I would like to confirm the stock OEM AC fuel tank sending unit that was used with the 1948 Chevy 1/2 ton trucks. I believe it may be part #1516334, group #300A? Was it stamped "model C"? Can someone please verify that this is correct? Locating a NOS one in working condition could prove to be an interesting challenge.
I don't know about that number Luke but yes...locating an NOS unit could be an interesting and expensive challenge. The one I had was #1517501. Around 4 years ago I rebuilt one and I may have it around here somewhere. It took me weeks to do, but it did finally work okay.
However...please let me tell you something about that unit which pretty well promises it will last about 4 or 5 years at the most. I corrected this on the one I rebuilt, for what it is worth. The OEM unit only had one pivot point and it should have had 2. The shaft which operates the wiper (across the resistance coil) only pivots once and it swings in a pot metal case which is softer than the bar which makes the shaft. So, what it means is the hole in the case wears rapidly, the shaft moves around at will and the sender becomes very erratic and inaccurate when this happens. Occasionally (as mine did) it hangs up inside and the action of the float ruins the wiper piece. I had to make a new button for it in order to make it work again. Aside from rebuilding, establishing 2 pivot points and installing a brass or stainless piece to act as one pivot bearing, there isn't anything one can do to remedy this.
You can see in the 4th image below where I made the shaft into a T (instead of an L) and ran the other side out through the back side plate.
So what is a mother to do? Well, the 0 to 30 ohm sender made in Taiwan and sold on eBay by a seller known as renbusan (think it is about $30 including shipping) is the best sender I've found. Good luck with your search. If a working sender is what you want and you want one that will last, I'd get the one on eBay.
Last edited by Jon G; 09/13/202412:57 PM. Reason: add explanation of an image
~ Jon 1952 1/2 ton with 1959 235 | T5 with 3.07 rear end
I can vouch for the one from renbusan. I had replaced the OEM sending unit in my tank (it was totally shot) with a unit from one of the likely vendors. It was so erratic that you did not know if the tank was empty or running over full. Got a sending unit from renbusan and all is good.
Just be sure you replace with the right ohm rating sending unit.
Called Jim Carter Truck Parts on lead for the eBay listing. It will not work for the 1947/1948 under the bed mounted fuel tanks. That unit that is for sale would be a nice find for the right person...
Sorry...I thought you may have had the in-cab tank. Yes, it is a nice find for anyone wanting to go original, particularly with free shipping. The sender sold by renbusan will work on any type of fuel tank and you get a scale showing what length to trim the mast and the swing rod, also.
~ Jon 1952 1/2 ton with 1959 235 | T5 with 3.07 rear end
What determined whether or not a truck came equipped with an in cab tank or an under bed tank?
1950 Chevrolet 3100 (Ol' Roy) 1939 Packard Standard Eight Coupe (The Phantom) | 1956 Cadillac Coupe de Ville (The Bismarck) | 1956 Cadillac Sixty Special Fleetwood (The Godfather) | 1966 Oldsmobile Toronado (The Purple Knif) | 1966 Ford Mustang (Little Red) | 1964 Ford Galaxie 500 coupe | 1979 Ford F-100 | 1976 Ford F-150 (Big Red) | 1995 Ford F-150 (Newt)
Thanks for the link Jon. Just nailed it. Though mine is currently working, love to have such an extra in my truck spare parts box.
Craig
My '50 Chevy 3100 5 window, '62-235cu, 3:55 rear My truck ....... Respect The Rust If I'm not working on my truck, '65 m00stang or VW camper, I'm fishing with the wife or smoking Salmon.
Didn't know that. I thought all the AD trucks had it in the cab.
1950 Chevrolet 3100 (Ol' Roy) 1939 Packard Standard Eight Coupe (The Phantom) | 1956 Cadillac Coupe de Ville (The Bismarck) | 1956 Cadillac Sixty Special Fleetwood (The Godfather) | 1966 Oldsmobile Toronado (The Purple Knif) | 1966 Ford Mustang (Little Red) | 1964 Ford Galaxie 500 coupe | 1979 Ford F-100 | 1976 Ford F-150 (Big Red) | 1995 Ford F-150 (Newt)
I feel a need to circle back around to the reason that I started this post...
When I bought the truck in 2009 and started in on completing the restoration, the truck did not come with a working fuel gauge. I finally got around to installing a NOS fuel gauge, new after-market sending unit from a major vendor, and ran new wiring. The fuel gauge works, but with a full tank of gas, it pegs at the 3/4 full mark. I thought perhaps the after-market sending unit was to blame for this reading. My thought that it may have been better to try and track down an NOS sending unit to remedy this reading issue. From what has been shared by Jon G, that NOS sending unit idea doesn't sound like the answer to having the gauge peg to F. Being that I now finally have a "working" fuel gauge, I can live with it the way that it is vs. having to watch how many miles I drive before needing a fill-up.
Fonz, curious what the fuel gauge read when tank is empty? What does the fuel gauge read when you ground the sender wire? Reading when sender wire is disconnected (open)
I care less where the needle is with full tank, but where it reads when nearing or at empty matters…..alot
I clicked on your fuel sending unit link, and it looks exactly like the one we purchased for our 1948 3100 series pickup. We purchased that and a new fuel tank and that sending unit did not fit through the unit’s attachment hole. We complained to supplier and as usual the answer was “well we’ve never had a problem.” We ended up hacking the vertical support so we could inserted into the tank.
Thank you, Shaffer. My truck is a 1957 Chevy 1/2 ton with the gas tank in the cab. For $30, I think I'l try it. I'm on my 4th repro sender, and so far all of the floats have leaked.
