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1987 - 1996 F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks 1987 - 1996 Ford F-150, F-250, F-350 and larger pickups - including the 1997 heavy-duty F250/F350+ trucks

fuel sending unit

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Old Aug 16, 2004 | 11:31 PM
  #1  
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From: va
fuel sending unit

I have a 1987 f150 4.9 with dual fuel tanks. Where is the fuel sending unit located?
 
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Old Aug 17, 2004 | 05:31 AM
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clava
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From: Murray, Ky
On my 95 F-150 with dual tanks, the sending unit is attached to the fuel pump. On accessible by dropping the gas tank.

Clava

1995 Ford F-150 4x4 E4OD ext cab 5.8 188,000

Have you driven a Ford lately?
 
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Old Aug 17, 2004 | 08:08 AM
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Thanks Clava. How can i remove the fuel pump and sending unit when the locking ring is rusted? So far I tried penatraing oil. Has anyone tried cutting the tank with a saws all to get to the pump and sending unit? I dont think i can heat it up with a torch because it would ment the plastic parts.
 
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Old Aug 17, 2004 | 08:09 AM
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From: va
rusted fuel pump locking ring

Thanks Clava. How can i remove the fuel pump and sending unit when the locking ring is rusted? So far I tried penatraing oil. Has anyone tried cutting the tank with a saws all to get to the pump and sending unit? I dont think i can heat it up with a torch because it would melt the plastic parts.
 
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Old Aug 17, 2004 | 08:32 AM
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larry derouin
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From: Glen Burnie Maryland
Very carefully! USE A BRASS DRIFT PUNCH and a Plastic ended or a brass hammer (NON SPARKING!!!!!!!) There should be 3 or 4 tabs to tap against on the locking ring. It's gonna take some time and patience. Start on one tab, give 3-4 blows so the ring rotates ANTI CLOCKWISE and move in a ANTI clockwise to the next tab, repeating the blows. Rotate around the ring until it unlocks.

DO NOT USE A SAWZALL or a TORCH! Unless you want to be the last man on the moon!
 
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Old Aug 17, 2004 | 08:38 AM
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frederic
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From: New Jersey
If you don't have a brass hammer and a brass punch handly, you can use a block of wood. Wood doesn't spark either. Thats how I got mine off. I used a 3/4" hardwood dowel I had sitting in the garage and a large rubber mallot (normally used for body work) and beat it off that way.

Do yourself a favor and use the motorcraft replacement part for $35, do not use a generic substitute. Its worth the $5 price difference, considering the amount of work involved to drop the tank and all.
 
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Old Aug 17, 2004 | 09:31 AM
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Thanks guys Which Motorcraft ( Ford) part do you mean the locking ring?
 
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Old Aug 17, 2004 | 09:41 AM
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From: va
No luck with three blows with a block of wood i brock off the three tabs. Does the fuel pump and sending unit come in a kit? If not will I need a fuel pump a fuel sending unit, locking ring, gasket and a strainer anything else?? Will aftermarket parts work?
 
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Old Aug 17, 2004 | 05:24 PM
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clava
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From: Murray, Ky
Hey Mike L.
As the other guys said, do NOT use a anything other than a brass drift(rod) or a hardwood dowel. Regular steel pipe, punch, etc, can cause a spark.
And we all know what happens when gas and a spark get together. The fuel gage locking ring is held down by 4 tabs from an outer ring. The inner ring just needs to be turned enough so it is freed from the bent down tabs of the outer ring. Do the following only if you have a brass rod or something else that bend the tabs back with out the possibliy of a spark. If the inner ring will not move at all after several attempts, you can take pair of needle nose vise grips and slightly lift the part of the tab holding the inner ring. Do this gently and don't bend the tabs too much.
When you put the fuel pump back in, turn the inner ring so it will again be held by the tabs you bent upward. Next take the brass rod and tap the tabs back down so they have a good grip on the inner ring.
Be sure you have a fire extinquisher which will put out a gasoline fire handy.
Have the pin out and close by, so it will be ready. I don't want to scare you but it is better to be safe than sorry.
Clava

Have you driven a Ford lately?

1995 F-150 4x4 ext cab 5.8 E4OD
 
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Old Aug 17, 2004 | 05:58 PM
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From: va
removing fuel pump

http://www.partsamerica.com/PartDeta...ype=52&PTSet=A

Is this what the fuel pump looks like? i was trying to find a price and picture of a locking ring is that what its called? So the fuel pump locks onto the ring and the ring locks onto the tank?
 
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Old Aug 17, 2004 | 06:15 PM
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From: Murray, Ky
Mike L.,

Yes , that looks like mine. Go to Autozone's website. They have a very good brakedown of the tank and fuel pump. It shows a diagram with an exploded view of the whole thing.

Clava
 
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Old Aug 17, 2004 | 06:53 PM
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From: va
I found a diagram of the locking ringin my manual. I dont need the fuel tank so i think ill bend up the five tabs on the tank that hold down the locking ring. What parts should i replace on my (140,000 miles) orginal fuel pump assembly before i install it in my new tank? Autozone fuel pumps had a note to replace the strainer and filter, is there a filter in the fuel tank? Or are they talking about the reg. fuel filter? At Autozone I couldn't find a diagram of the fuel pump master assembly , i only found the fuel tanks
 
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Old Aug 17, 2004 | 07:49 PM
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clava
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From: Murray, Ky
The new fuel pump I put in my tank came from Autozone. It came with a new strainer. They must be talking about the fuel filter. I replaced mine about a year ago.

Clava
 
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Old Aug 17, 2004 | 08:06 PM
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clava
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From: Murray, Ky
The new fuel pump costs from $129.99 at Autozone to $259.00 at my local Ford dealer. The Zone pump has a limited lifetime warranty.
I'm sure that the one from Ford is better than the one from Zone. But the tightwad in me bought the pump from Zone. The new pump came with gaskets, strainer and instructions. The sending unit is sold separately.
Its been in since Saturday. So far, so good.

Clava
 
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Old Aug 17, 2004 | 11:03 PM
  #15  
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From: va
Removing fuel pum locking ring

Thanks guys!! I got the locking ring off!! I had no luck with tapping it counter clockwise it was to rusted. I broke all the four tabs off the ring and could not bent up the five fuel tank tabs. I had to put a flat tiped straight up into the five slots of the locking ring and pull down the screw driver until i bent the locking ring up. I'm going to reuse my fuel pump assembly on a new tank. I think all i need now is a new fuel pump gasket and a locking ring.
 
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