BakedPotato65

I put in a new gas tank and sending unit last July or August to replace the old corroded one in my 1974. Up until now I thought the fuel gauge didn't work. I found out that the sending unit float doesn't lift up until there is more than a 1/4 tank of gas. I took a wire and lifted the float all the way to the top and the gas gauge said there was 3/4 tank of gas. The fuel pickup on the sending unit is also high, there needs to be about 1/4 tank of gas in order for the pickup to get fuel. So if I fill the tank all the way, the gas gauge reads 3/4, 3/4 tank and the gauge says 1/2 full, 1/2 tank and the gauge says 1/4. This is frustrating because I don't want to have a 1/4 tank of gas and not be able to use it because the pickup is too high.

John 65

You aren't alone.

I just put a brand new sending unit in my friends 74 last week also and sadly its exactly as you describe.

The sock comes nowhere near the bottom of the tank.

Of course we didn't realize it until after we filled it back up with fuel.

Vaipulu

Same situation here on my 74 sbc

billschroeder5842

So, can you "extend" the pick up? Cut the line and add a rubber hose so the pick up drops down, just above the bottom. A bit bubba, but I did the same thing on an old 75 roadrunner and it worked perfectly for a couple of years.

Could you bend the float arm to extend the range of motion?

Sorry, I'm having my own fuel struggles on my 82 with mis reads on the gauge,