C2:67 Imported Fuel Sender, a piece of.....

[Gerard F.]

Junk!

I put in one of those cheapo $70 imported fuel senders in my 67 about a year ago and it worked fine for a while. But then it started acting up and the gas gage would never go below 3/4 full, even though the tank was almost empty. Yes, when you pushed the float up and down the needle would go from full to empty, then would settle at 3/4 full.

So I figured the contacts were dirty and decided to try cleaning them yesterday afternoon. Tried to wiggle the "S" lead off, and what do you know, here comes a few drips of gasoline. Figured that the terminal nut was a little loose, so I tried a little more force. Then drip, drip, drip, drip, now I've got a problem!

Found my siphon hose, a 5 gallon and 1 gallon gas can, and almost got a swig of gasoline. Luckily, I only had 6 gallons in the tank.

So today I took it out, and here's what I found:


The terminals are not threaded at all, they are just pressed in and are retained with a speed nut. No way to tighten them like the original(with the nuts on the right). Also noticed that the varible resistor is completely different. Whereas, the original has a delicate contactor on a spring pivot, this repro has a little bullet on a shaft with a spring.

I tested both and found that the repro was way off the ohms, and the original was right on with 90 ohms just as is stamped on the resistor housing.

Found that the only thing that was wrong with my original, was a broken lead to the variable resistor. So I got out the soldering gun, and soldered the lead back on.

Put my repaired original back in and now my gas gage works just fine.

Moral of the story: Don't buy cheap repro sh...junk, buy OEM. How can they sell this stuff!

Thanks, Jack H. for the wiring diagram and troubleshooting chart.

Still having fun, but a trying day.

Jerry Fuccillo
#42179

[Gary Tesini]

Re: C2:67 Imported Fuel Sender, a piece of.....

Proves the point "BIGGER" isn't always "BETTER" Maybe it's better it hit the _ _ _ _ bed as the original or oem was your best choice anyways.

[Donald M.]

Re: C2:67 Imported Fuel Sender, a piece of.....

Gerry, Where do I get an OEM sending unit? GM dealer? or ACDelco unit from parts store? Thanks!
Don

[Gerard F.]

Re: C2:67 Imported Fuel Sender, a piece of.....

Paragon has got one listed in it's catalog for $220. I think I'm going to go a new one with a new Quanta tank.

My original tank has had an epoxy patch on the bottom for the past 20 years, so I think it's about time. I'm suspecting a leak near the top.

Ought to be fun dropping the tank for the first time. Any advice out there.

Jerry Fuccillo
#42179

[Philip Whitaker Member# 2024]

Re: C2:67 Imported Fuel Sender, a piece of.....

Gerald,

I don't have any advice for you on dropping the fuel tank but I will tell you about my experience with the GM fuel sender. Be sure and test it before you put it in the tank. Mine was 20 ohms shy of reading empty. I had to pull it from the tank to investigate. The problem was with the float stop. That is the tang near the bottom of the resistance coil cover. The tang limits the flaot arm's travel. I had to grind away about a 1/4 inch of material and bend the float arm slightly to get the sender to work properly. Prior to the adjustment my gauge read about 3/16 of a tank when it was empty. The gauge now reads full scale as the sender arm is moved from stop to stop.

I only mention this as I believe this to be a common problem with GM's sender. I have talked with another NCRS member who had the identical problem.

Phil

[John H.]

Re: C2:67 Imported Fuel Sender, a piece of.....

Gerry -

If it's a coupe, you'll need to remove the filler neck before rotating the tank forward and down; not necessary on a convertible (shorter filler neck).

[Paul L.]

Pic of New GM Unit

Gerard,
I picked up this sender from a local GM dealer about a year ago. It was about $225US. Unfortunately I have not had the time or inclination to install it so I do not know how well and accurately it functions.

[Gerard F.]

Re: Pic of New GM Unit

Paul,

Looks like my original.

Does it have threaded terminals with a nut on the bottom and a hex shaped heavy insulator (about 3/8" high)on the inside?

Is the varible resistor housing stamped 90 ohms?

I found to test them, just put an ohm-meter between the two brass terminals. When the float is up (full) the reading should be 90 ohms (87 to 93), when down (empty) 0 ohms or full contact. (Or have I got it the other way around)

Jerry Fuccillo

[Paul L.]

Re: Pic of New GM Unit

Jerry,
Here is a VERY LARGE pic. Yes it has everything you have described. I believe you can see the 90 ohm stamp and the hex fitting.

[Kevin M.]

Re: Pic of New GM Unit

Jerry,

Do you get to look at your tank sticker when you drop your tank? I might just have to run up and help you drop that sucker! Mine is in great shape with sticker in place, but I'm dying to see it maybe we could do a 2fer.

Kevin

[Gerard F.]

Re: Pic of New GM Unit

That's it Paul. It's even got the metal piece on the filter sock which fits tightly over the intake tube. The imported one is all plastic which has to be glued on so that it doesn't slip off.

Gonna order one tomorrow with the new tank!

Thanks,

Jerry Fuccillo

[Gerard F.]

Re: Pic of New GM Unit

Hey Kevin,

I'm not sure it's there, although the tank has never been dropped in my 37 years with the car. Looked for it a while back when I replaced the gas door boot. Wish I had one of your mini-cams at the time.

I'll let you know when I get the new tank in, and see if you can come up to Sonora on short notice. Otherwise, I'll take plenty of pictures for sure.

Thanks again for rescueing my Sportsman Award (and the Corvette cologne) at Golden Gate!

Say where's Laguna Beach, I've got a wedding to go to down there in October, but will probably fly. 135 mph is a little too slow, and like camping out, for the wife.

Jerry Fuccillo

[Kevin M.]

Re: Pic of New GM Unit

Jerry,

Keep me posted on your Oct. trip, I could use a nice drive along the coast.

Kevin