63 Fuel Sending Unit

[Joe S.]

My 63 Sending unit it causing the gauge to go all over the place when the car moves. At Carlisle today I priced new units (Quanta) and they are over $200 for Delco units and $70+ for a repro.

So the questions are:

1. Can the original be rebuilt and is there perhaps an article on it somewhere?
2. If not, due the new Delco units measure up from a judged perspective?
3. If #1 and 2 are no, can the $70 repro be combined with the visible part of the orginal to make a working unit?
4. What's the point loss for the $70 repro if none of the above apply?

Thanks...




Joe's 63 FI Convertible

[don 42616]

Re: 63 Fuel Sending Unit

How do you know the problem is with the sending unit? I would think its in the gage or poor ground on sending unit or gage. On past threds I have heard the cheap imports donot last. As far as points I have not seen judges look in tank or wire connections.

[Joe S.]

Re: 63 Fuel Sending Unit

Although I can't positively say it's' not the gauge, it was recently rebuilt and tested by Corvette Specialties of MD. The sending unit is the original so I figured that was the weak link. Others with similar problems had also led me to the sending unit.

The gauge has power and reads correctly until the car moves. The movement of gas in the tank, which causes the sender to move, is causing eratic readings.

[don 42616]

Re: 63 Fuel Sending Unit

Joe, After you solve this problem I would apreciate if you would e mail me conclusion. Thanks, Don p.s. after you take a ride & turn key off does the gage pointer do a flip?

[Gerard F.]

Re: 63 Fuel Sending Unit

Joe,

Take a look at this post:

https://www.ncrs.org/forum/tech.cgi/noframes/read/191075

There is also an article in Summer 2004 Restorer on repairing them (for a C3 but the same principle).

The parts between the original and repro do not interchange. The varible resistor is completely different.

The original sender is much better built then the repro. You ought to pull it and see whats's wrong with it before you thrash it. My repro lasted about a year, and then I fixed my original.

Not sure if it is a judged item, but it looks different from the outside of the tank.

I'd lay out the $200 for an original before I bought another $70 repro.

Jerry Fuccillo
#42179

[James W.]

Re: 63 Fuel Sending Unit

Hello Joe,

First of all thanks for keeping us up to date with your '63 restoration and I feel your pain as you are fast approaching your NCRS flight judging event. I went through the same last year while preparing my '64 convertible.

As for your fuel sending unit, can you try to explain how much the gauge fluctuates when the car is moving? I have the original sending unit in my '64 convertible and the fuel gauge needle fluctuates quite a bit when the level in the tank drops below 1/2 full but the gauge is dead on accurate. The movement is not what I would call erratic, but it does move back and forth from the fuel sloshing around in the tank during normal driving. It is most noticeable when the level in the tank is at 1/4 and below. Are your readings really erratic, all over the span of the gauge? Have you tried cleaning the sending unit contacts?

As for the type of new sending unit you are thinking about buying, I'd go with the AC Delco unit. I have also heard that the aftermarket repro units do not last.

Let us know what you find out.

Best Regards,

James West
Omaha, NE.

[Joe S.]

Re: 63 Fuel Sending Unit

James,

The needle goes all over the place to the point where you can't even see it as it's moving so fast. It's litterally to the point where it looks like the needle is going to fly off.

I'm going to drop the sender this week and I'll report back the end result.

Thanks much!