Original 1940 fuel sender new tank

[my2nd40]

I had to replace my original 1940 fuel tank with a reproduction tank. My original fuel sending unit and gauge work perfectly but the original sender wont fit the new tank. Where can I buy an adapter for the tank so I can use the original sender. I've read that the new senders don't work well with original fuel gauges. Thanks

[TJ]

Check with Yogi's in Iowa as I think they may have them.

[HD Rider]

https://www.yogisinc.com/YSA65

[deuce_roadster]

You can also make your own. Simple piece of sheet metal with a big hole in the middle and 2 sets of mounting holes.

[my2nd40]

Ok yogis is for adapting a six hole to a five hole. Won’t work because the original ford sender is six hole too. A sheet metal piece won’t work either too thin.
The adapter that would work will have to be 3/8” thick to raise the sender up. The genuine 40 sender is to big for the hole in the new repro tank.
I can make one, but I sure thought someone had them available, maybe not.

[19Fordy]

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Make something like this:
https://www.tanksinc.com/index.cfm/p...prod/prd99.htm
However, make it a closed ring with clearance holes that match your 40 bolt pattern.

If there is a marine outfitter near you or a plastic supply that cuts Starboard, stop by and ask them for a small piece that you can use as spacer. It cuts real easy and is not affected by gasolene.
https://www.boatoutfitters.com/mater...caAhEGEALw_wcB

[ford38v8]

You are correct in that the original sender is a keeper, but do change out the float, particularly if yours is of cork, as ethanol fuel will dissolve the varnish and sink the float.

[Old Magnet]

One of these?
https://www.speedwaymotors.com/Speed...0aAhjSEALw_wcB

[tubman]

Originally Posted by Old Magnet

One of these?
https://www.speedwaymotors.com/Speed...0aAhjSEALw_wcB

That adapts the wrong way (new sender to old tank). It could probably be modified to work, though.

[Old Magnet]

So is there an adapter to allow old six hole to those new tanks? Is it just a matter of elevation to clear or is it just that the hole is to small?

[TJ]

If you use the Yogi's or Speedway adapter You can drill out the holes and countersink them to mount the adapter to the 5 holes in the new tank. Then use the 6 holes for the old sender. You will have to cut new threads in the 6 holes and use oversize screws to fasten the old sender. Call Speedway or Yogi's and ask if this can be done.

[tubman]

Or you could heli-coil the oversize holes in the adapter if they are too big. I have used 10-32 heli-coils to fix stripped threads in 94 carburetor bodies with great success. It looks like the Speedway piece has enough "meat".

[Old Magnet]

Hard to believe no one is already making the required adapter!

[40ford]

Originally Posted by my2nd40

I had to replace my original 1940 fuel tank with a reproduction tank. My original fuel sending unit and gauge work perfectly but the original sender wont fit the new tank. Where can I buy an adapter for the tank so I can use the original sender. I've read that the new senders don't work well with original fuel gauges. Thanks

Just wondering where you got your tank from?My tank came from Drakes and for some reason I don't remember having an issue with sending unit just very tight to get in past frame rails.

[Fred A]

Can you not do anything with the original tank? I brought three tanks to the LB T swap meet. These are tanks and sending units from long stored '40s, mostly from the sixties. At twenty bucks they didn't get a glance. When I leaned them against the trash at the end of the day, they disappeared quickly. I must have hit the right price point. I've had great luck with the old tanks, as long as I gave them away. Good Luck: Fred A

[Pete pa]

I got a tank from Tank's INC. and had the same problem. It has two holes in the top of the tank a 5 screw hole and a 6 screw hole. The 5 screw hole I couldn't even get the float for the sender in it. The 6 screw hole, has the fuel pickup and return tubes mounting plate in it, the bolt holes don't line up with the sender so the holes would have to be drilled to make it work. After paying close to $300.00 with shipping for a tank that needs to be repaired to use, I just fixed my original tank and sealed it.

[Old Magnet]

That finally answers my question. There's just no fitting the original float through the 5 hole opening. Could the 6 hole opening receive an adapter that would match the original sender?
Other wise there are a lot of junk new tanks out there as far as using original senders.

[19Fordy]

As the two previous posts reveal: It's a shame that aftermarket gas tank manufacturers won't make their tanks to accomodate both the old and new sending units or at least provide an adapter ring that fits the old and new sending units and allows the float to be inserted into the tank.

It wouldn't be difficult to to so. It's not rocket science.

[rich b]

Easy to use the Tanks mounting ring in @19Fordy's earlier post #6. Locate a good location for the sender (look thru the existing sender and pick-up holes), layout the sender and screw holes using the new ring making sure to clock the screw holes properly, use a hole saw for the center hole, drill clearance holes for the six screws, clean out the shavings, spiral the ring inside the hole and secure with sewing thread thru a couple of the mount holes, install the sender and gasket with a couple screws, cut and remove the sewing thread, install the rest of the screws, and tighten down.

I've added sender holes to boat tanks along with putting countless heaters in diesel and hydraulic tanks using this method, with never a problem.

[19Fordy]

rich b: That's a great idea. Please clarify one question.
After you use have the adapter ring inserted inside the tank and the sending unit screwed to the adapter ring and the sewing thread removed, what prevents the adapter ring from falling into the tank when you have to remove the sending unit?

Is the adapter ring held in place inside the tank by a different set of screws than those used to secure the sending unit in place? Or, is the adapter ring held in place with the original 6 screws that secured the OEM sending unit? If so, this means the adapter ring would have to be drilled and tapped for it's own set of 6 screws so that the sending unit could be secured to the adapter ring inside the tank. The end result would be that the OEM sending unit would slipped thru the hole, indexed and be screwed to a set of 6 new threaded holes in the adapter ring.