now I pay the price, not only of buying another gauge but more importantly tearing the bezel apart in order to get to the incorrect gauge.

 
Alternatively, you could change the sending unit by removing it, and have 12 gallons of gas run into your face.
 
"Midlife" said:
Alternatively, you could change the sending unit by removing it, and have 12 gallons of gas run into your face.
Click to expand...

Funny you should say that Mid....

Many will remember the blue 66 coupe I had, well it needed a new sending unit. I parked it on the slanted driveway at our house in Brawley, CA. It was a nice hot 90 degree February day. Nice and sunny. people out all over the block. I had run it down to close to empty I thought. I only put a few gallons in it over a week ago and drove it everyday to run out all the gas. I knocked on the tank and it felt empty. I tried the drain plug. 40 years of grunge and probably never been off. This thing was not going to budge. So I got a 5 gallon bucket and put it under the tank and removed the sending unit. As expected gas came running out. The bucket got full I was under the car with another bucket to get it under there just in case. The first bucket tipped over and the second bucket rolled out from under the car when the first bucket hit it and knocked it out of my hands.

Now there is gas everywhere and all over me. I can hardly go into the house and change, I have 10 gallons or more of gas on the driveway and sidewalk and gutter. I grab the hose and start to wash down the driveway, when one of the neighbors is walking toward my house. Guess what, he is smoking a cigarette. I know he can smell the gas and see the issue. He chucks the cigarette butt still light in the street. Dumb ass. I kept washing down everything including me! I have no idea where my fire extinguisher is and keep washing myself down. Lucky for me and him there was no fire, but I can say that my heart was beating 1000 MPH.

Close call, so Craig make sure it is empty. I would change the sending unit instead of the gauge.

Mel
 
Mel, That story cracked me up! :lol I'm sure it wasnt funny for you at the time but now you gotta laugh....
 
"guruatbol" said:
Funny you should say that Mid....

Many will remember the blue 66 coupe I had, well it needed a new sending unit. I parked it on the slanted driveway at our house in Brawley, CA. It was a nice hot 90 degree February day. Nice and sunny. people out all over the block. I had run it down to close to empty I thought. I only put a few gallons in it over a week ago and drove it everyday to run out all the gas. I knocked on the tank and it felt empty. I tried the drain plug. 40 years of grunge and probably never been off. This thing was not going to budge. So I got a 5 gallon bucket and put it under the tank and removed the sending unit. As expected gas came running out. The bucket got full I was under the car with another bucket to get it under there just in case. The first bucket tipped over and the second bucket rolled out from under the car when the first bucket hit it and knocked it out of my hands.

Now there is gas everywhere and all over me. I can hardly go into the house and change, I have 10 gallons or more of gas on the driveway and sidewalk and gutter. I grab the hose and start to wash down the driveway, when one of the neighbors is walking toward my house. Guess what, he is smoking a cigarette. I know he can smell the gas and see the issue. He chucks the cigarette butt still light in the street. Dumb ass. I kept washing down everything including me! I have no idea where my fire extinguisher is and keep washing myself down. Lucky for me and him there was no fire, but I can say that my heart was beating 1000 MPH.

Close call, so Craig make sure it is empty. I would change the sending unit instead of the gauge.

Mel
Click to expand...

I can see it all happen in front off me !
:lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol
That would be a hilarious video !!!
:lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol
 
"guruatbol" said:
Funny you should say that Mid....
Now there is gas everywhere and all over me. I can hardly go into the house and change, I have 10 gallons or more of gas on the driveway and sidewalk and gutter. I grab the hose and start to wash down the driveway, when one of the neighbors is walking toward my house. Guess what, he is smoking a cigarette. I know he can smell the gas and see the issue. He chucks the cigarette butt still light in the street. Dumb ass. I kept washing down everything including me! I have no idea where my fire extinguisher is and keep washing myself down. Lucky for me and him there was no fire, but I can say that my heart was beating 1000 MPH.

Close call, so Craig make sure it is empty. I would change the sending unit instead of the gauge.

Mel
Click to expand...

Did the tree huggers issue you a citation?
 
"guruatbol" said:
Close call, so Craig make sure it is empty. I would change the sending unit instead of the gauge.

Mel
Click to expand...

Mel, I only put in 5 gallons and after the break in + my various start ups, I know there's less than a couple gallons. Besides when I pulled the sending unit no gas came out. Also as I mentioned, the gauge I have is not the correct one. I have no choice but to replace it with one that has a similar ohm rating as the sending unit.
 
I was told by Summit that I could buy an aftermarket sending unit but it would be trial and error as to getting it set properly. I opted to mchange the gauge too but still no good reading. :sad
 
Had the same issue in the 65 and switched out the SW gauge to match the repro fuel sending unit.
Have the matching fuel sending unit that came with the original SW gauge and you can have it if you want it.
 
Thanks but unless it's a 69 sending unit, I need to keep looking. My tank is a '69 - 20 galloner
 
this too shall pass. maybe like a kidney stone but it will. Everything's going to be OK Craig. Just hang in there...
 
Craig is just grabbing at anything that comes along to not have to get that car on the road. 2012 will be here before you know it Craig :beat
 
Mind you gumpers, that yesterday I ordered the new "correct" gauge from summit, arriving today and that I have already installed it. Getting ready to reinstall the bezel back into the car. Now I'll drain the remaining driblets (like buening's medical problem) out of the tank so I can go fishing for the filter sock.

So, nan noo, nan noo to all of ya.
 
"jims6t6" said:
Did the tree huggers issue you a citation?
Click to expand...

No tickets! I guess I got lucky. At the time I wanted to crap my pants and was pretty stressed, but now I think about it and LMAO!

Mel
 
"cmayna" said:
Mind you gumpers, that yesterday I ordered the new "correct" gauge from summit, arriving today and that I have already installed it. Getting ready to reinstall the bezel back into the car. Now I'll drain the remaining driblets (like buening's medical problem) out of the tank so I can go fishing for the filter sock.

So, nan noo, nan noo to all of ya.
Click to expand...

Beware of the gas fumes , Craig !!!!
 
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