Posted By: tmef
Fuel Sending Unit Question - 02/02/15 08:39 PM
I am having trouble finding a new sending unit for my truck. It's a 20 tank so I thought it would be easy to order one from Jim's Auto Parts. Problem is the measurements they give on their website don't match my sending unit. Theirs is 18" from the bend to the end of the filter, mine is 12". Anyone else come across this? Anyone know where I can find one? It's an 83 D150. This is from their website:
TK-5473 Fuel Tank Sending Unit - 1981 Dodge Pickup; Frame Mounted; 20 gallon & 1982-87 Dodge Pickup 2 WD; 20 gallon (does not include gasket; order TK-V8187 separately below)
[attaches to gas tank opening with lock ring]
(measures 3-1/2 " from flat flange to bend & 18" from bend to end of filter) $ 169.95
Posted By: stumpy
Re: Fuel Sending Unit Question - 02/03/15 12:49 AM
Warning, warning don't buy from Jim's. Very bad reputation. Keep looking someone will be able to get you the right part. Have you tried Jack's? Much better rep and availability of parts.
Posted By: tmef
Re: Fuel Sending Unit Question - 02/03/15 02:00 AM
Ya know Stumpy I got a bad feeling when I called Jim's this morning to inquire and the lady that answered the phone was extremely less than helpful. I was thinking about buying the longer one and just bending it up a little if needed, but I think I will continue to search. But from what I seen up to now, they just aren't out there.
Posted By: stumpy
Re: Fuel Sending Unit Question - 02/03/15 03:10 AM
You talked to what is generally known as the wicked witch of Jim's. She has always been less then friendly and helpful.
Posted By: tmef
Re: Fuel Sending Unit Question - 02/03/15 04:26 AM
Well I found one on Ebay. It's a repro that looks just like the one at Jim's, only $70 less. It should be here by the weekend. I am hoping for the best.
Posted By: D_C
Re: Fuel Sending Unit Question - 02/03/15 06:42 AM
I wound up re-conditioning the Original sending unit from my 1974 W200 Power Wagon. It was non-functional.
Figured I would attempt to repair it. Got some advice here on Moparts. I pryed the closure tabs open and removed the metal case. Turned out the end of the contact arm (contacts the fine wire resistor strip) had worn away.
I found a replacement arm off another junkyard sending unit. Soldered the new end onto the existing worn out arm.
Now it basically worked, but the resistance as measured was not quite correct, so next I tested various points in the unit with a multimeter. Turned out there was high resistance due to corrosion hidden under the rivet that attaches the main wire to the fine-wire strip.
A little vinegar applied to the rivet area dissolved away the hidden corrosion and brought the Empty vs. Full resistance readings back into factory specifications.
Reassembled the cover back in place, folded the tabs and bought a New fuel filter sock.
Works perfect.
From what I have read, sometimes the unit simply needs to be soaked in vinegar to bring it back. Other times it is a problem with the contact arm, fine-wire strip or even just bad grounding.
Posted By: tmef
Re: Fuel Sending Unit Question - 02/03/15 01:10 PM
On the 83 sending unit the cap that the fine wire winding is in is made of plastic. The contact point wore a groove in the cap and completely thru the wire in several places.
Posted By: therocks
Re: Fuel Sending Unit Question - 02/03/15 09:20 PM
I got a NOS one for my 84 Ram Charger a few years ago.IIRC it was 65 bucks my cost.I think there were only a few left at the time.I had a site that you could put stock numbers in and it would show the dealers ind such with parts.Lost it when I changed computers.Rocky
Posted By: D_C
Re: Fuel Sending Unit Question - 02/04/15 01:53 AM
The Donor contact arm I used, came from a sending unit that had the later style plastic cover. I picked up that Donor sender from a Chrysler Córdoba around 10-years ago at a Pick a Part.
Posted By: tmef
Re: Fuel Sending Unit Question - 02/07/15 03:21 AM
Just putting this info out there in case anyone needs a sending unit for a 20 tank. I bought the one off an Ebay seller that appears to be the same reproduced unit that I was looking into at Jim's. Same design, same measurements, same everything. It's really nice. All stainless steel, no plastic, it fit perfectly and works great. It was $109 shipped to my door.