What to do for a gas sending unit

I too have no idea how much gasoline I have in my 38 Ford. Does anyone have a solution for junk senders? What do you do? Does anyone have an idea how a person might buy new parts and put a gas gauge under dash?
 
Several ways to go (depending on where you want to end up!).

1. Try to locate a NOS sender.

2. Install a resistance type modern sender and learn to live with it.

3. Install a new matched set of resistance type gauge and sender. Here is an example of a 2 1/16 inch gauge. Now these are mostly 12v setups! 6v may be a little more completed to fined.
 

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The late senders that use a modern gauge will not fit your tank unless you have an adapter.
 
The sender needs to match the ohms requirements of the gauge. You should be able to find a sender of the correct ohms that will fit about any tank you would be using. The mounting hole pattern may need to be re-drilled, not sure. One of the gauges I posted earlier if for a John Deere tractor.
 
Yes, it is 0-30 ohm. Found what I think is a cool looking guage! However, it is 12v neg ground.

"Available in 0-90 ohm (GM mid 60's to mid 90's), 0-30 ohm (early GM), 73-10 ohm (pre 90's Ford and Chrysler), 16-158 ohm (later model Fords) and 240-33 ohm (aftermarket senders such as the Auto Meter 3262). Our patented air core meter movement receives extra dampening to help combat the effects fuel slosh in non-baffled tanks."


Again, unless you are attempting to match an existing resistance sender in a car, any gauge/sender combination will work as long as they match.
 

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I would bet there no modern senders that are large enough to fit the stock Ford opening.

Easy to fabricate (or buy, if they are still available) an adapter; but last one I did I found it even easier to just make a larger plate for the new sender and switch the mechanism over. Didn't get a picture of that one; but here's an adapter plate I made for the VDO sender in my '47.

You could also hide the gauge in the glove box, if you remember to check it.
 

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Rich B.
What kind of sender is that and where does it come from? Am i correct in assuming any sending unit that goes from 0 to 30 ohms will work with a 38 gauge? Bob Drake shows two types of senders. One is the junk type the other a more expensive one Does anyone have any knowledge how they operate?
 
JSEERY andCORVETTE8N I called Steiner Tractor in Lennon MI. and saw a sending unit part number JDS1712 works on 6 or 12 volt pos and neg ground calibrated to 0-30 ohms. Talked to a teck. He said they have had good luck with them sold over 6,000 only a few did not work due to mistaken hookup. Has a 3" plate with 5 holes. Got to check this out more. Will advise Later.
 
Not to hijack this post but does someone have the approximate location (going thru the trunk floor ) of the sender location in the tank on a '39 standard tudor i've read where there was a trap door for access but my floor was patched at one point and the trap door is long gone. i thought maybe i could put a door back in while checking my sender. might be easier than dropping the tank. thanks for any advice.
 
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