The Ford Barn

corvette8n · 11-10-2017, 01:27 PM

Can the guts of the fuel sending unit be taken out of a later fuel unit(say mid 60's truck) and be transplanted to a non working one? When was the last year of the King-seely unit used in anything by Ford.

rotorwrench · 11-10-2017, 02:49 PM

I believe it was some time in the mid to late 50s. Keep in mind that changes and ugrades in these units may have changed them enough to make a transfer not worth the effort. The change over to 12-volt systems had long lasting consequences. It might be easier to just convert the whole system to modern.

19Fordy · 11-10-2017, 06:35 PM

I found that the guts from the 6 volt King-Sealy sending units can be interchanged. Not sure if the 12v units can be interchanged. The photos below show a stock 40 Ford gas tank sending unit and a 1950's unit. Both units look like the 2nd photo and are 6V.

Drbrown · 11-10-2017, 11:42 PM

This is a DC system. The sending unit is designed to accommodate and use by the voltage coming from the gauge. Thus the "sending" unit is just a grounding device that controls the amount of voltage it "leaks" to ground. The sending unit is not a true resistance type unit but operates using a pulse-like electronic method, which is why some gauges do not properly work with some modern replacement sender units.

I have a stock 6 volt gauge if you need it. Its out of a '47. I don't know if the color/pattern on the gauge back-plate is the same but it can be changed if it doesn't match. If you have or will install a 12 volt system, just put inexpensive Runtz 12 to 6 volt diode drops on the back of your three dash gauges. The 6 volt rated tank sender will still work.

If the electrical guts of your sender are faulty you could have it rebuilt, try a used one, or take a chance with a repro. My OE sender works fine. My problem was the cork float on the arm sank. I bought the Drake brass float it snapped right on the OE sender arm.

fordor41 · 11-10-2017, 11:57 PM

If you have 12V, yes. I got 12V gauges & senders(temp & oil PSI) from a ford truck(70-80's) and transplanted the guts into my '41 cases. it's an exact fit. caution, mark them as they can be mixed up. I used a Ron Francis 12-6V reducer(VR-1). they operate perfectly.
only problem I had was the new movements came from plastic cases and the needle stuck out a tad further so I spaced the gauges back with washesr to let the needles clear the glass.
sorry I miss read your post. Can't seem to delete this!!!

JSeery · 11-11-2017, 10:31 AM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Quote:

Originally Posted by fordor41

If you have 12V, yes. I got 12V gauges & senders(temp & oil PSI) from a ford truck(70-80's) and transplanted the guts into my '41 cases. it's an exact fit. caution, mark them as they can be mixed up. I used a Ron Francis 12-6V reducer(VR-1). they operate perfectly.
only problem I had was the new movements came from plastic cases and the needle stuck out a tad further so I spaced the gauges back with washesr to let the needles clear the glass.
sorry I miss read your post. Can't seem to delete this!!!

OK, know this is not what you were posting about, but is there any reason your setup would not work in a 6v car without the voltage reducer?

JSeery · 11-11-2017, 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rotorwrench

I believe it was some time in the mid to late 50s. Keep in mind that changes and ugrades in these units may have changed them enough to make a transfer not worth the effort. The change over to 12-volt systems had long lasting consequences. It might be easier to just convert the whole system to modern.

The gauges were still 6v, wonder if the negative ground would make a difference? I wouldn't think so, the sender is just providing a ground path to the gauge. Both the gauge and sender are points type devices and I wouldn't think polarity would be an issue.

deucemac · 11-12-2017, 11:42 PM

Ford used 6V King Seeley gauges until 1986 when they went to magnetic gauges and we were inundated with gauge problems for quite a while after that. The IVR kept the voltage to the gauge at a pulsed 6V. I have replaced lots of early gauges with the later ones by changing the needle and face plate of the original with the newest gauge. Just make sure that the sweep matches is all .

JSeery · 11-13-2017, 07:18 AM

Deucemac, have you used the other combination, original gauge with a later sending unit?

deucemac · 11-14-2017, 01:09 AM

O/p and temp but not fuel. Mostly used newer gauge guts with original senders per owner requests

deucemac · 11-14-2017, 01:10 AM

A few o/p and temp setups but no fuel. Mostly used newer gauge guts with original senders per owner requests.

