Fuel Level
Thread Starter
5th Gear
Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 5
Likes: 1
Fuel Level
I’m new to the Corvette world. I have a 71 that I am doing a rolling restoration - no frame off with the goal of driving more than working on it. I noticed that with the stock fuel gauge, it was registering empty when it was a little less than half full. I figured that the sending unit was not providing the correct Ohms across the motion of the float. I purchased a replacement sending unit and it is the same thing. I can attest that 5 gallons are in the tank when gauge reads “Empty”. I did notice that the take up is just a little lower than the float, but not sure how long you could go on empty before your pick up would not be able to get fuel, even though the tank was far from empty. Is this common? I searched to see if others had this, but could not find.
71 convertible with base 270hp engine.
thanks
71 convertible with base 270hp engine.
thanks
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2001
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Here's a pointer. Go to the Willcox (NOTE that it is 2 L's) website to find testing and repair info. They have lots of it. Check this out: http://repairs.willcoxcorvette.com/w...it-testing.pdf
Last edited by carriljc; Aug 10, 2020 at 01:42 PM.
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From: New Or-leens Loo-z-anna
While repacingb the seal on my sending unit I measured the distance from the suctiin filter to the bottom of the tank. Then i carefully "rebent" steel tube/fiter until it sat 1 inch above the bottom of the tank.
Wheh the guage now reads EMPTY, I have one usuable gallon left PLUS one unusable gallon that would contain any water or impurities and prevent ruinig/clogging the fuel line/filter/fuel pump/carb.
Moral of the story...fiil up when tha guage needle moves below 1/4.
Is my vette stock?? HAHA
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Ive done a few things like rebent the float arm so its just about a 1/4 tank left on empty but I want it accurate. Ive talked to Willcox and Ernie sent me a temp gauge adjustable resistor that Im going to try out sometime in the future. I just dont want to pull my dash apart this week as Im going to have to drive it this weekend. So maybe next week. I do know my mileage is 18mpg on the highway so I multiply that out by the 18 gallon tank and get how many miles I can get max and try to stay 30 to 50 miles under that for now
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
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From: Crossville TN
Changed sending unit/float....no difference. Probably an issue with a resistor on the gauge. But, I agree with the others: You know you have 1/2 tank of fuel when it shows EMPTY. Just fill up when it gets close to 'E'
Thread Starter
5th Gear
Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 5
Likes: 1
Thanks for all of the input. I am planning on tracing back all the way to the gauges, but do not have time to work with the gauge cluster yet. when I do, I think that I will convert the clock to quartz and see if there is anything else that I can address. what I have found is that just about everything on this car is difficult for a taller person to work on.
I did look at the pick up and it “looks” like it is less than an inch from the tank. the clocking of that should leave me a little less than 2 gallons that is not accessible - which as pointed out would prevent a lot of potential junk from being introduced to the sleeve filter. I am going to keep filling the tank as I have in the past until I can get the cluster out. I am thinking the issue is with the resistor that bridges the back of the gauge - but would not swear to that.
Thanks again
I did look at the pick up and it “looks” like it is less than an inch from the tank. the clocking of that should leave me a little less than 2 gallons that is not accessible - which as pointed out would prevent a lot of potential junk from being introduced to the sleeve filter. I am going to keep filling the tank as I have in the past until I can get the cluster out. I am thinking the issue is with the resistor that bridges the back of the gauge - but would not swear to that.
Thanks again
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