Need a little shoebox help

So to start, I did search, I figured out a little, but still am retarded. My fuel gauge in my 50 box does not work. Im not sure where to start on this issue and I want to get it fixed before heading to the Rust Revival. My car is still 6v but the guy I got it from did have a 12v battery in it for about a day before I got it. Would that have affected the sending unit? Is there a sending unit? Haha, I told you im not smart. Original gas tank and mechanical pump still. Where do I start? Thanks in advance!

 

Check the wires and drop the tank. Thats about it.

 

thats what I was gonna do tonight. When I drop the tank, how can I tell it the float is bad, other than it not floating, haha

 

First, what kind of car are we discussing. A 6V system run with 12V could have some damage. If you ground the gas gauge wire from the dash unit to the tank with the ignition key on, the gauge in the dash should read full or empty, depending on the vehicle. This would tell you the dash unit is "OK." If there is no change in the dash unit level, it's proaly that unit or It could have a blown fuse. Hope this helps.
Buffalotrux-Keepin' em inline since '53

 

I don't think you have to drop the tank. The sender is on top the tank and can be reached through an inspection plate on the trunk floor. Remove the sender, disconnect the wires and put an ohm meter on it. Move the float up and down and watch the ohm meter.

 

I ran a boat tank gauge and sender, $50, worked good enough for a trip. I stuck it in the glove box.

 

cool. Thanks guys this is all helping. I hope its something as simple as a wire. Its really a pain lugging around a 5 gallon gas tank in the trunk, haha

 

You can test the fuel gauge by grounding the wire that leads to the sending unit while the ignition is turned on. If the gauge reads full, the gauge is fine and you can focus on the sending unit.

 

Awesome. Well heres some news. When inspecting it further last night, I actually solved A TON of problems. When the genius cut my top off, he just chopped ALL the wires that run the roof back to the trunk. Tail lights, fuel gauge wire, EVERYTHING! So the good news is I now know why nothing works, the bad news is I have to run like 1280 feet of wire, haha. Thanks for all the replys guys!

 

Uh, I probably should have mentioned that,,, I didnt cut it but I saw it was cut,, that make me an accessory to the crime?


Lookin good Dude, glad your having fun with it, I sure did!

 

haha, nope, youre safe. But ill tell ya, the more i figure out on this car, the simpler it is. Im super happy. Thanks again Jay for a fast and excellent job!