The SM does not show a voltage reducer 12-6 in the reading and the Plasticised Wire Diagram portrays straight power to the two gauges. The Diagram does not read 12 nor 6 volt. But the two 56’s I’ve owned were both had/have 12 volt batteries. The Pod was worked on about a decade ago and there is a reducer inline. I called the Shop and he stated all gauges were 6v for some time. But in speaking with others, the 56 model did have 12v gauges. How can one tell if they are 12 or 6 ?
If it's the same as a 56 T-Bird they are a one year only 12 volt gauges. In 57 they went back to 6 volt gauges with a voltage reducer.
I understand also 57 started pulsing voltage reducers . Before full voltage of the battery what ever that was .
56 was also the only year they used a variable ohm fuel sending unit rather than the standard 10-70 ohm. Used the voltage reducer in the dash after that up into the 70s.
Per Service Manual, I supplied 3V DC directly to the gauges. Fuel level 1/2 tank, gauge is good. Water Full Hot…don’t know if this is accurate, SM doesn’t state where the pointer should be. Called Speed Shop and he’s adamant that the gauges are 6 volt but he’ll look at my info. Plasticized wire diagram Electric diagram for fuel gauge/sender, no reducer And your comments, thank you. Will wait for his call back. My Dennis C new fuel sender does not register/work with gauge suggestions?
Ford went to straight 12V gauges in 1956 with disastrous results. For 1957 they returned to the tried and true King Seeley 6 volt units and added a cluster voltage regulator that sent pulsed 6 volt power to the gauges. It worked so well that Ford used that system until 1985, when some pin head declined to follow suit with GM and use magnetic gauges. I worked for a Ford dealer at the time and we had a never ending problem with the new gauges until they got their act together for 1987. What a mess that was!
Update: Speed Shop c/b called back and I guess he admitted the one year 12V (volt) system was in place e.g. the Fuel G (gauge) and Water G (gauge) were 12 V (volt) for that year 1956. Further, he noted there was only his Shops' Sticker on the Water G which meant 2 things: the volt reducer he installed dropped the voltage from 12V to 6V on both Gauges so the Water G would read a modern Temperature Sender and the Fuel G would read a standard 10 to 80 ohm sender. I found on-line, the Internet, an early Ford (was it 49-55?) sender with a short throw 10 to 70 ohms and appears in one photo it may line up with the eyelits on my tank. That's Ford Motors for you. Wonder if the lower ohms (80-70) may mean I'll run out of fuel b4 (before) Empty reading on the fuel gauge.
Why not just get the correct parts to make it work? You can get the correct senders from the 56 Thunderbird suppliers.
BJR After mass confusion, will be using a bimetal sender with 12V supplied Fuel Gauge. The cars’ reduced voltage Fuel Gauge and standard Ohm Sender is a mistake by previous wonder mechanics, I wonder why they went that route…..
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