Fule gauge sending unit question.

I have a 6V I'm thinking sending unit in my '54 Chevy Bel Air, I'm upgrading everything from 6V to 12V including the gauges. My question is this... Will my original sending unit work with 12V or do I need to do something different? Different sending unit? Voltage regulator?


- John

 

the original `54 chevy fuel gauge should work fine with an original `54 fuel sender IF you put a 12 to 6 voltage drop on the power supply for the fuel gauge

that also assumes it was working fine on the 6 volts. also, if you switch gauges what i said may or may not apply

 

i use a regulator called a "runtz" patricks in arizona sells them

 

I'm using a aftermarket 12V gauge because none of the originals worked anymore.

 

Then you need the sender that matches the gauge.
Different gauges have different OHM requirements.

 

Thanks Roadster, Thats what I needed to know.

 

I had a similar issue with a gas gage and sending unit. I went to a local
marine and industrial motor supplier and got a Stuart Warner gauge and
matching sending unit. The tank in my car has an access panel which made things much easier. You may have to pull your tank and hook up the gauge on a bench to get a proper depth adjustment. I used a trickle charger to supply voltage to the gauge and sender while I did a bit of float tweaking to get a proper reading in relation to the bottom of the tank. May sound complex, but is not really difficult. Just be careful with your voltage connections so as not to cause any sparks around gas fumes! The system works well and having a gas gauge made driving my car much more enjoyable. The total cost was just under a $100.
You may be able to get a better price if you shop around. I just walked in and paid full price to a wholesale distributor. The Stewart Warner web site lists various gauges and their ohm requirements just to give you some insight on these units. Hope this helps... MickeyC

 

I don't think you have to pull the tank on a '54 to change sending units, as I believe it's mounted in the side towards the axle. Just make sure the gas level is low enough before pulling it. I believe they're clutch head screws too. A '55 sending unit might be a bolt in to the '54 tank.

 

Thanks Mickey! The charger idea is a good one. After I posted this I did go down to the parts store and got the recamended sending unit, got off light only cost me around $30 Having a working gauge dose make all the diffrence in the world. With any luck I won't have to do a bunch of fabrication to get the new unit to work.

- John

 

Worth a shot. I hope I don't have to pull the tank. Only saving grace is that it's a new tank I do beleve, may be a little easyer to work with. Not so many rusted bolts. I did order the sending unit that the company the gauge came from says to use. Should be in monday. Seems the gauge won't play nice with any other unit? I'll test the sending unit thats in the tank now before putting in the new one, maybe I'll get lucky. Then I'll just return the one I ordered. They hate me at the parts store!

 

Any 30 ohm sending unit will run that gauge but you will need an appropriate voltage drop before trying anything. We see a lot of those gauges burnt out for that reason.