Couple of Gas Gauge Questions Please

[ahoogakev]

Hello A gang; I have a couple questions please; first regarding the gas gauge; I've been reading the archives but cannot find an answer to this : Does anyone know if the original paint on the gas gauge numerals would resist modern gas?
Mine is in great shape, I'd love to re-use it as is, but if I dip it in gasoline and all the lettering washes off I would be quite sad!
This paint was a lacquer, according to the Steve Plucker Gas Gauge article I found online
( www.plucks329s.org/pdf/gastank/gas_guage.pdf thanks Mr. Plucker great article!)

My other question regards the horizontal line on the little face plate that goes in the gauge; according to the Judging Standards this line is " white nickel" with some being gold from mid 31 on ... was this gold line gold paint? Gold plated? Perhaps regular nickel plating which is somewhat goldish ? I looked up "white nickel" online and came up with this picture; is this the color the JS now thinks the line should be? If so I disagree; again refering to the Steve Plucker Gas Gauge article , on page 15 his image #26 shows a picture of one I do agree with more as to color, the degree of yellow on that image is about what I am seeing in my samples.
I also ordered a Repo face plate from my supplier, just to see what it looks like, to me its way too white, I think the line should be more yellow,are others finding yellow lines?
Hmm I see I may have a few more than a "couple" questions there, well perhaps someone is up to the challenge of answering just the same ; Thanks a lot! Kev

[mass A man]

For what it's worth, here's a photo of an original gas gauge assembly. I don't believe it's ever been apart. Seems to work fine, it's in my mostly original '31 narrow bed p.u. truck. The ring in question is not black, seems to be nickel plated. I don't see any gold line or any line for that matter. Pay no attention to the "too new" ammeter. I needed one in short order to run truck.

[d.j. moordigian]

Originally Posted by ahoogakev

I also ordered a Repo face plate from my supplier, just to see what it looks like, to me its way too white, I think the line should be more yellow,are others finding yellow lines?
Thanks a lot! Kev

Kev,
I assume you are working on a care with a round inner hole shield. The
yellowing, I think, is the old Nickel "yellowing", along with some gas residue.
Never thought about trying too polish an old one out(things to do). All of
mine are, 1928's, are too rusty.
Dudley

[FL&WVMIKE]

ahoogakev ................
Lacquer and shellac used to be gasoline proof. It still is, if there is no alcohol in it.
The Model "A" cork gasoline floats are coated in shellac to keep them from getting "gasoline-logged". The alcohol (ethonal) in today's gasoline is disolving these.
MIKE

[Marco Tahtaras]

I'm not sure why the word "white" was included. The typical plates were steel and the nickel line is typical nickel plate. I believe the repros are all made of aluminum so the whitish line you see I suspect is the aluminum. The pic below is from Jim Boehmke's August '31 Coupe. I don't know if I thought about it at the time I took this pic but it appears it may be aluminum. The "gold" line is obvious. Jim and I were both surprised.

[d.j. moordigian]

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Kev,

I found 2 shields here at work with plating on them. These were the later style
round hole design. A little polish on them and they shine like Nickel, were the
parent (base) metal had not been polished prior too plating.

For the gauge paint, model airplane Dope, should say " hot fuel proof ".

[ahoogakev]

Thank you all for your replies, Yes I am aware of the ethanol and shellac problems ( I can get around that ) the gold line on mine did surprise me too and looks like Jims (just not nearly so prestine as Jims example, in fact I have so little line left on any of mine it does not photograph well but I can see it by eye) Marco the interesting thing is one of mine is an OVAL with a gold line; I believe oval = 1929? Thus it would imply gold was used on at least some from 29 on if I have that right ( and thats a CDN car too another variable) My other is a round one I believe Aug 30 also showing gold same as my 31.
I am going to get brave and dip one of my gauges into modern gas, if the paint all falls off I will let you know!!! Thats the real test,ha ha! Thanks a lot Kev.

