Rod Underwood

Well, I think this might be a new one.. The fuel guage in the black 87 was not registering correctly and since I've discovered how to rebuild them and had an extra, I thought I'd remove it and replace, then rebuild it.

When I tried to remove it, I discovered it was bent in the middle at about a 30 degree angle. and I could barely get it out. I was amazed at how this could happen, but went on to insert a rebuilt one. When I put it in, it hit the in-tank fuel pump. Sits right on top on it and would not go into the tank far enough to put the ring back on.

I had replaced the in-tank pump with no problems, but I wonder if when someone else had replaced it, they had bent the sending unit housing. It would take a considerable force, in fact, I don't see how it could be done.

This leads me to the question, is the fuel sending unit for the in-tank pump shorter than the regular one? A regular one sits right on top of the pump and WILL NOT go in. I took the housing off the original pump.. straightened everything out and it will fit in without the housing, the "innards" straddle the in tank pump and it works fine, but I assume the housing is on there for a reason, so....

So, what's up with this?

Rod

76FJ55

I do not know if the sending units are different but my guess on what bent the sender is that the tank vent system is not working correctly and a vacuum was drawn on the tank causing it to essentially implode crushing the sending unit.

Rod Underwood

You know, that sounds reasonable, but that doesn't explain why the replacement, which is the same length won't fit into the tank without hitting the in-tank pump? It also was bent sideways, not like an implosion

Something is fishy here.

Rod

Mrmerlin

Rod your tank may be damaged and is in the semi crushed state the sender should not hit the intank pump my guess is as the post stated thet the tank vent system is not functioning as it should thus the tank has imploded and is now slightly smaller than before

Rod Underwood

Should I be able to push the tank back down? It certainly doesn't look like it's damaged. The sender was so damaged I can't imagine that the tank wouldn't be seriously damaged as well. It took a lot of force to bend the inner tube back into place and since it was directly over the pump, it looks like it should have damaged it as well.

You think my twinscrew is pulling the gas out too fast?

Rod

polecat702

Rod, a long piece of SCH 40 X one and one half inch PVC pipe will fit perfectly inside the aluminum tube that houses the sending unit internals. I used LPS to lube the PVC pipe and worked the aluminum tube down over it to remove the dent. trust me this really works. couldn't tell there was ever a dent in the tube. The OD of the PVC pipe is the same ID of the sender tube. My sender tube colapsed just like yours did, I still don't know why. Shark Skin sent me a thread, about the repair procedures.

Rod Underwood

Thanks, I'll try that.

Did you ever have a repeat of the situation? I'm a bit concerned, since I don't know what happened, that it will reoccur.

Rod

76FJ55

If your just looking for the tube portion of the sender I have an old sender with a broken wire I could send you. don't know if its possible, but if you could take your guts and install them in my tube you could make a good sender out of the combo.

Rod Underwood

Yep, that will save me a lot of trouble. PM me with any shipping costs and I'll take care of it.

Thanks
Rod

Mongo

I saw mention of an in tank fuel pump above. 1987 S4s have two fuel pumps also???

76FJ55

Rod,
PM me you address and when I get home I'll find a box for it and let me know what shipping will be.

polecat702

Rod I never had a repeat of the tube collapsing again. BTW, if you use the plastic pipe trick, tap the tube with a rubber mallet where the dent is when your done it will be gone.

Stromius

89 onwards