Fuel sender unit

[Shawncfc]

Has anyone used the sending unit sold by macs auto on a 58? They have one that says universal so I'm wondering if it would drop right in or do I have to make it fit. Or maybe there is one available somewhere else that works better

[Hogan]

You may want to try RockAuto

Spectra pn: FG98A

https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/ford,1958,thunderbird,5.8l+352cid+v8,1337655,fuel+&+air,fuel+sending+unit,4436

[jopizz]

Buy one from Rockauto.com. They have two listed. Both are identical to the original plus we get a 5% discount.

John

[Shawncfc]

Thanks I ordered the one for 59 bucks. Hope it comes with a gasket

[Deanj]

I had the fuel sending unit replaced with the new fuel tank installation. Is there a way to calibrate the sending unit other than trial and error?

The old unit only read to 3/4 full with a full tank, but the tank still had gas when the gauge read close to E. The new sending unit reads F when full, but the tank is 3/4 empty at the 1/2 mark.

Dean

[YellowRose]

Fuel sender unit

Dean, the information on adjusting the Fuel and Temperature gauge is in the Technical Resource Library (TRL). Here is the link to it. Check it out.

http://www.squarebirds.org/picture_g..._adjusting.htm

[Tbird1044]

Dean:
I has some similar issues and finally figured out I had the wrong sending unit. Bought another one and things worked fine.
I did check the sending unit when it was out of the gas tank by hooking it up and moving the float from the full down to full up position to see how the gauge would respond. There is a slow response time so take your time if you decide to check it this way. I think it is an easier step than messing with the gas gauge itself.
I can't remember if the sending unit is oriented with a tab for position in the tank, but I think it is. As I recall, the float arm should be pointing towards the front of the car. If not it could be bottoming on the bottom of the tank and not reading the gas level. Just a thought.
Also the manual says to use 2 flashlight batteries (3V) and connect that to the fuel gauge. With the 3V supplied it should read "approximately full".
Nyles
Nyles

[Deanj]

Thanks Ray and Nyles.

I recall the previous owner explaining he set the sending unit so the tank wouldn’t be empty before the needle pointed to E. So he had a problem with the tank going empty prior to the needle pointing to E. That’s why he adjusted the sender so he wouldn’t run out of fuel when the gauge read 1/4.

I suppose it is possible that when my gauge reads half, I might have about 7 gallons left, or so. That’s just an estimate. And the gauge runs to E normally.

Dean

[Shawncfc]

Yep hole in the float. Thanks for the suggestions on the new sending unit. Fit right in . 5 minutes and done. Now to see how accurate it is.

[Shawncfc]

Dean:
I has some similar issues and finally figured out I had the wrong sending unit. Bought another one and things worked fine.
I did check the sending unit when it was out of the gas tank by hooking it up and moving the float from the full down to full up position to see how the gauge would respond. There is a slow response time so take your time if you decide to check it this way. I think it is an easier step than messing with the gas gauge itself.
I can't remember if the sending unit is oriented with a tab for position in the tank, but I think it is. As I recall, the float arm should be pointing towards the front of the car. If not it could be bottoming on the bottom of the tank and not reading the gas level. Just a thought.
Also the manual says to use 2 flashlight batteries (3V) and connect that to the fuel gauge. With the 3V supplied it should read "approximately full".
Nyles
Nyles

When i took the old one out the float was towards the filler neck.

[DKheld]

Sending unit should have a tab and when lined up the float would then point toward the filler neck.



Here's my old tank replacement article - looks like I forgot to mention that the float points toward the filler neck but should only go one way if the tab is aligned. Guess there could be a replacement sending unit without the tab that would make it confusing.

http://www.squarebirds.org/picture_g...eplacement.htm

[Deanj]

Thanks Eric. I would think the float wouldn't seal the top of the tank if that tab wasn't aligned. You sure can't tell from smelling gas because these cars smell of gas when everything is buttoned up properly.

Dean