[329s]

Originally Posted by Marco Tahtaras

I'm not sure why the word "white" was included. The typical plates were steel and the nickel line is typical nickel plate. I believe the repros are all made of aluminum so the whitish line you see I suspect is the aluminum. The pic below is from Jim Boehmke's August '31 Coupe. I don't know if I thought about it at the time I took this pic but it appears it may be aluminum. The "gold" line is obvious. Jim and I were both surprised.

The FORD Part Release said "White Nickel" so that is why it was stated as such in the article.

Pluck

[d.j. moordigian]

Well...what is it..."white"...OR..."Whint"....!!

[d.j. moordigian]

Originally Posted by Marco Tahtaras

I'm not sure why the word "white" was included. The typical plates were steel and the nickel line is typical nickel plate. I believe the repros are all made of aluminum so the whitish line you see I suspect is the aluminum. The pic below is from Jim Boehmke's August '31 Coupe. I don't know if I thought about it at the time I took this pic but it appears it may be aluminum. The "gold" line is obvious. Jim and I were both surprised.

Marco...is the Gold on top of the Black? Or the other way? I would think
below. Is/was the Gold "transparent" or a solid?

[Steve Plucker]

Originally Posted by d.j. moordigian

Well...what is it..."white"...OR..."Whint"....!!

WHITE Can't change as I am at a different computer.

Pluck

[d.j. moordigian]

Thanks Steve,
Looked up " whint" in Google for 3-4 pages...

[ahoogakev]

Hi Dj; The gold is a solid not transparent and you are correct it is directly on top of the steel ; at least that is how it is on my summer 1930 car; perhaps others were different, Kev.

[d.j. moordigian]

Kev,

Gezzz,..one last question...is your original "Nickel plated"?

Dudley

[329s]

Originally Posted by fordgarage

Huh? You can edit any of your posts from any computer.

Huh??????

Maybe so Vince but I am not as smart as you are to do so especially when I am not at the original computer where I typed the original answer but I am now so it is changed.

Thank you.

Pluck

[d.j. moordigian]

Originally Posted by Marco Tahtaras

I'm not sure why the word "white" was included. The typical plates were steel and the nickel line is typical nickel plate.

Marco or Doug,
I know this is nit picking, but I need to know.
I believe the shields were Nickeled on non-polished raw steel.
Would this be a correct statement?

Thanks, Dudley

[olcurmdgeon]

Sorry to hijack the thread somewhat but it is at least one from this year. New to Model A's, never had one before. Now I have a '31 pickup. Is it normal to "see" the gasoline level in the bullseye when tank level coincides with float/gauge level in the tank?

[Tom Wesenberg]

Originally Posted by olcurmdgeon

Sorry to hijack the thread somewhat but it is at least one from this year. New to Model A's, never had one before. Now I have a '31 pickup. Is it normal to "see" the gasoline level in the bullseye when tank level coincides with float/gauge level in the tank?

Yes, when the tank is just under full you can see the gas line in the guage glass. To work on (remove) the guage be sure the gas tank is only half full or less.

[olcurmdgeon]

Thanks Tom, appreciate it.

[Jerry Parr WI]

Originally Posted by FL&WVMIKE

ahoogakev ................
Lacquer and shellac used to be gasoline proof. It still is, if there is no alcohol in it.
The Model "A" cork gasoline floats are coated in shellac to keep them from getting "gasoline-logged". The alcohol (ethonal) in today's gasoline is disolving these.
MIKE

I have often heard this but do not believe it. The shellac does not prevent the cork from absorbing gasoline but rather prevents it from drying out. As long as the cork remains wet it will continue to float. I have cars I replaced the floats over 40 years ago and have only run only gasoline with alcohol as long as its been available. They are still afloat. Model A's that stopped being driven long before alcohol in the gas have corks that sink because they have dried out. Consider the cork in a wine bottle. Stored with the cork down so it stays wet so it does not dry out and shrink.