04-09-2017, 06:48 PM | #1 |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Lubbock
Posts: 10
|
A little advice
I posted in the welcome forum, but wanted to drop a couple of questions in here.
Bought an 87 Chevy C10 shortwide. Runs great, but a quick question. Gas gauge doesn't work. Should just be the cable, right? I haven't dug into yet because I am fairly new at this and didn't want to do work that wasn't needed. Any advice? |
04-09-2017, 07:31 PM | #2 |
Post Whore
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Alabama
Posts: 14,670
|
Re: A little advice
Quite possibly be the sending unit..check the wiring at sending unit first..
|
04-09-2017, 07:46 PM | #3 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Lubbock
Posts: 10
|
Re: A little advice
Quote:
I will check the sending unit next. Thanks. |
|
04-09-2017, 08:05 PM | #4 |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Lubbock
Posts: 10
|
Re: A little advice
Sorry, I'm a newb, but is the sending unit the one that is on top of the gas tank?
And, I suppose I have to drop the tank to get to it? |
04-09-2017, 08:19 PM | #5 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Ohio
Posts: 6,979
|
Re: A little advice
If you do a search on the forum, it will return a bunch of threads on this subject. Read through a few, they will offer up on what to look for. Some of the most common issue will be to check your ground wire.
BTW, Welcome to Forum!!!
__________________
FB Page for my Seats Belts https://www.facebook.com/73-87-Chevy...9439407476735/ Restoring Seatbelts: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=809750 SOLD My 86 Build:http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=654972 Past Restored Bench Seats:http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=715398 PayPal link to pay for your items: https://www.paypal.me/TKCR |
04-09-2017, 08:27 PM | #6 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Moss Point,Ms.
Posts: 1,439
|
Re: A little advice
Quote:
But first,get all the gas out that you can to reduce the weight. Another tip is to check the ground wire at the tank where it is connected to the frame.Corrosion here will cause funny readings. When you drop the tank,(there's 8-3/8th's bolts holding it to the frame you must remove)not much hose or wires,so go easy.Some prefer to raise the bed!Now,clean the ground on the frame and check guage again.Should read correct. Still bad?Now unplug the wire on the sending unit(one with the rubber boot on it).Ground it to a clean bare spot on the frame.With first ground wire still grounded.Should read full too. I just today finished mine.I replaced both sending units with the Spectra brand from O''Reilly's. Mike. |
|
04-09-2017, 08:41 PM | #7 |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Lubbock
Posts: 10
|
Re: A little advice
Thank you. For the welcome and the advice.
|
04-09-2017, 08:42 PM | #8 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Lubbock
Posts: 10
|
Re: A little advice
Quote:
Thank you. |
|
04-09-2017, 08:42 PM | #9 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Mesa AZ (Near Phoenix)
Posts: 2,302
|
Re: A little advice
This is also the most common area that a mouse or rat will get up into and build a house. Above tank/under cab. While building that house they like to chew the wires the run front to back. Sometimes you can wiggle a coat hanger (old steel wire one) up into that area above the tank and see if any mouse house material comes out. If it does, wires are almost always chewed.
__________________
"Life is too short to drive a boring vehicle". Later, Wayne |
04-09-2017, 09:05 PM | #10 |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Lubbock
Posts: 10
|
Re: A little advice
Again, I did tear it apart enough to get to the needle and moved it by hand and it moved back to half a tank. So, would that still indicate sending unit, or more of a gauge issue?
|
04-09-2017, 09:17 PM | #11 |
Post Whore
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Alabama
Posts: 14,670
|
Re: A little advice
Don't mess with the gauge..more than likely its going to be the sending unit or wiring at the sending unit..easiest way is pick bed up..take the hold down bolts out on the tank side and loosen the ones on opposite side (really loose)..you can then tilt bed by lifting it and sticking a 2x4 in there to hold it up at an angle..you should be able to work on it from there...much easier than trying to pull a tank full of gas.
..remember..that's a gas bomb your working on... |
04-09-2017, 09:37 PM | #12 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Ohio
Posts: 6,979
|
Re: A little advice
Yes, be safe!! We don't want to hear about losing new members, well any members.
