|
Fuel Gauge way off |
Post Reply 
|
| Author | |
jglover 
Member 
Joined: 05-June-2024 Location: California Status: Offline Points: 53 |
 Post Options
 Thanks(0)
 Quote Reply
 Topic: Fuel Gauge way offPosted: 15-February-2025 at 10:14AM |
|
First thing I did when I rescued my Ranchero from the barn was to change the fuel tank, sending unit and all hoses to get it running. Purchased tank and sending unit from Auto Krafters. From what I read it is a tank for a 74-79 Ranchero, 26 gallons. Checked the website and they suggested that I use this tank with the sending unit and tank straps. Well, my dumb ass was taking my Ranchero to the upholstery shop to have the vinyl top replaced. Yes that's right, I ran out of gas! After having AAA tow me home and being embarrassed, took it to the gas station and put 15 gallons in it which should have put me over half-tank. Fuel gauge says I have a little over 1/4 tank. How do I fix this?
|
|
 |
|
|
SEKCOBRA
Senior Member 
Joined: 27-November-2012 Location: NY Status: Offline Points: 674 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 15-February-2025 at 1:58PM |
|
Going through this also. I bought a new tank also. I was going to keep my sending unit but it was in bad shape. Bought a new one. Probably from ecklers or autokrafters and it is not accurte either. Mine shows full with 15 gallons. POS Chinese made crap. I was told Dennis carpenter sells a unit made by them because of this calibration issue. I bought one but have not yet installed it. Im hoping it will work correctly when i get it installed.
|
|
|
69 Mach 1 70 TORINO COBRA 71 TORINO COBRA 72 Z28 CAMARO 94 MUSTANG 5.0 LX NOTCH 72 GTS Q CODE 61 Galaxie 427 62 Galaxie 406 64 Galaxie country sedan 1972 GTS Q CODE 1972 GTS Q CODE BLACK |
|
|
|
|
Rockatansky
Senior Member
Joined: 30-July-2010 Location: On The Road Status: Offline Points: 6398 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 16-February-2025 at 6:26AM |
|
have you guys tried bending / adjusting the float arm to match the sweep allowed by the internal dimensions of the tank?
|
|
|
72 GT Ute
|
|
|
|
|
jglover
Member
Joined: 05-June-2024 Location: California Status: Offline Points: 53 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 16-February-2025 at 6:32AM |
|
Was one of my thought after I use my newly purchased 15 gallons of gas.
|
|
|
|
|
hogfiddles
Moderator Group 
Moderator Joined: 19-September-2016 Location: Central NY Status: Offline Points: 1695 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 17-February-2025 at 2:35AM |
|
1. Either it’s the wrong tank or the wrong sender
2. Or it’s cheap Chinese um’ 3. I’d pull the sender and check the length of the arm and maybe try bending it so the float rides differently…… Dfox
|
|
|
1973 Gran Torino Sport - Q code “Q-Clone” project-on-hold
1972 Gran Torino Sport - Q code new project 1972 Gran Torino - parts 1969 Torino GT - M code 100+ mid-80's Yamaha XJ-Series (14 trophies) |
|
|
|
|
handsofstone
Senior Member
Joined: 13-April-2018 Location: Northeast Status: Offline Points: 4229 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 18-February-2025 at 4:45AM |
|
So when on E you should have 7.5 gal. left in the tank. I don't think any of my cars ever had an accurate gauge except for my last 72 sport. I always kept the tank full before parking after a ride
|
|
|
|
|
72FordGTS
Admin Group 
GTS.org Admin Joined: 06-September-2005 Location: Ontario, Canada Status: Offline Points: 6780 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 18-February-2025 at 12:01PM |
|
FWIW, my original sending unit no longer was reading correctly, so I got the Dennis Carpenter one. It works better than my broken original, but is still not accurate. It reads full correctly, but gets less accurate as the tank level drops. I am not overly happy with it, but at least I won't run out of gas.
|
|
|
Vince
1972 Ford GTS Sportsroof - Survivor, One Family car GTS.org Admin |
|
|
|
|
jglover
Member
Joined: 05-June-2024 Location: California Status: Offline Points: 53 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 19-February-2025 at 8:02AM |
|
If I was to take the sending unit out and attempt to bend the float level, If I have 12 gallon and it reads 1/8 the take which way would I bend it? I would think that I would want the float to go down?
|
|
|
|
|
Eliteman76
Admin Group
Joined: 20-March-2006 Location: Nebraska, USA Status: Offline Points: 5450 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 19-February-2025 at 8:10AM |
|
Before installing a tank:
Pull the top vent off the 72-73 or 74-76 tank. Grab the seal and set on the sending unit. Feed a piece of rope through the top of the tank. F48A_TOP_P01.jpg" />  Then feed it through the vent opening and out the sending unit opening. F48A_LEF_P01.jpg" />  Tie one end of the rope around the sending unit. Use a little dawn dish soap on the tank seal, and install the sender with tank seal and tap the lock Rin just enough to hold sender unit in the side of the tank. Now, you are going to look through the filler neck opening (with that removed) you, or a helper, gently pull the rope and see the travel of the arm of the sending unit. F48A_FRO_P01.jpg" />  Sometimes, people blame the sender, and the float ends up with a leak due to age on the brazed seam, and a pinhole leak over time will eventually leave the send not reading anything. Now. A very specific reminder about 72-73 tanks: When searching for the Spectra Canadian made 72-73 fuel tanks, you MUST specify on sites like Rock auto, in searching you must select 1972 Torino, 429 N code. Do not use "Gran Torino" because for some unknown reason for years Spectra only lists under "Torino" and only with the N code 429. Same tank across all models that I am aware of. 74-76 tanks, same basic process for checking float range of motion.
|
|
 Andrew:GTS.ORG admin, '72 Q code 5 speed RestomodPondering: #99Problems |
|
|
|
|
Eliteman76
Admin Group
Joined: 20-March-2006 Location: Nebraska, USA Status: Offline Points: 5450 |
Post Options
Thanks(1)
Quote Reply
Posted: 19-February-2025 at 8:21AM |
|
Sorry, my brain always seems to go to the 72-73 tanks.
The Ranchero tank looks like basically the same as the 74-76 tanks except the ranchero tanks filler neck comes from the side of the gas tank? Unlike rear entry on 72-76 Torino/Montego tanks. |
|
|
Andrew:GTS.ORG admin, '72 Q code 5 speed Restomod Pondering: #99Problems |
|
|
|
|
Rockatansky
Senior Member
Joined: 30-July-2010 Location: On The Road Status: Offline Points: 6398 |
Post Options
Thanks(1)
Quote Reply
Posted: 19-February-2025 at 11:07AM |
you're looking at 2 things, the float itself as it travels from top to bottom and the relationship of the rheostat. it's the rheostat that actually operates the gauge so you want to adjust the rod to 'align' the float sweep and the rheostat sweep. factor in some dead area under the low end of the sweep for reserve below empty
|
|
|
72 GT Ute
|
|
|
|
|
Post Reply
|
|
| Tweet |
| Forum Jump | Forum Permissions You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot create polls in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum |
Topic Options
jglover wrote: