Now that you're all back from Salmon Harbor (sorry to have missed it) can anyone help me find a replacement for the gas tank sending unit on my 76 RK 440? Thanks.
I think that our Clippers used the gas tank that came from the factory with the Dodge 1 ton chassis. Some units had aux. tanks installed in front of the factory tank and that is different issue. You might find an old one in a wrecking yard or or someone parting a 1 ton out in the newpapers. You will probably have to buy the tank with the unit. There are some after market units in auto parts stores but I don't know if they are adaptable to the factory tanks. Does your gauge work at all? If not look for a broken pin connection in your gauge connection or a broken wire or connection in the wire going to your sending unit in the tank.
If the problem is with the sending unit, what repairs are possible to the existing unit (especially to the electrical components)?
Jeff M
ACOC #3426
Be sure it's the sending unit that's the problem. Putting a temporary ground on the wire back at the tank should give you a full-scale (full) reading on the gauge. If not, the problem is elsewhere. See my note of 11-2-03 in Hints&Tips.
Harold, #886
Continuing this issue of sending units, I noticed that the tank unit has a new ground wire to the frame. The main wire was unplugged. I plugged it back on the sender unit. When I started the engine, white smoked started coming out below the steering column. There is no problem when the main wire is unplugged (76 Dodge 440).
Jeff - sounds like that fuel guage problem is getting real frustrating. I finally dropped the tank on my '78, pulled the sending unit assembly out, cleaned everything up, and rewired from the tank to up ahead of the axle where I could see that the old wiring was OK.
The smoke under the dash sounds a bit ominous. Try using a wiring diagram (probably available in any repair booklet which covers Dodge 1 ton van) to trace the sending unit wire up to the back of the guage pod in the dash. The wire may be frayed and/or grounded. Check your fuses. Good luck!!