57 chevy fuel gauge problem

irrelevant

 

Stock gauge? If not then the ohm range is off. Stock is 0-30 and post '64 is 0-90 for gm

 

could be excessive resistance in the signal wire. you could try to overlay a wire as a test.

 

I've never owned a '57 Chevy (and I've owned over 30 of them) that the gas gauage was accurate...I think it was a factory "fault"...I'd replace the unit, the gauge and all new wiring...

R-

 

The guage is reacting correctly, the problem is at the sender. Like JAWS says, it has to be a 30 ohm sender, it sounds like a 90 ohm or a universal sender is being used. You may have to get one from one of the cl***ic car parts suppliers, like Chevs of the 40's. You can read yours with an ohmeter is you have one.

 

Studedude and Waldo's two posts are correct. My sedan all I used to do when I filled the tank is hammer the top of the cluster with my fist and it would correct itself

 

Hmmmmm, interesting! Did either of these 2 senders ever work with this guage before? Is it possible you have a replacement guage that needs a different sender?

You could go to a Radio Shack and get a couple of 1/2 watt resistors, one close to 30 ohms, another close to 90 ohms (you may not find the exact value, just get it as close as you can). Take the wire from the guage off at the sender and connect it to the 30 ohm resistor, ground the other side of the resistor and see what the guage does. Do this with both resistors (one at a time). If the 30 ohm resistor causes the guage to read full, you've got 2 bad senders. If it takes 90 ohms to get the guage to read full, you'll need to find a 90 ohm sender.

 

WOW !!

I might have to try that on mine.....

Like the Fonz with the Jukebox.

Nice !

Rat

 

Electronics 101, lesson 1. Repair procedure: either drop the non-working item from a height of 12" onto a concrete floor, or, give one or two sharp raps with a hard rubber mallet (a fist will do in an emergency).

 

Have you guys been able to source an aftermarket 0- 30ohms sender?

 

sure, just type "universal 30 ohm sending unit" in google.com and there you go

http://www.cl***icparts.com/1947-59-Universal-Fuel-Tank-Sending-Unit-30-Ohm/productinfo/23-522A/

 

Found it in this thread GM fuel sending questions thanks guys!