Go Back   The Ford Barn > General Discussion > Model A (1928-31)

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 10-13-2013, 09:48 AM   #1
Skrain
Senior Member
 
Skrain's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Monticello, Kentucky
Posts: 284
Question Electric Fuel Gauge

Do any of you speedster owners have a recommendation for a good 6 Volt electric fuel gauge to use on an A with a separate fuel tank and electric sending unit?
__________________
"They can make me grow older, but they CAN'T make me grow up!"
Skrain is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-13-2013, 12:45 PM   #2
Jim Brierley
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Temecula, CA
Posts: 4,251
Default Re: Electric Fuel Gauge

I just use a dip-stick, calibrated as I filled the tank. My tank is a Rootlieb 18 gallon unit, so doesn't need checking very often. I think this is what most guys use???
Jim Brierley is offline   Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Old 10-13-2013, 01:48 PM   #3
QGolden
Senior Member
 
QGolden's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Alton, NH
Posts: 1,231
Default Re: Electric Fuel Gauge

You can either pick one up or at least order one through Tractor Supply, or a Farm Supply store in your neighborhood. There are a number of 6 volt Positive Ground tractors out there, here is a gauge for one.

http://www.steinertractor.com/JDS1910-6-volt-fuel-gauge

The problem you will find is that most marine tanks (Like the one that I think you are using ) make use of a 35 to 240 Ohm Sending Unit. You can check it with a basic Ohm meter without pulling the sending unit, just hook up your ohm meter and put the tank on its end so you can tip it to make the float travel it full length. You should see 35 Ohm's at one end of the swing and 240 at the other.. There are other ranges like 0 Ohms to 30 Ohms, but most Marine applications use the 35 to 240 Ohm range. So you need a 6volt gauge that is matched to that Ohm range. That will be a challenge.

Here is a list of guage manufacturers and the Ohms used:
SW - SW gauges - 240-33 Ohms
VDO - VDO gauges - 10-180 Ohms
GME - GM up to 1964 - 0-30 Ohms
GML - GM 1965 and up - 0-90 Ohms
ORG - Early Ford & Mopar - 73-10 Ohms

I think you most least expensive option (at least time wise) would be to pick out the gauge that you want, and then change out the sending unit in the tank. They can be had for about 40 bucks.

These units fit into the tank, and you cut the arm support (not the arm) to fit the depth of your tank.

http://www.ebay.com/bhp/universal-fuel-sender

The sending unit cares not what your voltage is. Only the gauge does.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg sending unit~~60_35.jpg (23.2 KB, 4 views)
__________________
It's not what people think they know that will hurt them, it is what they think they know that aint so! -Mark Twain.

It is the very things that we think we know, that keep us from learning what we should know.- Unknown
QGolden is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-13-2013, 02:07 PM   #4
Logan
Senior Member
 
Logan's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Fort Worth, Texas
Posts: 1,055
Default Re: Electric Fuel Gauge

Is your gas tank visible from the outside of the car? Like a rootlieb kit? In my boat tail speedster that I made, I used a clear boat gas tank that I bought on amazon for $180 I think. It's a 12 or 15 gallon tank, I can't remember, but it came with an electronic sending unit already in the tank. But since my tank is clear, I haven't mounted up a gauge yet. I can just lean my seat forward, and look in to see where the fuel level is. But I think Stewart Warner is the most popular gauge brand for this kind of stuff. That's what I'll probably end up using if I put a gauge in.
__________________
Cowtown A's
Logan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-13-2013, 03:26 PM   #5
Skrain
Senior Member
 
Skrain's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Monticello, Kentucky
Posts: 284
Default Re: Electric Fuel Gauge

I'm thinking that I might try a houseboat manufacturer here in town, since it's a marine tank. They also have the really neat flush mounted filler cap for a boat that can be mounted on the top of the wooden box that is covering the tank, as well as a vent so the tank can breathe. If that does not work out, I can change out the sending unit quite easily. But it looks like the Stewart Warner gauge matches the ohm range pretty closely.
My tank is grey poly, so it's not see through.
__________________
"They can make me grow older, but they CAN'T make me grow up!"
Skrain is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-13-2013, 03:35 PM   #6
Skrain
Senior Member
 
Skrain's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Monticello, Kentucky
Posts: 284
Default Re: Electric Fuel Gauge

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

The fuel filler cap.
__________________
"They can make me grow older, but they CAN'T make me grow up!"
Skrain is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:42 AM.