Packard Forum Index » Post-War (1946-54)

Just got the car. Is removing the fuel sender just a matter of peeling back the carpet, exposing the fuel sender and removing it?

Thanks...

No, you'll need to drop the tank. Don't we all wish Packard would have been as thoughtful as Chrysler Corp. and put an access panel in the trunk floor.

It's not too late to do that. Not sure of other years but 56 has a trunk mat to cover up the destruction of the trunk floor virginity.

(Did you know that 64 T-birds have a drain hole in the top of the tank??)

Thanks guys...Just filled tank! Guess it will b spring before all that gas is burned!!

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I have not checked my 47 tank but the 49 Packard I had there was a drain plug. Removing the tank is not that big of a deal. The other thing is to determine if it is the sender or the gage. At least on the 49 ground the wire that goes to the sender-if gage reads full it is the sender.

I believe all Packards had a drain plug. My point about the T-bird was that it was on TOP of the tank. A little difficult to drain from that position.

If someone has put a electric pump back close to the tank with rubber hoses it is possible to interrupt the ground-easy to check with jumper wire from tank to frame.

Question is the gage not reading-or is it the movement of the needle when the car is moving? My 47 Super Clipper the fuel gage is always bouncing when car is moving-it is not rock steady as in a modern car.

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It should be steady. The gauge on the 47 is magnetic so unlike the later thermal gauges it is fast to respond to any change in resistance. Could be a poor ground at the tank or gauge or possibly a connection is vibrating and poor contact is effectively changing resistance or supply voltage making the needle bounce.

The resistance wire in the sender is supported on a curved strip of phenolic or thick fishpaper. The wire could be dirty and oxidized or support is warped and the wiper is barely making contact with the wire so any sloshing would change resistance by a large amount.

The 47 uses Stewart-Warner gauges and the senders are the old obsolete resistance range of 0 full - 100 ohms empty. If your sender is bad I haven't found anything made today with that resistance range that looks to be a drop in. There is a unit from an Australian company that might be a possibility with a rework and different hole or adapter but at the moment believe the only good option is an exchange from the vendors or having yours rebuilt.

You said you just filled the tank, and don't plan on it being empty until spring. If you use ethanol gas I would look into some treatment for the gas or just drain the gas out. This new gas does not last like it did in the old days.
Just my two cents.
Wes