1952-59 Ford Fuel sending unit/gauge

Hey all, just dropped the tank and am looking to go with an aftermarket gauge and sending unit. Anyone have any advice on which one works best? Also, I ripped out the fuel line, is there a good place out there to get replacement lines too? Thanks in advance.

Rocky

 

Fuel gauge: I've always preferred Stewart-Warner gauges for nostalgic appearance and excellent quality. Speedway Motors has the gauge you need (#665-82303) and the sender (various numbers, pick the one that fits the tank best) as well.

BTW: Did you ever find those '54 Mercury heater/vent control knobs we spoke of a while back...?

 

Make sure the range of your sending unit and gauge in ohms is compatible. You can make tour fuel line from 5/16 or 3/8 inch steel line available at any parts store. You can get it in different lengths, cut it with a tubing cutter, and single flare it when joining two pieces.

 

No matter where you get a gauge and sender from you will need this:http://www.speedwaymotors.com/Fuel-Level-Sender-Installation-Kits,7851.html Fords up through 1956 have a small 5 bolt sender the aftermarket units are larger and this adapter will be needed,I know from fact about that from my '54.

 

Thanks everyone! Can't wait to order parts this weekend! Missysdad, how many knobs were there? 4? I put that dash on the back burner and completely forgot about those knobs. My apologies. I will have to look in the garage tomorrow morning. PM me your address and I will send the ones I have.

 

Thanks, Rocky. Yes, there are four that go on top of the levers for the heater and vents. PM sent. Thanks again!

 

I just put a sending unit in my 52. I ordered one from Mac's. I won't make that mistake again. It was one of those cheap ($60) Taiwanese "one size fits a few" models. You have to cut and bend the float arm based on how big your tank is. And, of course, it's not as simple as if your tank is 7" tall, you cut at 6" and bend at 5 1/4". Oh no. It's if your tank is 7" tall, you cut at 6.08" and bend at 5.29". So, since I don't own anything that can measure in those small of increments, I just cut at 6" and bent at 5 1/4". It's pretty close. The sending unit gasket was another joke. None of the multi-use holes lined up. So I had to punch all new holes in order to get anything to line up. Also, the original system uses a grounding diode and the new one has a wire that needs to be screwed to the frame for ground. You guessed it. The wire barely reaches the frame.

 

Wow. That sounds like a complete pain in the a**.

 

Wasn't really a difficult pain, just a tedious and irritating one.

 

FYI; on my 55 tank, the fuel line goes in to a bulkhead fitting soldered in the tank at the factory. The line size was 5/16. The 312 ran out of gas at the 3/4 mark at the 1/4 mile drags with a 312. I dropped the tank and that factory bulkhead fitting would not p*** a 3/16 drill. The designer of that tank knew I would be needing more fuel, so he made a 5 x 6 inch flat spot on top of the tank where I cut a hole and put in a 3/8 tube. I now have an electric boost pump in the rear, and 3/8 line all the way to the carb.

 

stay away from sunpro... that's all i can say. i bought mine from mac's and used the factory gauge and it worked pretty well

 

Knobs arrived, Rocky, and a just great. I cleaned 'em up and repainted them and they look like brand new. I'll make inserts if I can't find original ones. Thanks again! Your generosity is greatly appreciated...