11-26-2020, 07:51 PM | #1 |
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Fuel tank
Hi guys, happy Thanksgiving to all. I have a question about changing my sending unit on my 55 Ford Victoria. I was in my good clothes today but had the idea to pull out my sending unit, knowing there was a little cover in the trunk floor would make it easy. I took the cover off and the sending unit wire just went forward out of sight, no sending unit in sight. Do I need to pull the tank or can I just jack the car up and get to it that way. Thanks. Old guy
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11-26-2020, 08:46 PM | #2 |
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Re: Fuel tank
Sounds like you have something other that an original type tank. Only option is to drop the tank.
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11-26-2020, 09:46 PM | #3 |
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Re: Fuel tank
On my 55 sedan, the sender was right under the little door in the trunk floor. Had the sender out more than one time.
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11-27-2020, 09:44 AM | #4 |
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Re: Fuel tank
Thanks Paul2748 and Ole Don, I'll jack it up and find out what's going on. old guy rich
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11-27-2020, 04:50 PM | #5 |
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Re: Fuel tank
The hole in the gas tank for the sending unit is aligned with the trunk floor round access cover. If there is nothing there when you remove that cover, someone has swapped to a different gas tank, but I would be concerned in that instance that the wire terminal for the sending unit on that tank may be hitting the underside of the trunk floor (unless it has a deep recess in the tank that places the terminal below to level of the top of the tank).
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11-27-2020, 06:22 PM | #6 |
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Re: Fuel tank
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11-27-2020, 08:16 PM | #7 |
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Re: Fuel tank
That ain't right. Somebody adapted a different tank. There's no way you can access the sender except to drop the tank.
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11-27-2020, 09:28 PM | #8 |
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Re: Fuel tank
I will drop the tank at some point Dobie, the filler neck is in perfect position and I haven't had any issues filling the tank. Had the car for 17 years. Thanks. old guy
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11-28-2020, 06:52 PM | #9 |
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Re: Fuel tank
It's not the right tank. If need be, reproduction tanks are offered by many of the repro parts suppliers. Now you need to verify if someone has adapted the original sending unit to that tank somewhere or installed a newer type of sensor AND if the sensor is actually compatible with your gauge. If they have a later style sending unit, it is possible that the fuel guage in your dashboard isn't original either. Not that originality matters, but are the sender and guage compatible with each other? That's the big question.
Also has your car been converted to 12-volts, if so, the best way to convert the system is to get a '56 sending unit (direct bolt-in to original tank) with no modifications AND a '56 fuel guage. Remove faceplate and needle from '56 guage and replace with faceplate and needle from an original '55 guage. No need to add a voltage regulator to the '56 fuel guage input wiring. Sorry to open huge can of worms on you! P.S. Need to fix rust-holes in trunk floor and re-paint both sides before re-installing tank. Hehe. |
11-28-2020, 09:30 PM | #10 | |
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Re: Fuel tank
Quote:
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11-28-2020, 11:21 PM | #11 | |
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Re: Fuel tank
Quote:
The original fuel gauge and sender work best when they're a year matched pair. Because of the unusual way the oem '55 parts were made (heat sensitive switching contacts in the sender, not variable resistance) new 'replacements' often don't work as well as promised, esp if paired with an original part. Good used original parts may be difficult to find. |
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11-30-2020, 10:13 AM | #12 | |
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Re: Fuel tank
Quote:
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12-02-2020, 03:22 AM | #13 |
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Re: Fuel tank
Your sending unit in a '55 tank should be located like this https://www.ebay.com/itm/1955-Ford-G...wAAOSwzThcAVRX The 55-56 tanks are used in 52-54 Fords at times because they are harder to come by and twice as expensive as the 55-56 tanks. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Gas-tank-fo...IAAOSwXVNbWc5d Notice the difference in location of the senders.
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12-03-2020, 06:26 PM | #14 |
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Re: Fuel tank
Here's one way to fix it. After getting an actual '55/56 Ford car gas tank, get an original '55 car sending unit (maybe from epay, Hemmings Motor news or other popular parts sales sources).
Remove fuel guage from your instrument cluster and make a little box to protect the needle from damage and include it along with the sending unit to one of the instrument specialists like Bob's Speedometer, or Williamsons Instruments Inc. with a letter enclosed explaining that the guage works but may need to be re-calibrated with the sending unit and that the condition of the sending unit is unknown and should be tested. Let them know if you need any cosmetic work done on the parts too (they are very good at asthetic restoration as well as mech/elec). If your vehicle is a sedan or hardtop, get a sending unit from a sedan or hardtop and NOT from a wagon and vice-versa. The cars and wagons have different length sending unit float arms which will effect fuel level at the guage. |
12-05-2020, 02:37 PM | #15 |
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Re: Fuel tank
With the filler tube in the correct position, but the sending unit not lined up with the access cover, you might have a 56 tank under a 55 car. Compare the sending unit mounting location of the 55 tank referenced in JeffB2’s link above to the location shown for a 56 tank shown in this listing. https://www.ebay.com/itm/1956-Ford-P...-/232981542670
The 55 sending unit is closer to the front of the car. |
12-06-2020, 01:43 AM | #16 |
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Re: Fuel tank
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12-06-2020, 05:48 PM | #17 |
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Re: Fuel tank
Wonder how hard it would be to convert to a side fill for my SD?
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12-06-2020, 08:58 PM | #18 |
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Re: Fuel tank
Shouldn't be too difficult. In my '27 roadster I'm running a Geo Metro gas tank under the turtle deck. I had a local radiator shop move the filler neck to the center of the tank. I think he said he silver soldered a plate over the factory hole on the left and then attached a filler neck in the center. Total cost was $50.
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