The Parts Place - GM A-body fuel senders

The Parts Place used to sell 68-72 GM A-body fuel senders for single line and return line applications.Went to buy one last week for my nightmare and these are now on "unknown delivery" and I didn't get the notion the PP knew when they'd be available again. Anyone heard anything about this, and maybe know where I can find an outlet-return sender for my Concours?

Under sending units, FT11054V and FT11055V, both say "Call"...
http://www.thepartsplaceinc.com/oca...rList=1970&Search_Keyword=&CatID=18&curpage=3

Thank you,
Tom

 

check out www.tanksinc.com

hey...ya never know

 

Rock Auto still shows 3 different sending units available for 68-70.

1970 CHEVROLET CHEVELLE 5.7L 350cid V8 : Fuel/Air : Fuel Tank Sending Unit

PLATINUM PRO Part # FSU010162 Fuel Sender; includes Float and Strainer; w/ Fuel Return; 2 Outlets (3/8)
Coupe
Sedan (Only 2 Remaining)
$22.79Add Part


SPECTRA PREMIUM / COOLING DEPOT Part # FG91B
Fuel Sender, Strainer and Float (Pump Not Included); w/ Fuel Return; 2 Outlets (3/8"); Coupe
Fuel Sender, Strainer and Float (Pump Not Included); w/ Fuel Return; 2 Outlets (3/8"); Sedan
$38.79Add Part





SPECTRA PREMIUM / COOLING DEPOT Part # FG91A
Fuel Sender, Strainer and Float (Pump Not Included); w/o Fuel Return; 1 Outlet (3/8"); Sedan
Fuel Sender, Strainer and Float (Pump Not Included); w/o Fuel Return; 1 Outlet (3/8"); Coupe
$38.79Add Part


I've seen your skills and abilities in your build thread; I'm sure you could adapt one of these for the wagon.

 

Rev,
sent them an email to see what they say.

JMT,
yeah, if I have to that's what I will do, but I would really like to spend some money to make problems go away, instead of always having to make stuff from scratch! Oh well, at under $40 bucks I can have some fun trying to make something work.

Thank you all,
Tom

 

hope they can help Tom
otherwise your reduced to 'creating' one..like JMT suggested

Footnote;...did you know that SpectraPremium is a Canadian company?

 

Tanks is a no-go.

Called Parts Place and was told pretty directly that they don't anticipate ever having these again.

May need to fab... more work to keep busy, just when I was running out...

 

I just put a Spectra sending unit (and tank) in my '84 Cutlass. Nice quality stuff and fair pricing from RockAuto.com.

 

If you have the old sending unit you can have it rebuilt or repaired.
I don't know what they wanted for the new units but from what I've heard it's around 200 bucks for parts and labor to fix one.

http://tristarrradiator.com/index.html

 

Rock Auto says if it isn't on the site they cannot help, so no wagon tanks or senders.

Sent email to TriStarr, awaiting their reply.

Thank you for the input, keep it coming and we'll find something,
Tom

 

Look into swapping in an El camino tank.
They fill from the side and should fit underneath since they are essentially the same frame

 

The El Camino tank would be a great idea for a 64-67 as they are very similar.

However after all the enjoyment and pleasure I had 1) replumbing the car to use a wagon tank 2) repairing the rear quarter panel to fit a wagon tank 3) and repair the rotten load well floor to be whole again, I don't think I will convert over to a later El Camino tank. Not a good idea...

Maybe on the next wagon!

Best regards
Tom

 

Hi All,

OK, being the test subject here. Sent my sender to Tri Starr Radiator for a rebuild. We will see how it goes and works out. They should get it by next Friday, 8/23.

Best,
Tom

 

Another update...

I was contacted TriStarr about my sender. All rebuilt and I should have it by next Wednesday. I will update when I get it back and installed.

Whoo-Hoo and stuff!

Best,
Tom

 

Got the sender, looks very nice, hooked it to the sender wire and ground, and it is accurate at all levels at the gage. Will install this week and see how it is when I <finally> fuel up.



New sock


New lead wire


Best,
Tom

 

OK, condensed update from another forum on this...

It was pointed out to me that my rebuilt sender no longer matches what it looked like when I sent it out. So I compared it with other units I have and sure enough, there is something missing from my pickup tube, like 2-3 inches. Need to call TriStarr tomorrow and see what is up. Not happy right now...

Top is my original without the return line, middle is a spare with return line from a Vista Cruiser, bottom is the rebuilt sender...


So, I emailed them and started with that. Politely but firmly asked why this mod was done and how they are going to correct it. if I don't get a reply in a resonable time I will start calling.

Ruined for my weekend.

So anyway, got a reply, needed to check it out, but life and work get into the way...

According to TriStarr, the "cut was made for the new strainer to fit. This kind of strainer is not flexible. The strainer is built so that it will only pickup off the bottom of the tank so that it does not need to lay on its side to function. I beleive that it should pick up the fuel right down to the bottom."

So last night I tested his belief. Installed the shortened pickup and added fuel to the tank until the pickup was submerged. Hooked up a remote electric pump and pulled out as much fuel as was possible. This gets the pickup above the fuel level sucking air. Pulled the redone sender and installed my original sender, and did the process again, pumping out fuel until the pickup was pulling air. The difference was about 24 fluid ounces, so about 3/4 of a quart . I am going to let it be and install the rebuilt sender and get on with the project.

Still dissapointed at the incomplete expanation of what was involved in the repair, but maybe I shouldn't be, cuz if the length difference weren't pointed out to me I probably wouldn't have paid attention.

After I was done with the test outlined above, I proceeded to pump all of the fuel from the tank, down to the bottom. Got about a quart and a half of fuel out (48 oz), so if you run a wagon tank down to the bottom, it really is almost empty, with a quart of fuel and whatever else is in there.

So, if you need a wagon sender rebuilt, TriStarr can do it. If I had known about the need to trim the pickup, I would have forgone the filter and that little modification. Going to get the sender into the tank, and the tank into the car. Need to finish this thing up.

Hope this helps someone,
Tom