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Old 04-02-2020, 01:11 PM   #1
johndee138
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Default reliable fuel gauge? anyone?

I don't know about you guys, but I've been thorough a number of fuel gauge senders that were "supposed" to work correctly but didn't. At this point I'm willing to look at anything that can be regarded as reliable and the appearance be damned. I can hide the gauge face somewhere and even if its in the trunk, at least it will let me know where I stand.
I have 1 1/2" oil pressure and water temp gauges mounted in the glove box and drive with the door open to monitor those circuits.
Suggestions anyone?
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Old 04-02-2020, 01:46 PM   #2
tubman
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Default Re: reliable fuel gauge? anyone?

My first suggestion would be to familiarize yourself with the "KIng-Seeley" system and how it works if you are not already familiar with it. Fords used this system, which is quite unlike anything else and "regular" sending units (yes, even those supplied by some Ford parts vendors) won't work right.
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Old 04-02-2020, 02:18 PM   #3
40cpe
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Default Re: reliable fuel gauge? anyone?

Several gauge manufacturers offer after market fuel gauges. The important piece of buying is to be sure that the gauge and sender are compatible. The ohm rating of the gauge must coincide with he ohm rating of the sender. If you know the ohm range of the sender in your tank, you might shop for gauges with the same rating. If you want to match manufacturer of the gauges you have in your car, you might have to buy a sender to match. I have Sunpro gauges for Fuel, Temp, Oil Pressure, Volts, and two for Temperature in my '38 and am confident I get reliable readings. If your car is 6V your selection might not be so plentiful.
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Old 04-02-2020, 06:49 PM   #4
JayChicago
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Default Re: reliable fuel gauge? anyone?

And the float arm on a universal aftermarket sender needs to be adjusted to properly reflect the tank it’s going into.
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Old 04-02-2020, 07:00 PM   #5
19Fordy
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Default Re: reliable fuel gauge? anyone?

johndee: Your frustration is understood. Please post photos of the parts in question and the year, make and model of your vehicle. Some Fordbarner might have what you need or be able to offer a solution.
Do you still have the OEM sending unit and gauge?
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Old 04-02-2020, 07:02 PM   #6
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Default Re: reliable fuel gauge? anyone?

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If you are going to use an aftermarket gauge and sender you will need an adapter to adapt the sender to the stock tank. Get the sender from the same manufacturer as the gauge. Put the gas gauge in the cowl panel so you can see it from the driver's seat. I don't know if you are 6 or 12 volt. If 12 volt you are good to go with the aftermarket fuel gauge. If you are still 6 volt I would try to find an original sender and have it rebuilt. That way you use your stock gauge and don't have to add any more gauges.
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Old 04-02-2020, 08:13 PM   #7
tubman
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Default Re: reliable fuel gauge? anyone?

Aftermarket stuff? Sorry about the "King-Seeley" remark; I thought this was an early Ford forum.

I don't speak "Street Rod", so I'll bow out.
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Old 04-02-2020, 09:48 PM   #8
56markII
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Default Re: reliable fuel gauge? anyone?

Sometimes you don't have any options other than after market! After 35 years of having a weeping fuel tank and from the fitting for the fuel line due to some idiot over torquing the fitting and cracking the soldered joint on my 50 Mercury I saw an exact (except for the sender grrrrrr!) reproduction from Tanks Inc. This makes me shake my head because the banana in tech support said " I have info from a reliable source that a 75 ohm sender is required". My comment is your source is BS and 30-40 ohms is proper because my system is stock 6 volts and running perfect but thanks to your bright idea of not manufacturing it to support OEM parts forced me to purchase an incorrect sender!! I spent much time tanking my original with the key on and measured the resistance at various indicated levels on the gauge in an attempt to tame this gauge! Due to the excessive resistance my tank shows the fuel level drop faster than it really is and greatly reduces the effective range of the float arm! It took many attempts of bending, adjusting the length etc. but in reality I will end up placing a resister in parallel to reduce the resistance of this sender. Get ahold of somebody who has a good sender and get resistance specs at full, empty, 1/4, 3/4 etc. and go from there. My original tank has a 6 bolt pattern and the POS replacement gauge is 5 and meanwhile other manufacturers have both or OEM options on the sender mount! When going through this mess also don't let your gauge peg excessively in one extreme or the other as well because this could damage the gauge!
Oh and if I would have totally removed the tank from the car and stood it on end my success would have been better than attempting to solder with the solder being able to flow down and off instead of on end and allowing the molton solder to pool and cool!
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Old 04-02-2020, 09:56 PM   #9
19Fordy
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Default Re: reliable fuel gauge? anyone?

56markII: You will have better luck if you find another ^V KS sending unit from another car and fine tuning it to work with your stock gauge. As has been pointed out in many threads, KS gauges and sending units DO NOT operate on the Ohms Law principles.

