Packard Forum Index » General

I was toying with replacing the gas tank in my 1954 Packard Pacific. This is due to the yearly event of my sending unit not working and having the opportunity to cut a access door in the trunk. My gauge does go up and down when I swerve, brake or shake the car. Very annoying. Several million years ago, in 2019, The Forum did bring up the subject on the tanks available from Auto City Classics. I was curious if anyone has had success with their OEM tank and any pros, cons or procedures I should be aware of?

https://www.autocityclassic.com/51-56-Packard-Tank-TS5156PK

Attach file:

---

  0315245154autocitypackgastank.JPG (72.54 KB)


  031524asburyparkcircuit.JPG (66.88 KB)

I have one of their tanks on my '54 and my brother in law has one on his '52. I got mine back in 2020, his was 2023. The two tanks are slightly different. Mine was painted silver, his is bare galvanized steel. The bends on the necks are slightly different, with the newer one being better.

I've had no issues with my tank. The brand new sender I got from them never worked though. Still didn't work after adding a ground, testing the wiring, and replacing the fuel gauge.

My brother in law is the opposite. The new sender works great. But the threaded bung for the fuel line slipped/rotated when tightening the flare for the fuel line. Now it leaks gas. Maybe the bung wasn't crimped hard enough from the factory. Or we tightened the fuel line too much. Either way, that will need to get fixed now. No response from AutoCity Classics.

Overall great tanks and now we'll never have an issue with dirty fuel again. But be mindful of how much force you put on the bungs.

-Kevin

I purchased one installed it with new sending unit used old straps used cardboard box it came in as mat to lay on . Easy job did not even need to jack up car just use ramps. Put piece of plywood on my floor jack tank on it raised jack to correct height. Did add external ground from tank to frame gauge works correctly put in five gallons gauge read 1/4 added another five gallons gauge reads 1/2 was satisfied with entire purchase and product. Only took about half hour to put on wish all jobs on old cars was this easy.

Attach file:

---

  IMG20240315141734.jpg (2,459.46 KB)

I think adding the external wire ground is key to solving a lot of tank issues. Even just dropping and then reinstalling the original tank seems to cause a lot of gauge issues to develop. For whatever reason be it a new coat of paint or just a change in position in the body the ground path to the tank and sender seems to be disturbed and intermittent issues become prevalent.

I put one in my 56. The only issue I had was with the installation. I had to bend the filler neck to make it accessible through the filler door. I have had no problems with the tank since installing it.

Thank you KevinPackard,acolds,56Clippers and Trust in Howard! Your responses are greatly appreciated! I'm on it. Stay tuned..........

TC

I have one too that I've not yet installed into my 1956 Clipper Custom so have been following this thread with interest and also following the one where the bung came loose. Before I purchased I asked if it needed to be sealed and was told that it needn't be but that it could be done if desired. I've not yet decided but may end up doing so as I have plenty of sealer.

As for the sender, one from a 1957 Thunderbird and a few other Fords of the era is the same other than possibly needing some adjustments to the arm length.

On another Packard, it has a dead gauge but the tank is grounded so either the sender or the regulator/gauge has gone bad but I've not had time to diagnose it yet. If the sender, I would never ever consider cutting an access hole into the trunk floor for something I will likely never had to access again. It makes no sense to do that as removing the tank is very easy.

That is a lovely sentiment Don, but in reality we are dealing with Chinese crap reproductions, so plan on going in again sometime in the future when the float sinks.

Quote:

I wish I would have cut the hole in the floor when I installed the new tank and sender. I'm pretty sure the new sender has a bad float. And I really dislike dropping the tank. Draining all the fuel is tiresome, and I worry that taking the fuel line on and off many times will increase the risk for leaks.

The new tank was ordered on 3/19 and arrived 3/24 from Minnesota. Ordered with straps, pad and sending unit. I have an additional sending unit Kanter. Looks ok with only 1x ding in crimping. The packaging appeared ok but box was left out in monsoon thanks to FEDEX. Stay tuned.

Attach file:

---

  54tank1.JPG (72.88 KB)


  54tank2.JPG (98.97 KB)


  54tank3.JPG (119.52 KB)


  54tank4.JPG (83.35 KB)


  54tank5.JPG (66.14 KB)


  54tank6.JPG (196.13 KB)


  54pp1.jpg (77.28 KB)


  54tank8.JPG (148.06 KB)