The Ford Barn

acchaplin · 03-12-2026, 04:02 AM

WOW! Some good engineering suggestions!

However, there is hardly any extra space (5/8"-3/4"?) between the top of the tank and the body on my application. OEM frame and tank, Brookville body.

Being a original '32 tank I did not want to drill any extra holes, weld, or recess the (finished) body floor.

It took a couple weeks of trial and error, not to forget cussing in 5 different languages, and 3' or so of 5/16" stailess tubing, I think I finally got a float-pick-up unit that will wotk.

1st off I started with a Stweart-Warner universal swing arm float-sending unit and vintage looking guage assembly. Dissambled the unit, welded up the 5 holes in the mounting plate, then re-drilled for the 6 hole 32 tank flange. Cut the float arm to length for the '32 tank depth. Got the completed assembly to fit in the '32 flange hole.

Next step, drill a 5/16" hole right beside the plate sending unit mount. This next part part took the longest, and was the most flustrating. (I really needed one of those very sharp mandrel bent 90's. No access to one) Tude Bending over and over until the completed pick up tube unit was less than a 1/4" from the bottom of the tank, cleared the soddered snding unit connections, had a 1/16" clearnace between the pick-up tube and tank, and the important part, about the same distance between top of unit and body. Plus! be able to carefully snake the completed seding unit-float arm-pick-up tube down in that dinky tank flange hole and the guage work! (whew!)

Soon as I get the unit back from the powder-coaters, then polish the exposed part of the pick up tube, I'll take some pictures. Thanks. (been a lot simpler, easier and quicker, if some aftermarket ouitfit offered one of these combination units)

03-12-2026, 04:02 AM	#17
acchaplin Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2023 Posts: 231	Re: '32 gas tank pick up and setwart-warner float WOW! Some good engineering suggestions! However, there is hardly any extra space (5/8"-3/4"?) between the top of the tank and the body on my application. OEM frame and tank, Brookville body. Being a original '32 tank I did not want to drill any extra holes, weld, or recess the (finished) body floor. It took a couple weeks of trial and error, not to forget cussing in 5 different languages, and 3' or so of 5/16" stailess tubing, I think I finally got a float-pick-up unit that will wotk. 1st off I started with a Stweart-Warner universal swing arm float-sending unit and vintage looking guage assembly. Dissambled the unit, welded up the 5 holes in the mounting plate, then re-drilled for the 6 hole 32 tank flange. Cut the float arm to length for the '32 tank depth. Got the completed assembly to fit in the '32 flange hole. Next step, drill a 5/16" hole right beside the plate sending unit mount. This next part part took the longest, and was the most flustrating. (I really needed one of those very sharp mandrel bent 90's. No access to one) Tude Bending over and over until the completed pick up tube unit was less than a 1/4" from the bottom of the tank, cleared the soddered snding unit connections, had a 1/16" clearnace between the pick-up tube and tank, and the important part, about the same distance between top of unit and body. Plus! be able to carefully snake the completed seding unit-float arm-pick-up tube down in that dinky tank flange hole and the guage work! (whew!) Soon as I get the unit back from the powder-coaters, then polish the exposed part of the pick up tube, I'll take some pictures. Thanks. (been a lot simpler, easier and quicker, if some aftermarket ouitfit offered one of these combination units)