ebody fuel gage

Posted By: aar1

ebody fuel gage - 02/26/14 08:29 PM

This is probaby a stupid question and I'm afraid I already know the answer but here goes. Is there any kind of adjustment for the fuel gage - a screw or something on the back side to help it sync up with the fuel sending unit. Basically my tank is full..... but the needle does not get to the "F" on the gage. Just looking for a simple fix without pulling the sending unit.

Posted By: FY1TA

Re: ebody fuel gage - 02/26/14 09:38 PM

Could be a bad ground . Is the ground strap on the sending unit ?

Posted By: formula_s

Re: ebody fuel gage - 02/27/14 03:08 AM

Quote:

w Basically my tank is full..... but the needle does not get to the "F" on the gage.(sic)

I went through this myself. Only cure is to remove the sender from the tank and bend the arm holding the float allowing it more 'travel' so that the gauge sweeps up to the full mark. I did this trial and error with the sending unit/float assy on the floor, connected with 2 small wires, one to the terminal and the other to any surface on the assy to a ground on the car. I slowly moved the float arm up and down and watched the movement on the dash. What you want in the end result is that when the tank is full that the float is rising to the top of the tank so the gauge reads full. Of course you wont know for sure until you fill the car up with gas.!!!!

Like I said trial and error. My 70 'cuda doesn't have the round mufflers on the sides of the gas tank which made it easier to do.

Posted By: denfireguy

Re: ebody fuel gage - 02/27/14 05:23 AM

Quote:

This is probaby a stupid question and I'm afraid I already know the answer but here goes. Is there any kind of adjustment for the fuel gage - a screw or something on the back side to help it sync up with the fuel sending unit. Basically my tank is full..... but the needle does not get to the "F" on the gage. Just looking for a simple fix without pulling the sending unit.

I know of several E bodies, including mine, that do the same thing. It is not the ground. I never went any further into it since I cared more that the empty indication is accurate.
Craig

Posted By: screamindriver

Re: ebody fuel gage - 02/27/14 05:27 AM

And that's the only way to get the two working correctly together...You'll basically be bending in two stages..First stage sets the "full/empty" sweep between the stops...Second stage deals with the float and getting it where it needs to be in the tank for the amount of fuel...

Posted By: Pacnorthcuda

Re: ebody fuel gage - 02/27/14 05:44 AM

Guys....think out of the box. Ditch the factory mechanical voltage regulator for the dash gauges. Go solid state. Google it...it's well known and cheap--you just gotta be good at fitting electrical components (resistor, wiring, and an SCR) in a tight space.

This upgrade eliminates the archaic 12-0-12-0 average to 5 volts factory system.

OK now take it a step further, I've got this on my fuel gauge circuit and you can too, google it. You separate the fuel sender circuit and create a solid state voltage regulator with a variable SCR (silicon controlled rectifier). This variability is a TINY screw head that allows you to feed the fuel gauge a full voltage from about 4 to 6.5 volts...........get it? You can then calibrate your system, BUT you can only move the needle reading up or down across the entire spectrum, you cannot broaden or narrow the spectrum of gauge travel.
Cool stuff

Posted By: denfireguy

Re: ebody fuel gage - 02/27/14 04:50 PM

Quote:

Guys....think out of the box. Ditch the factory mechanical voltage regulator for the dash gauges. Go solid state. Google it...it's well known and cheap--you just gotta be good at fitting electrical components (resistor, wiring, and an SCR) in a tight space.

This upgrade eliminates the archaic 12-0-12-0 average to 5 volts factory system.

OK now take it a step further, I've got this on my fuel gauge circuit and you can too, google it. You separate the fuel sender circuit and create a solid state voltage regulator with a variable SCR (silicon controlled rectifier). This variability is a TINY screw head that allows you to feed the fuel gauge a full voltage from about 4 to 6.5 volts...........get it? You can then calibrate your system, BUT you can only move the needle reading up or down across the entire spectrum, you cannot broaden or narrow the spectrum of gauge travel.
Cool stuff

Already did the regulator replacement. Gauge reads the same as it always did (for 30 years now).
I was going to go with an op amp and a pass transistor to make it more linear. It would be easy to add a low fuel LED as well.
Craig

Posted By: AARCONV

Re: ebody fuel gage - 02/27/14 06:25 PM

are you talking about after installing a new sender this happened?..maybe the sender or gauge is no good..