Here's one for sale that could be made to work. Keep an eye on it.
It will never sell for the asking price. Get contact info. and after the auction, make an offer.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1953-1954-1...8AAOSwGBpeOLvj

Last edited by 19Fordy; 04-02-2020 at 10:08 PM.
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Old 04-02-2020, 10:17 PM   #10
19Fordy
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Default Re: reliable fuel gauge? anyone?

Here's a fuel gauge/ sending unit thread worth reading.
https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showt...ng+unit&page=3
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Old 04-03-2020, 10:11 AM   #11
deuce_roadster
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Default Re: reliable fuel gauge? anyone?

If you have tried several original sending units and none work, have you tried changing the gauge? It has been my experience that most of the sending units I have removed from tanks have worked fine, it usually the float that is bad on them. You can bench test the gauge and sender together with small jumper wires. Also, to insure a good ground as the tank sits on rubber, run a ground wire from one of the screws that holds the sender in the tank to something close by to insure a good ground.
All 6volt Ford gas gauge sending units are the same up to when they went to 12 volts. The only difference is the length and shape of the float arm. I will put a chart in my MISC photo album of this which has the adjustments for different cars. This chart came in a box with a NOS Ford sender and expected you to re use the old arm.
note:
I just looked and the picture I uploaded is hard to read, If you need this info PM me your email address and I can send you the file which is easy to read on the screen full size.

Last edited by deuce_roadster; 04-03-2020 at 10:20 AM.
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Old 04-03-2020, 08:46 PM   #12
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Default Re: reliable fuel gauge? anyone?

Just this week we went over all the gauges of some of my
old Fords that have been sitting for years. 39 convertible,
36 roadster, 36 Phaeton, 35 Phaeton and a few others.
Most were stuck in one position and we had to spray carb
cleaner in the resistor and work them until we got an ohm
reading of zero empty and about 30 ohms full or it may
have been 30 empty and zero full. Getting old can't remember
what happened two days ago. I had a big box of old senders
And made enough to get them all working. One sender was
a new one with a larger diameter mounting plate that the
holes lined up and had a large white resistor with the correct
ohms. Also had to replace floats. But they are all working. G.M.
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Old 04-03-2020, 10:07 PM   #13
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Default Re: reliable fuel gauge? anyone?

So these are all aftermarket senders?
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Old 04-04-2020, 07:46 AM   #14
G.M.
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Default Re: reliable fuel gauge? anyone?

Quote:
Originally Posted by JSeery View Post
So these are all aftermarket senders?
Only one aftermarket, the one with the larger O.D. top cover
with the big white resister. The others all used original ones. G.M.
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Old 04-04-2020, 08:22 AM   #15
19Fordy
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Default Re: reliable fuel gauge? anyone?

GM, do those refurbished gauges work ACCURATELY?
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Old 04-04-2020, 10:42 AM   #16
johndee138
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Default Re: reliable fuel gauge? anyone?

My car is a 36, converted to 12v. I've got a crappy Drake unit that didn't work, some other off brand unit that was touted to be a great replacement, and the non functioning
King Seely unit, if I can find it. The stock gauge used to travel up and down indiscriminately with no real stability. I'm loathe to spoil the presentation of the period dash with an add on cluster of modern gauges hung off the bottom. I'll hide the gauge for the fuel level behind or under the seat or back in the trunk. I just need a good recommendation for a kit that will allow the sender to bolt to the stock tank sender bolt pattern without any alteration. Perhaps one day I'll luck up on a good sending unit that isn't made of solid gold.
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Old 04-04-2020, 10:52 AM   #17
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Default Re: reliable fuel gauge? anyone?

John, check e-Bay item# 193399242744. It's a sender adapter that bolts to your stock tank and will take the later model sender. Price is $20. It's just what you need to use a late gauge and sender.
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Old 04-04-2020, 11:21 AM   #18
G.M.
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Default Re: reliable fuel gauge? anyone?

Quote:
Originally Posted by 19Fordy View Post
GM, do those refurbished gauges work ACCURATELY?
Are you taking about senders? Yes they a accurate. You can test the
accuracy with an ohm meter. O to 33 ohms. The guage reads a
reduced variable voltage from the sender. G.M.
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Old 04-04-2020, 12:10 PM   #19
19Fordy
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Default Re: reliable fuel gauge? anyone?

Not sure I understand what you mean when you say "guage reads a
reduced variable voltage from the sender."
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Does that mean that the guage provides accurate readings as to how much fuel is left in the tank same as it did when using the OEM fuel tank sending unit?
OR
Does the gauge give a reading that is not a direct real time accurate reading but, is instead and "indicator" reading of fuel left in the tank? For instance, the needle on the gauge shows 1/2 but that means the tank is really 3/4 full? Or the gauge needle reads 1/4 but that really means the tank is empty? Thanks.
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Old 04-04-2020, 01:46 PM   #20
G.M.
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Default Re: reliable fuel gauge? anyone?

Summit Racing has 3 different replacement 1939 Ford type fuel gauge senders
for sale. You can view them on line. They are a reliable supplier. I would call
and ask which one is best. They are all in the $25.00 range. G.M.
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