Packard Forum Index » V-8 (1955-56)

I'll get this right sometime.
I bought a plastic float on Ebay for the
sending unit, as Alcohol in the gas destroyed the brass
float
Ebay site
ebay.com/itm/Mopar-Chrysler-Ford-Mercury ... X%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649

The (Autocity part) has a 57 TBird sending unit
F34SU $45.00 And they say " fits 56 Packard"

I did not know that Alcohol and brass are no compatible
now I do

I cleaned and repaired the two sending units I have
If you do buy a float $8, you need to bend the
hoop on the resistance arm
which is easy, and plastic is compatible with Alcohol
Best
PS:
I can not upload a picture yet, too large.

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My experiences don't support your conclusion that ethanol in gasoline destroys brass. In all the years we've had ethanol in the gasoline I've had no problems with brass internal parts in carburetors, fuel pumps or fuel tanks.

I'm not sure it is the actual alcohol that causes corrosion in the fuel system or if it is more the moisture that alcohol attracts that does the damage....

Ethanol and brass are listed as having excellent compatibility in the chemical compatibility database. Plastics are a mixed bag depending on what type of plastic. HDPE, PTFE, Nylon and PET are compatible. ABS, polycarbonate, LDPE, PVC, Tygon, Silicone, polyurethane are not.
Interestingly, ethanol is not kind to aluminum either.

iqlearningsystems.com/ethanol/downloads/ ... 0E85%20Material%20Compatibility.pdf
I use the word plastic generically
as you can see Polypropylene is OK

that is the site I got my info from
I did do some fast net search and found a mixed
bag of answers.

I will not say your wrong and I'm right
but will I take a chance... I'll go with the plastic
Although the float in my Packard was only 20 years
old, and it did sit for many years, still I have never
seen a float totally destroyed like mine was

Best

This is what happened to my sending unit after Costco switched to Ethanol. I don't know how many months but I think less then a year. Car wasn't being driven at the time. I did find the brass float laying on the bottom of the tank, what was left of it, just a skeleton.
Wes

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If you still have it out. I would get the ford sending unit. It's stainless steel. Comes with the brass float. You can change that.