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Gas guage reads backwards on 1956 Thunderbird

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  • #16
    Originally posted by 428PI View Post
    Make sure you have the battery installed properly. Some cars will run with reverse polarity but won't charge etc. My first job at a Ford dealership in the mid 80s was to fix a reverse polarity issue on an old Dodge I believe. I think they ran positive ground unbeknownst to the owner.
    Battery cables are installed correctly. This does run positive ground.

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    • #17
      Perhaps your gauge is for negative ground? Did it ever work properly?

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      • #18
        Originally posted by 428PI View Post
        Perhaps your gauge is for negative ground? Did it ever work properly?
        Not since I owned it for about 3 years

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        • #19
          Originally posted by metallic View Post

          The restorer is Ted Rossi of Westminister, Co. The wires were reversed on gauge and no help.
          This points to a fuel tank sending unit being reversed. Or wrong part.
          2002 TB Motor Trend COTY Blue/White/Full #24737 (One of 291)
          2021 Explorer XLT Sport 2.3L 300HP/310FP color RollingThunder
          2015 Passat SE TDI 150HP/236FP (40MpgCity47MpgHW) 720MR
          26Mpg in traffic jam. Skill required to get 40+mpg in town.

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          • #20
            Shop manuals say 3.0 volts across the 56 or 57 gauge (dash unit) and in each case the needle should read approximately half scale. this can be achieved by using two 1.5 volt batteries. By shorting the wire at the tank to ground the gauge should read full. This being said the sender should have zero resistance in the full ( or all the way up) Position .
            Putting 6 volts to the gauge should pin the gauge. If it doesn't in my opinion the gauge is wrong.
            sigpic

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            • #21
              Originally posted by Jimr View Post
              Shop manuals say 3.0 volts across the 56 or 57 gauge (dash unit) and in each case the needle should read approximately half scale. this can be achieved by using two 1.5 volt batteries. By shorting the wire at the tank to ground the gauge should read full. This being said the sender should have zero resistance in the full ( or all the way up) Position .
              Putting 6 volts to the gauge should pin the gauge. If it doesn't in my opinion the gauge is wrong.
              I will discuss all these good responses with my mechanic and see if we have missed something. Thanks

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              • #22
                Originally posted by Jimr View Post
                Shop manuals say 3.0 volts across the 56 or 57 gauge (dash unit) and in each case the needle should read approximately half scale. this can be achieved by using two 1.5 volt batteries. By shorting the wire at the tank to ground the gauge should read full. This being said the sender should have zero resistance in the full ( or all the way up) Position .
                Putting 6 volts to the gauge should pin the gauge. If it doesn't in my opinion the gauge is wrong.
                Jim,
                Would there be a resistor in series with the sending unit dropping the 12 volts to 6? The 56 and 57 Tirds were +12V negative ground. The resistor would make the sending units compatible with 6 and 12 volt systems (12V with resistor and 6V without).

                HKS
                2002 TB Motor Trend COTY Blue/White/Full #24737 (One of 291)
                2021 Explorer XLT Sport 2.3L 300HP/310FP color RollingThunder
                2015 Passat SE TDI 150HP/236FP (40MpgCity47MpgHW) 720MR
                26Mpg in traffic jam. Skill required to get 40+mpg in town.

                Comment


                • #23
                  Originally posted by HKS View Post

                  Jim,
                  Would there be a resistor in series with the sending unit dropping the 12 volts to 6? The 56 and 57 Tirds were +12V negative ground. The resistor would make the sending units compatible with 6 and 12 volt systems (12V with resistor and 6V without).

                  HKS
                  The sending units are different for 6 volt and 12 volt
                  sigpic

                  Comment


                  • #24
                    Originally posted by Jimr View Post
                    The sending units are different for 6 volt and 12 volt
                    That is true, but a fuel tank repair project may have used whatever parts were available.
                    2002 TB Motor Trend COTY Blue/White/Full #24737 (One of 291)
                    2021 Explorer XLT Sport 2.3L 300HP/310FP color RollingThunder
                    2015 Passat SE TDI 150HP/236FP (40MpgCity47MpgHW) 720MR
                    26Mpg in traffic jam. Skill required to get 40+mpg in town.

                    Comment

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