Fuel tank replacement
More Turbo
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 633
Likes: 84
From: AL
I learned this the hard way. Ordered a new tank and sending unit from Ebay for $108 shipped. Tank looked great, as did sending unit. Checked sending unit before I put it in and it checked out ok. Installed and it won't work. Wiring verified, gauge verified. Just for some reason when it got in fuel it was no go. I know NPD sells one that about $60, maybe it will be worth a count.
More Turbo
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 514
Likes: 27
ebay can help.
I buy tanks new with blemishes on Ebay. i can wait for a deal, but usually they're available. Spectra Premium is the go-to brand as they might be a little better tank than a no-name tank. I bought my last sending unit from Jeffs Bronco Graveyard. On one tank I splurged and got a NOS OEM sender. Problem is you pay twice for NOS.
R.
R.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 9,599
Likes: 1,172
From: San Jose, CA
The sending unit issue is a long-standing one though, even before they were all made in China. My original '71 dual tank senders read the same consistently (never over 3/4 full, and empty was right at the E line) so I bought two brand new from Ford in about '78 or '79. Both of those read exactly the same as the originals!
So I pulled the old ones back out of the trash, tweaked them back and forth until they read properly, and used them for years until I got larger replacement tanks with the standard aftermarket sending units. Tweaked those too though, so they read almost as proper as the originals.
Lesson here is always connect the sending unit to the wires before you install in tank. Move the arm through it's paces to verify it's going to read properly, then put it all together.
Going to be installing a 45gal rear tank in my '79 soon, and even though I have the same type of "universal Ford" sending unit, I am wanting to try one of those vertical cylindrical type that Classic Instruments sells.
We have them for our M1A1 tank for Broncos, but they're too short so I will see if they have what I need and give it a shot. Hopefully...
Paul
So I pulled the old ones back out of the trash, tweaked them back and forth until they read properly, and used them for years until I got larger replacement tanks with the standard aftermarket sending units. Tweaked those too though, so they read almost as proper as the originals.
Lesson here is always connect the sending unit to the wires before you install in tank. Move the arm through it's paces to verify it's going to read properly, then put it all together.
Going to be installing a 45gal rear tank in my '79 soon, and even though I have the same type of "universal Ford" sending unit, I am wanting to try one of those vertical cylindrical type that Classic Instruments sells.
We have them for our M1A1 tank for Broncos, but they're too short so I will see if they have what I need and give it a shot. Hopefully...
Paul
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