We had the same trouble with our 1st sending unit, as far as going bad. Did the same tests and now everything works as it should. What really sucks today is the parts you get. Cheap ass parts for crazy money and we wonder why we get burnt out on builds. Just stay at it and ut will work out and you'll enjoy your car, so it will be worth it.
I'm in the same boat. I've owned my 56 Sedan Delivery for 52 years and the original sending unit lasted all the way into the 80s or 90s (can't remember). And now I've replaced 2 and am still having problems. I'm in the process of removing the sending unit now. And I do mean process. Sedan Deliveries (wagons) are much different than the rest of the tri-fives. They are much harder to get to. The last time I did it, I had to disconnect the springs and shocks and move the third member forward so that the tank would slide down in order to get to the sending unit. Believe me, I do not look forward to replace sending units, and I am 70 now. So it's getting harder for me physically.
I just had to modify my sending unit today! The fuel gauge isn't stock so it needs a different potentiometer in the sending unit. When I installed it I did use a cork gasket but still have to get a few copper washers for the mounting screws.
I updated my fuel sending unit to use a 3/8" fuel line and added 4 gallons of fuel and my dash gauge was off. So I drained the tank and removed the sender and adjusted the float arm to read 1/8 on the fuel gauge after putting in only 2 gallons of fuel in the tank and still wasn't quite right and then read in the 1955 Service Manual to also remove the fuel gauge from the dash and bend the needle re read correctly. Now when the fuel gauge reads an 1/8 of a tank I know I have 2 gallons of fuel left in the tank.
Yep. I just "drug up" not one but three Tri-Fives from an auction. Like you said yours have been, just parts cars that will be road worthy again. Thanks to TH-cam it threw your channel at me. I wrote two pages of notes from this video. Thanks!
@@haffrods7055 Yes, I knew there were 57s in that yard and always wanted a 2-door. As the auction went along I got the feel of what a winning bid for a 2 door was. Many 2 doors sold for over 1K but under 2K. I bid on a real complete 4-door 57 A150 to use for parts. The next 57 I won was a VB code 2 door (post) it needed a right quarter and all the floors. The last one I won is a VC code that is rotten half up. The frame is great but needs a lot of metal. It was being dissected to save others. I have a title but it has a legal issue. So, I'll be using your videos as a teacher. I know this is a long reply but check on me in a bit to see how far I've gotten.
Frustrating for sure. I’m about to install a new one on my nomad. Like someone above said, pulling the tank on a wagon is a royal pain. Hopefully my new sending unit works! Thanks for the how to!
I had a similar problem with a sending unit that I bought a year ago. I performed all the tests that are listed in the repair book and it passed. But the gas gauge barely lifts off of Empty when I put five gallons as measured by the pump at the Gas station. I measured the resistance with a VOM and the ohms were a little jumpy and erratic. I moved the sending unit to the passenger compartment and connected it to the gas gauge correctly and the gauge work properly when the float was moved up and down manually but would not work when installed in the gas tank. I'm still trying to figure it out. Frame-off resto with under coating, new tank, tank hold down straps, tried additional grounding strap/wire on tank. Good luck in the Contest
Question! You just put 2 gal of gas in the tank and turned the key and stated the needle never moved off the E. If you did that and not one dash light came alive, did you even have electricity to the dash? If you didn't have dash lights maybe there was no power to the sending unit. Just an observation.
We had the same trouble with our 1st sending unit, as far as going bad. Did the same tests and now everything works as it should. What really sucks today is the parts you get. Cheap ass parts for crazy money and we wonder why we get burnt out on builds. Just stay at it and ut will work out and you'll enjoy your car, so it will be worth it.
I'm in the same boat. I've owned my 56 Sedan Delivery for 52 years and the original sending unit lasted all the way into the 80s or 90s (can't remember). And now I've replaced 2 and am still having problems. I'm in the process of removing the sending unit now. And I do mean process. Sedan Deliveries (wagons) are much different than the rest of the tri-fives. They are much harder to get to. The last time I did it, I had to disconnect the springs and shocks and move the third member forward so that the tank would slide down in order to get to the sending unit. Believe me, I do not look forward to replace sending units, and I am 70 now. So it's getting harder for me physically.
I just had to modify my sending unit today! The fuel gauge isn't stock so it needs a different potentiometer in the sending unit. When I installed it I did use a cork gasket but still have to get a few copper washers for the mounting screws.
I updated my fuel sending unit to use a 3/8" fuel line and added 4 gallons of fuel and my dash gauge was off. So I drained the tank and removed the sender and adjusted the float arm to read 1/8 on the fuel gauge after putting in only 2 gallons of fuel in the tank and still wasn't quite right and then read in the 1955 Service Manual to also remove the fuel gauge from the dash and bend the needle re read correctly. Now when the fuel gauge reads an 1/8 of a tank I know I have 2 gallons of fuel left in the tank.
That's very good info Tony. Thank you for commenting.
Yep. I just "drug up" not one but three Tri-Fives from an auction. Like you said yours have been, just parts cars that will be road worthy again. Thanks to TH-cam it threw your channel at me. I wrote two pages of notes from this video. Thanks!
Thanks for watching. Did you get them from the Texas tri 5 auction? I watched videos last week. Lots of buildable projects there.
@@haffrods7055 Yes, I knew there were 57s in that yard and always wanted a 2-door. As the auction went along I got the feel of what a winning bid for a 2 door was. Many 2 doors sold for over 1K but under 2K. I bid on a real complete 4-door 57 A150 to use for parts. The next 57 I won was a VB code 2 door (post) it needed a right quarter and all the floors. The last one I won is a VC code that is rotten half up. The frame is great but needs a lot of metal. It was being dissected to save others. I have a title but it has a legal issue. So, I'll be using your videos as a teacher. I know this is a long reply but check on me in a bit to see how far I've gotten.
Frustrating for sure. I’m about to install a new one on my nomad. Like someone above said, pulling the tank on a wagon is a royal pain. Hopefully my new sending unit works! Thanks for the how to!
I had a similar problem with a sending unit that I bought a year ago. I performed all the tests that are listed in the repair book
and it passed. But the gas gauge barely lifts off of Empty when I put five gallons as measured by the pump at the Gas station.
I measured the resistance with a VOM and the ohms were a little jumpy and erratic. I moved the sending unit to the passenger compartment and connected it to the gas gauge correctly and the gauge work properly when the float was moved up and down manually but would not work when installed in the gas tank. I'm still trying to figure it out. Frame-off resto with under coating, new tank, tank hold down straps, tried additional grounding strap/wire on tank. Good luck in the Contest
Thanks for the info, if you adjust the arm please show us.
Just wondering if you could steal the sock fitting and brass float arm off of the dead one and put them on the new one.
The standard tank holds 16 gallons of fuel, right? So, two gallons would be 1/8 of a tank, right? I'll bet that barely tickles the float.
Question! You just put 2 gal of gas in the tank and turned the key and stated the needle never moved off the E. If you did that and not one dash light came alive, did you even have electricity to the dash? If you didn't have dash lights maybe there was no power to the sending unit. Just an observation.
There is no power to the sending unit it reads resistance you dont want 12 volts in any gas tank,LOL! Yes 12 volts to the gauge one side ....
It took me 3 sending units until I got one to work properly , very frustrating you are always second guessing your self
Try putting a total of four gallons of gasoline in the tank 🤔