I just picked up an 88 xlt 4x4 for $300, great little truck so far. Needs a ps pump, rear hangers/shackles, and the fuel gauge doesn't work. I'm just wondering if there may be anything common on these trucks that might cause this. I'm working midnights so I can't just go look right now (basically got it home and now I'm leaving). I'll probably be checking it out tommorrow.

 

Yeah the only thing i can think of would be the float or the gauge its self

 

If the wiring & gauge check out, before pulling the bed for a fuel pump/sender change out, maybe consider trying a couple tanks of Techron Concentrate Plus treated gas, to see if it might be sender corrosion from fuel with more sulfer content than allowed, used in the past. Chevron claims Techron will clean up & prevent corrosion on fuel sending units.

A few years back, Shell & fuel Marketers that bought base fuel from Shell, let some gas hit the market with high levels of sulfur, that took out fuel pumps & sender units, so if the previous owner was known to use Shell gas in the mid 2000's, I'd maybe give the Techron treatment a try & see what happens. The least you'd get is a good clean fuel system, injectors, intake valves & combustion chambers & just maybe if your lucky, a working gas gauge, if sender corrosion is your problem.

More thoughts for consideration, let us know how it goes.