Gas tank leaked on my 63

[63CHVII]

I have to replace my gas tank. Any recommendations on which company sells the best one? Thanks.

Jeff

[ALLKAR]

Don't know about the best, but I'm happy with the one I just installed from Classic Ind. It looks like the original and fit great. Now the GM OER sending unit I got from them is either stuck or bad. My gauge won't go past 1/4 tank. I checked the gauge with the old sending unit and it works, so...:turn:

[wskaiser]

Could you possibly have a 65 sending unit in the tank. 62-64 used a 0-30 ohm gauge and sending unit and 65 used a 0-90 ohm sending unit and gauge.

[ALLKAR]

Could you possibly have a 65 sending unit in the tank. 62-64 used a 0-30 ohm gauge and sending unit and 65 used a 0-90 ohm sending unit and gauge.

They list it as a '62-'65. I thought they all were 90 ohm. It sucks, I only put a couple of gallons in the tank to get to the station. I didn't think anything about it showing just a 1/4 tank. Now I have a full tank to burn off before I can switch it out.

[babydeuce]

Jeff,

If you can get down my way again, I have the tank out my car sitting in my shed. You can haul it off, no leaks...had to buy a new one and sump it for my 5.3 conversion.

Jack

[Greg_R_63]

They list it as a '62-'65. I thought they all were 90 ohm. It sucks, I only put a couple of gallons in the tank to get to the station. I didn't think anything about it showing just a 1/4 tank. Now I have a full tank to burn off before I can switch it out.

I was just talking with a mechanic friend of mine who owns Novas, and he was telling me that the aftermarket sending units are all wrong, and you basically have to get a used one to have the right signal strength directly from the unit.

[TRoberts207]

so if i have the old sending unit, i should put that 1 in my new gas tank?? or should i just get a new 1??

[Greg_R_63]

so if i have the old sending unit, i should put that 1 in my new gas tank?? or should i just get a new 1??

The gauge requires 90 ohms, and the aftermarket sending unit is at 45, so you need a 45 ohm resistor to make the aftermarket one work properly.

[62civa]

The gauge requires 90 ohms, and the aftermarket sending unit is at 45, so you need a 45 ohm resistor to make the aftermarket one work properly.

Are you sure that will work? I think it needs to go from 0 to 90 ohms to make the gauge swing full scale. I could be wrong, but I think adding a series resistor will make the gauge non-linear reading.

[Greg_R_63]

Are you sure that will work? I think it needs to go from 0 to 90 ohms to make the gauge swing full scale. I could be wrong, but I think adding a series resistor will make the gauge non-linear reading.

You're right, it is a range, so my thinking was off on that one. I'm surprised this doesn't come up more often. Any conversions out there? Someone has to have made it work.

[62civa]

Autometer makes gauges in different OHM versions. I bought the 30 ohm version for my 62. Now I need to go check the sender unit and make sure it matches. What do you bet its not a match:rolleyes:

[Greg_R_63]

After searching the forum, I found that 62 to 64 used the 0-30 ohm gauges, 65 seems to be a transitional year, but 65 and up have 90 ohm fuel gauges. I also found a fix for early year people who got the 90 ohm sending units:

I've posted the solutition to this twice in this thread. Worked fine for me. If it's not clear I'll post it again. Across the two wires that are comning from the 90 Ohms sending unit, place a 47 Ohm 1 or 2 Watt resistor across these two wire. It will read full when tank is full and empty when tank is empty. In between the full and empty the gauge will read + or - approx 10% accuate of tank volume, that about as good as the factory sending unit works. If they are out of 47 ohm resistors use Radio Shack part # 271-133, 50 Ohm 10 Watt resistor, $1.79. Hope this will help solve your problem.

[ALLKAR]

After searching the forum, I found that 62 to 64 used the 0-30 ohm gauges, 65 seems to be a transitional year, but 65 and up have 90 ohm fuel gauges. I also found a fix for early year people who got the 90 ohm sending units:

Originally Posted by lostnsc View Post
I've posted the solutition to this twice in this thread. Worked fine for me. If it's not clear I'll post it again. Across the two wires that are comning from the 90 Ohms sending unit, place a 47 Ohm 1 or 2 Watt resistor across these two wire. It will read full when tank is full and empty when tank is empty. In between the full and empty the gauge will read + or - approx 10% accuate of tank volume, that about as good as the factory sending unit works. If they are out of 47 ohm resistors use Radio Shack part # 271-133, 50 Ohm 10 Watt resistor, $1.79. Hope this will help solve your problem.

RS didn't have the 1-2 watt 47 ohm, so I got the 50 ohm 10 watt resistor. I hooked it up in line on the power lead, then between the hot and ground. Where am I going wrong? It's either way full (like when it's disconnected) or 1/4 tank. :confused:
I figured I'd try this before removing the sending unit.

[ALLKAR]

Said, "Screw It". I drained the tank and put the old sending unit back in. It works great! :D:yes:

[lisandon95386]

so all the repo sending units for 62/64 dont have the right sending unit range,i just got a repo from walt at classic nova a 3/8 unit for 62/64? its made by spectra premium.man i hope that this unit has the right ohms for the gas gauge
don

[Greg_R_63]

so all the repo sending units for 62/64 dont have the right sending unit range,i just got a repo from walt at classic nova a 3/8 unit for 62/64? its made by spectra premium.man i hope that this unit has the right ohms for the gas gauge
don

The friend I was talking about has 2nd gens only, so the early years might be okay with the repros. Can someone with an ohmmeter give us the final word on this?

[63CHVII]

Well,

Babydeuce came through again for me. Got a real nice tank for the low price of free. Thanks Jack. If you get a chance to see his car in Wichita Falls it's really coming along nicely, I would never try what he has done with the 5.3 conversion.

[babydeuce]

Thanks for the kind words Jeff, but it is nothing more than Nova People Helping Nova People.... Good luck with getting her back on the road, and give my old 283 a good rip down the highway, I really do miss her!

Jack