Thread: Gas tank float assembly

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Can you use any float assembly with your gauges? How can you tell what ohms it is? I have VDO gauges and have a new assembly but can't remember what kind it is(SW,VDO,Dolphin). Thanks for your help!

No. Unfortunately gauges and senders must be matched if you want accurate readings.

You'll need to connect an ohmmeter across the fuel tank sender. Connect the meters positive lead (usually red) on the fuel tank sender's output and connect the ground lead to the fuel tank sender's flange.

Move the float through it's full range of motion. If it's out of the tank, this is a piece of cake. In the tank, it's tricky as you'll need to get the float out enough to get a piece of wire inside the tank and manipulate the position of the float arm so that you can position the float arm in the full and empty locations.

The range for Stewart Warner fuel senders are: Empty - 220 to 260 ohms; 1/2 tank - 80 to 120 ohms; full tank - 20 to 50 ohms. This is normally noted as 240 ohms at empty and 33 ohms at full.

General Motors fuel tank sender will read in the opposite direction. At empty, it will read zero ohms and at full it will read 90 ohms. Early GM cars had 40 ohm units.

Ford and Chrysler fuel tank sender will read zero ohms at empty and 73 ohms at full.

If you have to work in the tank and there's any fuel or residual vapor in the tank make sure the battery is disconnected and that there is no possible way you can get a spark anywhere that tank. We'd hate to read your obit.

Regards,
Glenn

Thanks you very much. That should help out a whole bunch!!