'32 gas tank pick up and setwart-warner float

A

acchaplin

Senior Member
After searching,,,,,. I take it there are no aftermarket 5/16" pick up tube, and Stewart-Warner sending units that will fit the 6 hole flange of a OEM '32 Ford car gas tank?

What I am seeing is,,,,, a pick up tube assembly (most are 3/8 dia) that fits the 32 tank. Or a float assembly that has a 5 hole mounting plate that is supposed to fit a 32 tank. But no float-pick up units that are combined that has a 6 hole mounting plate.

So what have you guys done? Thanks
 
AC.. I have a 35 and have been looking at replacing the hydrostatic unit with a more "modern" system.. I think the design is very similar to the 32. I have determined that there are no current replacement sending units with a pickup.. There are two different sensor types, one with a float arm, the other with internal sensor. My 35 is 9 1/2" drop and these will fit. Then I looked at pickups and they are available but you need to drill a new hole in the tank, which maybe hard if the tank is in the car. SO then I started to look at whether I could drill a hole in the new unit mounting plate and while it appears th at I can, both suppliers do not recommend... (but I may still try!).. THe idea is to strap the pickup securely to the posts and aim it in the opposite direction of the float. Then the last option is to change the pickup to locate it at the bottom of the tank at the drain plug.. and just reconfigure that... BUT, that would require some kind of protection to the new line so that it doesn't get completely exposed to the ground . Anyway, that is my research, and I have not done anything yet... My idea is to put the electric dash unit hidden in my glove box as I prefer a clean original dash look... still noodling the idea..
 
I had the same situation with my "32, I purchased a linear sending unit (available in just about any length) and machined an offset adapter. The offset adapter allows the use of one common hole(circled in the images), the common hole in the adapter will allow you to mount the new sending unit thru the adapter into an existing mounting hole in the tank. The adapter as shown is not finished, it needs holes and counter bores to mount the adapter to the tank and also holes bored and tapped to mount the new sending unit. Hope this makes sense.
Tom
 

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A couple of additional images.
Tom
 

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hotcoupe said:
I had the same situation with my "32, I purchased a linear sending unit (available in just about any length) and machined an offset adapter. The offset adapter allows the use of one common hole(circled in the images), the common hole in the adapter will allow you to mount the new sending unit thru the adapter into an existing mounting hole in the tank. The adapter as shown is not finished, it needs holes and counter bores to mount the adapter to the tank and also holes bored and tapped to mount the new sending unit. Hope this makes sense.
Tom
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I think drilling out a mounting hole is a brilliant idea for adding the pickup.. rather than drilling a new hole in the mounting plate! the suggestion offer to me was to use SS clips to secure the new flexible pickup to the post to limit movement and direct the location of the pickup. Also, good to put a screen on the intake. On an other note, I have been using enzymes to keep the tanks and line free of varnish and gum.
 
Bored&Stroked said:
Curious, why did you have to offset the hole for the unit . . . are the workings offset from the outer mounting pad?
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Bored & Stroked, I made the adapter offset to accommodate a five hole pattern at a specific diameter and a six hole pattern at a different diameter (see image)., I just didn't make that clear in my first post. The other thing that I didn't address is the fuel pick-up, I intend to machine a steel bung with a tube and weld it in the tank.
Tom
 

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hotcoupe said:
Bored & Stroked, I made the adapter offset to accommodate a five hole pattern at a specific diameter and a six hole pattern at a different diameter (see image)., I just didn't make that clear in my first post. The other thing that I didn't address is the fuel pick-up, I intend to machine a steel bung with a tube and weld it in the tank.
Tom
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Now that I saw the drawing, I get it on the hole pattern offset - was necessary (given the diameter the hole needed to be and the associated bolt locations.

Idea: dimensions permitting!

Why not make the fuel pickup part of the drop-in assembly? This is how many of the aftermarket pickup assembly's work. Also, while you're at it - put in a "return line" - just in case you decide to run a different fuel pressure regulator (non dead-head type).

You could make the adapter "taller" and incorporate the fuel outlet and return lines into the spacer/adapter itself. Bringing the two lines out the side of the spacer. That is probably how I would do it (much easier to plumb the car that way).

Just some ideas - much appreciate the drawing and idea!
 
Idea: dimensions permitting!

Why not make the fuel pickup part of the drop-in assembly? This is how many of the aftermarket pickup assembly's work. Also, while you're at it - put in a "return line" - just in case you decide to run a different fuel pressure regulator (non dead-head type).

You could make the adapter "taller" and incorporate the fuel outlet and return lines into the spacer/adapter itself. Bringing the two lines out the side of the spacer. That is probably how I would do it (much easier to plumb the car that way).

Just some ideas - much appreciate the drawing and idea!

Bored & Stroked, Both of your ideas were very good, and I thought about doing just that. However, the existing hole in the tank to mount the sending unit is 1 1/2" diameter. And the float on the new sending unit is greater than 1 1/4". So I couldn't see a way to incorporate a fuel pick-up in the existing hole. Another bit of information that I neglected to mention, the sending unit provides 0 - 240 ohms.
Tom
 
The 1 1/4+ inch float diameter in that linear sending unit requires the use of a pick up somewhere outside of the tank hole. Using one of the mounting screw holes is an elegant solution to that problem.
OTOH, the swing-arm type float units seem to have plenty of room within the 1 1/2" tank hole diameter to install a pick up tube. A 5-hole to 6-hole adapter is still needed.
 