JSeery · 11-14-2017, 09:14 AM

I don't see any reason a later fuel sender wouldn't work, but I haven't looked at one or tried it. I need to look into to that.

11-10-2017, 01:27 PM	#1
corvette8n Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: 36 miles north of Albany NY Posts: 2,950	King-Seeley gas guage guts Can the guts of the fuel sending unit be taken out of a later fuel unit(say mid 60's truck) and be transplanted to a non working one? When was the last year of the King-seely unit used in anything by Ford.

11-10-2017, 02:49 PM	#2
rotorwrench Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 16,431	Re: King-Seeley gas guage guts I believe it was some time in the mid to late 50s. Keep in mind that changes and ugrades in these units may have changed them enough to make a transfer not worth the effort. The change over to 12-volt systems had long lasting consequences. It might be easier to just convert the whole system to modern.

11-10-2017, 11:42 PM	#4
Drbrown Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Glens Falls NY Posts: 1,267	Re: King-Seeley gas guage guts This is a DC system. The sending unit is designed to accommodate and use by the voltage coming from the gauge. Thus the "sending" unit is just a grounding device that controls the amount of voltage it "leaks" to ground. The sending unit is not a true resistance type unit but operates using a pulse-like electronic method, which is why some gauges do not properly work with some modern replacement sender units. I have a stock 6 volt gauge if you need it. Its out of a '47. I don't know if the color/pattern on the gauge back-plate is the same but it can be changed if it doesn't match. If you have or will install a 12 volt system, just put inexpensive Runtz 12 to 6 volt diode drops on the back of your three dash gauges. The 6 volt rated tank sender will still work. If the electrical guts of your sender are faulty you could have it rebuilt, try a used one, or take a chance with a repro. My OE sender works fine. My problem was the cork float on the arm sank. I bought the Drake brass float it snapped right on the OE sender arm. Last edited by Drbrown; 11-11-2017 at 12:15 AM.

11-10-2017, 11:57 PM	#5
fordor41 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: elmira,ny Posts: 1,517	Re: King-Seeley gas guage guts If you have 12V, yes. I got 12V gauges & senders(temp & oil PSI) from a ford truck(70-80's) and transplanted the guts into my '41 cases. it's an exact fit. caution, mark them as they can be mixed up. I used a Ron Francis 12-6V reducer(VR-1). they operate perfectly. only problem I had was the new movements came from plastic cases and the needle stuck out a tad further so I spaced the gauges back with washesr to let the needles clear the glass. sorry I miss read your post. Can't seem to delete this!!! Last edited by fordor41; 11-11-2017 at 12:05 AM.

11-12-2017, 11:42 PM	#8
deucemac Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Tehachapi, Ca. Posts: 208	Re: King-Seeley gas guage guts Ford used 6V King Seeley gauges until 1986 when they went to magnetic gauges and we were inundated with gauge problems for quite a while after that. The IVR kept the voltage to the gauge at a pulsed 6V. I have replaced lots of early gauges with the later ones by changing the needle and face plate of the original with the newest gauge. Just make sure that the sweep matches is all .

11-13-2017, 07:18 AM	#9
JSeery Member Emeritus Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Wichita KS Posts: 16,132	Re: King-Seeley gas guage guts Deucemac, have you used the other combination, original gauge with a later sending unit?

11-14-2017, 01:09 AM	#10
deucemac Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Tehachapi, Ca. Posts: 208	Re: King-Seeley gas guage guts O/p and temp but not fuel. Mostly used newer gauge guts with original senders per owner requests

11-14-2017, 01:10 AM	#11
deucemac Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Tehachapi, Ca. Posts: 208	Re: King-Seeley gas guage guts A few o/p and temp setups but no fuel. Mostly used newer gauge guts with original senders per owner requests.

11-14-2017, 09:14 AM	#12
JSeery Member Emeritus Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Wichita KS Posts: 16,132	Re: King-Seeley gas guage guts I don't see any reason a later fuel sender wouldn't work, but I haven't looked at one or tried it. I need to look into to that.