Gas gauge

bkozlow · #1 (**permalink**) 06-04-2006, 05:58 PM

So many kit owners try for accuracy in their roadsters that I am sure the same maybe true of coupe builders. One area that you have to decide on is the gas gauge. The original cars did not have gas gauges. They had a series of three Bendix electric fuel pumps feeding a mechanical pump on the engine. The gas tank was constructed with a wall inside the tank that went up part way. When you filled the tank, fuel would spill over the wall and fill that section of the tank. It had its own pickup and was connected to one of the three pumps on separate electrical system, connected to an on-off switch on the dash. This pump was marked RESERVE. It gave you enough fuel to always make it back to the pits if you ran the main tank dry.

Bill K

mickmate · #2 (**permalink**) 06-04-2006, 08:16 PM

I just went through a similar situation. The original street cars had a 6 hole sender that you can still get. The gauge supplier sells a 5 hole sender with their gas gauge. It's hard sometimes to say close enough and just get on with it isn't it?! Do you have a good tank drawing?

bkozlow · #3 (**permalink**) 06-05-2006, 08:54 AM

No I don't have a drawing of the tank, just remember how it was on my car coupe CSX-2286. Pickups were on the right side of the car as were the three fuel pumps. Reserve switch was in the top row of the switches and on the right.

Bill K

October-1881 · #4 (**permalink**) 06-05-2006, 11:08 AM

Just remember...if you're going to put a gas guage in, make sure it's metric !

strictlypersonl · #5 (**permalink**) 06-05-2006, 11:38 AM

You can get the same effect with a single pump by having two connected pickup tubes with a valve (solenoid or mechanical) in the shorter tube. With the valve open, you'll suck air when the fuel level falls to the level of the shorter tube. Close the valve and you'll pick up fuel from the bottom of the tank.

Just like an early VW...