John R said:
The 1 1/4+ inch float diameter in that linear sending unit requires the use of a pick up somewhere outside of the tank hole. Using one of the mounting screw holes is an elegant solution to that problem.
OTOH, the swing-arm type float units seem to have plenty of room within the 1 1/2" tank hole diameter to install a pick up tube. A 5-hole to 6-hole adapter is still needed.
Click to expand...

One could make a "bulkhead" type tube that would also hold the unit down as well as provide a fuel tube (Nut on the top). This would work in the low-volume world of our typical engines (where a 5/16 tube is all you need).
 
WOW! Some good engineering suggestions!

However, there is hardly any extra space (5/8"-3/4"?) between the top of the tank and the body on my application. OEM frame and tank, Brookville body.

Being a original '32 tank I did not want to drill any extra holes, weld, or recess the (finished) body floor.

It took a couple weeks of trial and error, not to forget cussing in 5 different languages, and 3' or so of 5/16" stailess tubing, I think I finally got a float-pick-up unit that will wotk.

1st off I started with a Stweart-Warner universal swing arm float-sending unit and vintage looking guage assembly. Dissambled the unit, welded up the 5 holes in the mounting plate, then re-drilled for the 6 hole 32 tank flange. Cut the float arm to length for the '32 tank depth. Got the completed assembly to fit in the '32 flange hole.

Next step, drill a 5/16" hole right beside the plate sending unit mount. This next part part took the longest, and was the most flustrating. (I really needed one of those very sharp mandrel bent 90's. No access to one) Tude Bending over and over until the completed pick up tube unit was less than a 1/4" from the bottom of the tank, cleared the soddered snding unit connections, had a 1/16" clearnace between the pick-up tube and tank, and the important part, about the same distance between top of unit and body. Plus! be able to carefully snake the completed seding unit-float arm-pick-up tube down in that dinky tank flange hole and the guage work! (whew!)

Soon as I get the unit back from the powder-coaters, then polish the exposed part of the pick up tube, I'll take some pictures. Thanks. (been a lot simpler, easier and quicker, if some aftermarket ouitfit offered one of these combination units)
 
acchaplin, I'm glad you found a solution to your problem, can you provide an image ?
Bored & Stroked, I understand about porting the adapter itself to provide a fuel supply and return. But I can't visualize how to fit the sending unit float ( 1 1/4" dia.) plus a fuel pick-up tube ( 5/16" dia.) thru a 1 1/2" existing hole in the gas tank. Can you provide a sketch? I'm like a lot of other people, I'd rather not modify original parts.
Thank,
Tom
 
hotcoupe said:
acchaplin, I'm glad you found a solution to your problem, can you provide an image ?
Bored & Stroked, I understand about porting the adapter itself to provide a fuel supply and return. But I can't visualize how to fit the sending unit float ( 1 1/4" dia.) plus a fuel pick-up tube ( 5/16" dia.) thru a 1 1/2" existing hole in the gas tank. Can you provide a sketch? I'm like a lot of other people, I'd rather not modify original parts.
Thank,
Tom
Click to expand...

Scetch, hell! I'll post actual pictures! Here in a week, I just took the finished unit off to the powder coaters.

YES, it was VERY flustrating trying to bend the pick up tubing to fit and clear, with the tubing benders I have! As I mentioned, I would have prefered a mandrel bender. No one I knew locally had one. One time was the final bend, went the wrong way. Start all over again.

Does the finished product look professional = to a Riddler Award? Far from it! (I'm not that good) Does it look like a "cobbled" work of art from Bubba and Billy Bob? No, not that bad. Somewhere inbetween the two.

I forgot to mention. There is a 1/8" stainless vent tube in the mix.
 
acchaplin said:
WOW! Some good engineering suggestions!

However, there is hardly any extra space (5/8"-3/4"?) between the top of the tank and the body on my application. OEM frame and tank, Brookville body.

Being a original '32 tank I did not want to drill any extra holes, weld, or recess the (finished) body floor.

It took a couple weeks of trial and error, not to forget cussing in 5 different languages, and 3' or so of 5/16" stailess tubing, I think I finally got a float-pick-up unit that will wotk.

1st off I started with a Stweart-Warner universal swing arm float-sending unit and vintage looking guage assembly. Dissambled the unit, welded up the 5 holes in the mounting plate, then re-drilled for the 6 hole 32 tank flange. Cut the float arm to length for the '32 tank depth. Got the completed assembly to fit in the '32 flange hole.

Next step, drill a 5/16" hole right beside the plate sending unit mount. This next part part took the longest, and was the most flustrating. (I really needed one of those very sharp mandrel bent 90's. No access to one) Tude Bending over and over until the completed pick up tube unit was less than a 1/4" from the bottom of the tank, cleared the soddered snding unit connections, had a 1/16" clearnace between the pick-up tube and tank, and the important part, about the same distance between top of unit and body. Plus! be able to carefully snake the completed seding unit-float arm-pick-up tube down in that dinky tank flange hole and the guage work! (whew!)

Soon as I get the unit back from the powder-coaters, then polish the exposed part of the pick up tube, I'll take some pictures. Thanks. (been a lot simpler, easier and quicker, if some aftermarket ouitfit offered one of these combination units)
Click to expand...


Sounds like an great solution. I look forward to seeing some photos! I'm going to try something very similar.
John
 
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