<VV> Update on stainless steel fuel sending unit

[Tony Underwood]

At 10:32 PM 11/10/2012, Matt Nall wrote:



>It is my understand that with 4 gallons in the tank the dash gauge should
>read E (or VERY close to that).  While the tank (cars) holds 14 gallons, a
>fill up should require 10 when on E.  The other 4 is/was considered a
>"reserve" by GM.
>
>Later, JR




I've noticed that some tank senders do indeed have a section of wiper 
resistor wire that's replaced with a brass "sleeve" (for lack of a 
better word) that bypasses the last 1/8 of the wiper travel on the 
sender.  This could well leave almost 3 gallons or so in the tank 
while making the gauge read EMPTY.

Some... but not all.  The original sender in the tank of my '60 was 
like that.  It was kinda unsettling to have the gauge reading EMPTY 
knowing that there was still some fuel there but how much was a 
toss-up.  I'd rather the gauge be accurate.  I modified the sending 
unit to show full when full and empty when in fact empty.  No 
second-guessing.

I've noticed that *some* (but not all) later variants of the sending 
unit do NOT give you that much "reserve", with that same sleeve being 
smaller, but still enough to leave about a gallon and a half once it 
finally shows EMPTY.   Last time I filled the tank of the '60 it had 
been showing almost empty, just a smidgen above the E mark (and no 
longer bouncing around while turning corners).  It took 11.6 gallons 
to fill it.  Remembering that the '60 tank holds less than later 
tanks (barely 12 gal.) I took note that the gauge was still pretty 
accurate.    Personally, I still like knowing what's actually there 
than playing guessing games once the gauge bumps down to E.

I also carry a can with a gallon in it in case I end up not paying 
attention and I run out of fuel.  But that's just me, being me.


tony..