fuel sender leak

i have a very slight leak from my fuel sender unit on the gas tank - another vanner had a similar problem mentioned in a different topic thread - i also have a little play where the tube enters the plate - it was mentioned the best method is to solder this - so what method is used to solder this - plumbers tools, map gas torch and solder? - or ? - and any special methods to remove sender unit - i have a manual on cd but i cant seem to find any removal of sender - thanks - oo3

I think Alex used JB Weld to seal a gas tank leak.

Solder won't take to anything but nice shinny steel or copper. Use 50/50 tin/lead (if you can find it), it fills/builds better. Mapp gas is probably too hot for a beginner. I like Laco paste flux.

To remove the sending unit you have to drop the tank. The gas weighs a lot even if it's a few gallons. I jacked the back of the van up and siphoned it out via the fuel pick-up. Have a couple/few empty fuel jugs around.

I recently changed the sending unit on my A100. I got the new one from George at the Yahoo group (the price was in line). You might want to consider getting the new assembly. I believe Nate says it's a modified for the A-bodies. George also has the 90 degree 1 3/4" hose for the filler pipe connection.

Here is a link for the grounding strap, retaining ring (that simply unscrews with a hammer and old screwdriver), gasket, filter sock, and float.

http://www.yearone.com/serverfiles/fbshopmain2.asp?input=FD58862&SM=1&SC=&goBtn.x=19&goBtn.y=2

Here is the page with my post on removing the tank:
https://vintage-vans.forumotion.com/between-the-seats-a-f16/fuel-gauge-off-t1388.htm

Please, take Don's advice - DO IT OFF THE VEHICLE

Good Luck and let me know if you have any more questions.

Someone on Ebay is selling new sending units for $60. They look correct.

What George sells (I think) are new sending units for A-body Mopar cars modified to work for an A-100.

Gates makes the fuel filler elbow. Can't remember the P/N off hand.

i take it because of length of sender unit and tank to back body you have to drop the tank? - i was hoping to do a low dough fix for now - but if i have to drop tank i would rather do it right once - of course now is not a good time for that as i need to get a regular job first - oo3

itruns - did you put on the ground strap yet and did you see a difference in gauge reading- i clipped a test lead from gas line to sending plate - it seemed to drop just a bit - but i can only put in a quarter tank so maybe with a whole tank the difference might be more? oo3

Regretfully no, I haven't gotten the strap yet.

I think the 42 year gauge was a little lazy from not being used for a number of years. The gauge is now going up to the 'F' line, but I still have about 6 gallons left (tank holds 22 gallons I believe) when it gets to the 'E' line. By putting the strap on (that didn't sound right), it may show a little more fuel in there.

Make sure the you're grounding the tube to a good ground on the body.

Have you done anything with the small leak?

Hope the job situation is going better.

- Larry

Just wondering, do you think a small capacitor wired in there might help?

The limiter is the points style, so the voltage is constantly varying (that's why I used the analog meter). There are now limiters that are electronic with steady voltage. Just wondering if it might help a 42 year old gauge.

Thanks for the cool tip Don. Cheap testing method, gotta love it.

The Dodge As are: empty = 73 ohms, full = 8 to 12 ohms. My new sending unit shows 11 ohms. So to do the 1/2 full test, I take it we need approx. 21.5 ohms. Will a 20 + a 2 in series work?

no fix yet - out of town visitors this last week - and if i have to drop tank to take sender out i should just wait until i can replace with a new one - i really did want to just solder it but dont want to drop tank twice to do the right thing later - if your ohms range is from app 8/12 to 73 wouldnt you minus instead of add - or am i missing something - your range would be app 60 and then a 30 ohm resistor would be used - (?) - oo3

Oops again. Sorry, my bad.

73 - 10 = 63 ohm range. 63 / 2 = 31.5. 31.5 + 10 (base) = 41.5 ohms. It might still be off...

Thanks for the input Don. I do tend to over-think things sometimes. But Lord knows I wish I hadn't under-thought a few other things in my life as well.

It's kind of starting to annoy me that I have a quarter tank left and the gauge shows 'E'. I think the grounding wire should help a little. If it really gets the best of me, I could always drop the tank again and bend the float wire down a little bit, but I'm probably too anal to let it get to that.

Right now I'm happy I can park the van in my home's the garage and not have my wife complain (rightfully so) that she smells gasoline. I also don't have to worry about running out of gas anymore.

I put the sending unit (new) with the plastic bottle float in 2 months ago. I don't know when the gauge last functioned prior to that. The gauge goes past 'F' when grounded. If it was opposite I could probably put a resistor in line to fake out the gauge a little. If the limiter isn't putting out enough voltage I assume the gauge would show a little lower, thus my thought on the capacitor. I don't have a grounding strap yet, so that could be a small issue as well.

Rt. 83 and St. Charles Road is about 15-20 minutes from my shop (where I've been known to spend way too much time) which is near Rt. 72 (Higgins/Oakton) and Rt. 83. Give me a shout the next time you're coming to this side of the Mississippi. I'd be thrilled to see that red 1st Generation of yours and swap notes.

Century Glass - 1315 Howard Elk Grove Village, IL 60007 - (847) 758-9800 - Larry

When I was testing things out several months ago, I just grounded the gauge for a few seconds so it should be OK.

I hear you on the South (West or North for that matter) Side thing. It sucks when they steal your pager while you're holding a 80 x 130 sheet of plate. I could bring my Scooby by your cousin's place as long as it's not raining.

just to check the grounding strap you could use a clip lead like i did or a piece of wire and a couple clamps or ? - just to temp and see if it makes a difference - takes a minute or so to see change in reading - oo3

Filled the gas tank on the way home today. Pulled in on E. Expected to have 5 or 6 gals as reserve so with a 19 gallon tank, should have only taken 14 gallons. It took 16 gallons. Yeah Baby! Maybe the new electronic VR made a difference? Anyways, it now goes up to the Full mark and has 3 gallons in reserve when it hits 'E'.