__________________
FB Page for my Seats Belts https://www.facebook.com/73-87-Chevy...9439407476735/ Restoring Seatbelts: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=809750 SOLD My 86 Build:http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=654972 Past Restored Bench Seats:http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=715398 PayPal link to pay for your items: https://www.paypal.me/TKCR |
04-09-2017, 10:31 PM | #13 |
Post Whore
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Alabama
Posts: 14,670
|
Re: A little advice
BE SAFE..no kidding..and this is coming from a man that had 5 gallons of gas blow up in my face...not fun
|
04-10-2017, 08:27 AM | #14 | |
Registered User
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Motor City
Posts: 9,226
|
Re: A little advice
Quote:
- This - x2 K
__________________
Chevrolet Flint Assembly 1979-1986 GM Full Size Truck Engineering 1986 - 2019 Intro from an Old Assembly Guy: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=342926 My Pontiac story: http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...d.php?t=560524 Chevelle intro: http://www.superchevy.com/features/s...hevy-chevelle/ Last edited by Keith Seymore; 04-10-2017 at 10:42 AM. |
|
04-10-2017, 08:59 AM | #15 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Lubbock
Posts: 10
|
Re: A little advice
Quote:
|
|
04-10-2017, 01:14 PM | #16 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Tucson, AZ
Posts: 3,189
|
Re: A little advice
Since you are new to the site, you can search "gas gauge, fuel sending units, gas tanks" etc. and get some detailed information on this subject.
Here is my experience. I had a gauge that never read correctly. I dropped both tanks (I have dual tanks) and replaced the sending units. Still incorrect reading on the gas gauge. I replaced the gas gauge and that fixed the problem. In my case, I used aftermarket Spectra brand sending units. While those units send the correct fuel level signal to the gas gauge, the gas gauge needle bounces then the vehicle is in motion, and it takes a few minutes for the gas gauge to settle down to the correct reading when the vehicle is not moving. I believe that AC Delco sending units will not cause the gas gauge to bounce. AC Delco units cost about $150 per unit, Spectra units are about $50 per unit. For the price difference, I will accept the bouncing units while in motion. Others will say that the gas gauge is the problem, not the sending units. Dropping the tank is not difficult. You can read elsewhere on this website about different ways to drop the tanks. Obviously, the tanks should be as empty as possible. My method: - Place concrete blocks and 2x4s or 1x4s under the front and rear of the tank until they are snug. - Squirt penetrant (Liquid Wrench, PB Blaster, WD 40 penetrant, etc.) on the mounting bolts. There are 8 mounting bolts total (4 on the front bracket, 4 on the rear bracket. The bolts are driven into captive nuts on the mounting brackets, so you only need one wrench to remove them. Use a ratchet extension or multiple extensions as required on the bolts. - When the bolts are removed, you can start to remove the wood and concrete blocks from under the tank. Remove the rear blocks first, until you can get your hand up above the tank and reach the sending unit on the top of the tank. Use a flat blade screw driver to release the rubber capped button connector. Unscrew the bolt for the grounding strap which is attached to the frame rail. You should be able to remove all of the electrical connectors with the tank still in place and resting on the remaining blocks. (You can remove the small blocks under the front of the tank and leave it resting on the concrete blocks only.) - When you have room above the tank, you can use a flat blade screwdriver to disconnect the radiator clamps around the rubber filler hose, and the smaller hose which is the vent hose. - When everything is disconnected, you can remove all of the remaining blocks, one at a time, until the tank is on the ground. You can then replace the sending units. - The sending units are attached to the tank by a lock ring and a rubber gasket below. You tap the upturned tab on the lock ring with a flat blade screwdriver and hammer. Use AC Delco replacement gaskets when installing the new sending unit. (The Spectra gaskets are more of a generic O ring and not shaped to fit the slot in the top of the sending unit like the Delco units are.) - Installation is the reverse of removal, as all the shop manuals say. |
04-11-2017, 09:57 AM | #17 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Maine
Posts: 2,376
|
Re: A little advice
I dunno, everybody is different. I have removed beds and dropped gas tanks by myself and dropping tanks seems easier to me. If there are a lot of guys around then removing a bed might be easier. I disconnect the hoses and ground wire inside the frame and leave them on the sending unit when I drop it. I never drop one with gas in it. You want it as empty as possible to make it easier on yourself.
__________________
76 Chevy K20 76 GMC K15 77 Chevy C10 77 Chevy K10 |
Bookmarks |
|
|