Fuel guage and sender install

[randyscycle]

Here is a quick rundown of my fuel sender install for all that were curious:

THe sending unit and guage is still available from NAPA and is part number 501-1742. It is an adjustable sender and will fit tanks from 5-27 inches deep. It comes with the sender, guage, the guage mount if needed, the gasket for the sender, the sender bolts (very important and you'll see why in the pics) and all instructions to do it. The resistance for the sender is Empty: 240 ohms and full 33 ohms. The price was $41.00 out the door. Here's the kit:



Here is the top of the sender to get an idea of the bolt pattern. It fits the tank perfectly:



This is the guage after I painted the ring OD:



This is why the new mounting bolts were so important. Every single screw broke off in the tank. A little skill in drilling broken bolts doesn't hurt either:



Here's the screws drilled, and the mounting surface clean:



And lastly, the new guage installed in the dash:



Tomorrow, I will post the rest of the install after the tank is ready to go in.

[brute4c]

Nice work...nice info on the gauge/sender kit!

[Binford]

Outstanding detail, Randy! Thanks!

[fisherman]

Same one I'm using, only a different gauge. Keep the pics coming.

[stranman]

Thanks for the info
Is that a 12 volt or 24 volt unit?

[rboltz]

I am going to replace my sending unit also. I have the unit but no gasket but since NAPA makes the unit you picture, I hope they also have just the gasket. I saw some gaskets on e-bay this week and they went for $28!!! More then I paid for the sending unit! Thanks for the info.

[chess]

I installed it and followed the instructions exactly as said but I'm at half tank and it says I'm Wayyy full. Anyone have the same problem?


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[randyscycle]

My truck tends to stay at full a long time, then drop to "E" pretty fast. When I am at around 1/4 tank, and fill up, I generally still have about 4 gallons left in the tank.

I'm not too sure that the measurements that came with those gauge senders were terribly accurate, but then again, I've never wanted to pull the tank and experiment either. Just about every MV, I've ever owned or had much time with had pretty much the same fuel gauge. It was more of a suggestion than anything.

Coming from motorcycle world where fuel gauges weren't the norm up until very recently, I have learned to know my vehicle very well and either gauge my fuel with the odometer or the suggestive fuel gauge.

[chess]

Hmmm ill see if I can mess with it during the week. My gauge is to the max full. And it bugs me.


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[randyscycle]

Hmmm ill see if I can mess with it during the week. My gauge is to the max full. And it bugs me.


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You may need to pull the sender and fix the connector on the top where the wire goes from the rheostat in the tank through the top and to the wire leading to the gauge. Also check the tank ground.

I don't know if I posted it or not, but after about 3 months or so of using that sender in my truck, the insulator on the top stud swelled up and came out of place from the ethanol fuel, grounding the wire and causing the gauge to read the same all the time. It was a cheap rubber insulator. I made a new one from a piece of fiber or bakelite I had laying around and its been fine since.