gas guage reads wrong

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Oct 8, 2004 | 07:34 PM

billb7984

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gas guage reads wrong

Hello guys
I have a 47 that I am finished with rebuilding,yes it was a chore,but I had fun doing it.My question is I put in a new sending unit in my gas tank,but when I am empty my tank reads 1/4 full ,should I bend that long arm on the sending unit ,and if you say yes ,then which way do I bend it ,and how much.
By the way I get more looks driving my 47 ford truck then I do when I drive my corvette!!!!!!!!!

thanks for the help and have a good weekend Bill

Oct 8, 2004 | 11:24 PM

46yblock

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From: Southern Oregon

Gas gauge

I don't mean any offense, but is the gauge and sending unit stock, or is one or the other aftermarket? The stock sending unit with an aftermarket gauge most likely won't work.

Oct 10, 2004 | 05:47 PM

billb7984

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The guage is stock,but the sending unit is aftermarket.When I put gas in the tank the gauge will go closer to the full mark,but when the gauge shows 1/4 tank I am pretty close to empty in the tank.I was wondering if I could bend that long arm on my sending unit to make it work.And what way would I bend it up or down????????

thanks for the reply

Oct 10, 2004 | 11:18 PM

46yblock

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From: Southern Oregon

I think the problem is one of incompatibility between sender and gauge. However, just in case it is not, try bending or adjusting the arm on the sending unit upwards, the idea being that it has a full arc of movement between full and empty conditions. In its current state of adjustment, perhaps the float is resting on the bottom of the tank prematurely, when empty. Mike

Oct 11, 2004 | 06:51 PM

billb7984

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Hey Mike
thanks for the imformation on the sending unit,I will try bending it in a little while,I have another project going right now I am gonna restore a 69 corvette that is in VERY bad shape ,I just got it running today ,it hasnt been running since 1984 .I am gonna take a few yrs on this one!!!!!!!!!

thanks again Bill

Oct 12, 2004 | 10:21 AM

3Mike6

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From: Oakdale,Ca.

If I understand your problem correclt, you cannot read "full" or "empty"?, if so, then bendiong the arm will not help.

What I would do is pull the unit, and test full up/dwn on the wiper/rod and watch the gauge...you'll need to have it grounded (sending unit).

Another thing is while the sending unit is out, check resistance for up and down, compare to what the shop manual says it could be...i/e you may need 0-50 ohms, and you have 0-75ohm unit.

Oct 12, 2004 | 06:32 PM

billb7984

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Hello there
Yes my gas gauge will read full .and also empty,the problem is when my gauge shows that I have a 1/4 tank of gas ,my tank is really empty!!11