Fuel Sending Unit

[Hemidog]

There has been many threads about this, but i'm still confused on which sending unit to buy, I've seen many different ones with different prices.

Any advice? (3/8") (Ebay would be the easiest for me, I think.)

[Ghoste]

5/16 was used and is adequate for most applications.  The 3/8 line was stock for the Hemi and 440 Magnums and is a good upgrade for a high horsepower car.  If you are really putting the Charger tracks down on the pavement and you have some monster stroker, you can even get 1/2 inch ones now.  Keep in mind that if you put in the larger plumbed sending unit, you have to upsize everything going up to the carb as well.  If you add a 3/8 sender to a car with 5/16 lines in any of the rest you won't be using the 3/8 capacity, it'll just be choked off.

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

.  If you add a 3/8 sender to a car with 5/16 lines in any of the rest you won't be using the 3/8 capacity, it'll just be choked off.

but thats how it was on a 440 R/T......3/8" to the pump & 5/16" out of the pump to the carb.......

[Ghoste]

Yeah, and there's likely some sound engineering principle behind the idea of having extra capacity closer to the pump but I never really understood the reasoning behind trying to force all that fuel into a smaller hole. 
Would it have anything to do with stock class racing rules, stock lines but can be changed from pump to carb?

[Hemidog]

Sorry, my question might have been a little vague.

Where should I buy the sending unit? which one is the best/most accurate ?

[Ghoste]

Oh, now I get it.  Sorry.
I would ask someone like Bill Alphin (member here) first of all if they are all made in the same place.  They may have very different quality levels and he seems to have the inside line on that.  Then I'd just buy on price but I imagine someone like Bill (A&M) or BE/A will beat most e-bay prices.  If they don't carry them, I'd look to the usual Mopar suppliers like Mancini, Year One etc and compare those to the bay before pulling the trigger.

[Nacho-RT74]

I got from Vans Auto Salvage ( $55 shipped about 9 months ago ). Tested on car and works like a clock on gauge scale. Still not mounted with gas tought!

Vans Auto Salvage units are not wires, are a metalic line to get to sender terminal outside, just like the original. Some units around are wires. Just would be great outlet was 90º same as original

Also got 3/8 unit with return line. My car has 5/16 lines and no return line, but bought in that way just in case I go bigger later. No need to buy again. Jut need to get the propper hose to match on both lines...


SOME SUGGESTION ? some in the middle of 3/8 and 5/16 to stretch enough in one side and tie tight on the other without leak ?

[gtx6970]

with 4 DIFFERENT companies making sending units. I'll rely on one of 2 sources to get mine - Tom @ RT Specialties or Randy @ RPM Resto Parts.

But, I personally am not a price shopper, I shop more for correctness and quality

[Ghoste]

What are the differences between the four available?

[gtx6970]

What are the differences between the four available?

the fact that some work ( like they're supposed to ) and some don't

[Ghoste]

Is it just the physical difference that Nacho mentioned that causes this or is it just overall poor build quality?  Just look for ones without "wires"?

[Hemidog]

Chris and Shakey discussed the difference on some of them here:
http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,9983.0.html
So, carquest might be a good supplier? Shakey?

[Nacho-RT74]

Mine is like the Chriss one on that thread ( 3rd gen of course ), however, floater arm is not bolted on mine, and after all I preffer the metalic strap and brass floater!!!!

[RDR-838]

This is what I put in my 383 RR. So far, so good.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/71-74-Satellite-Road-Runner-Gas-Fuel-Sending-Unit-5-16_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1638Q2em118Q2el1247QQcategoryZ33556QQihZ005QQitemZ150227168228QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWD1V

[Chatt69chgr]

I think some are made in Taiwan or China.  I do know that Spectra Premium out of Canada makes a sending unit (which I think is actually made in Mexico).  They are the folks that also make the gas tank that is made in North America vs Taiwan.  I don't have any experience with their sending unit to know if it is a "good" one or not.  In the past, I have seen advertised a stainless steel one.  Could be RPM had it. 

[doctorpimp]

I bought the Spectra Premium, stainless 3/8" sending unit.  $49.95 from ebay - don't remember the seller though...

[moparmusclecars]

Has anyone bought one from Matt's Classic Bowties??? He is advertising fuel sending units for Mopars on ebay right now. Looks to be about $48.00 and add shipping. Just curious what you guys think....Lyle

[Hemidog]

so basically the $50 one is just as good/better than the $120 dollar one on the Bay? (besides, the guy who sells the $120 ones, also sells them for $130)
And:
-brass floater is better than plastic
-no wrap around wires

how about long filters vs short ones? just the same?

[bill440rt]

I got mine from Car Parts Discount, seller was on eBay. I bought 2, paid about $50 for each one. They are the ones with the wire leads, not the metal straps.

No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't get the one that was in my '68 to read right. It was the one with the METAL strap. I even sent the sending unit with the fuel gauge to have them calibrated, damn thing still didn't read right.
Well, after putting the cheap $50 sending unit in, the problem was solved. I had to tweak the float arm a bit, and thru trial & error I got the gas gauge to read correctly. Haven't had a problem since.

[Nacho-RT74]

Has anyone bought one from Matt's Classic Bowties??? He is advertising fuel sending units for Mopars on ebay right now. Looks to be about $48.00 and add shipping. Just curious what you guys think....Lyle

Is the same that other vendors have.

[Nacho-RT74]

so basically the $50 one is just as good/better than the $120 dollar one on the Bay? (besides, the guy who sells the $120 ones, also sells them for $130)
And:
-brass floater is better than plastic
-no wrap around wires

Only time will tell for those who got a perfect working "cheap unit" from the begining, but those facts, beside price made me choose that one!

Maybe the risk is get or not an unit perfect working from the begining

IMHO is something like Summit Brand and rest of stuff brands. An example you find half of price timming chain set than MP or other brands... Are they bad because they are cheap ?  ... dunno you guys tell me, I'm not the expert

how about long filters vs short ones? just the same?

I don't think is something to think about... but if we want to think about, then we could say, we have more surface around before clogg the filter and gas stop to arrive

[Nacho-RT74]

I got mine from Car Parts Discount, seller was on eBay. I bought 2, paid about $50 for each one. They are the ones with the wire leads, not the metal straps.

No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't get the one that was in my '68 to read right. It was the one with the METAL strap. I even sent the sending unit with the fuel gauge to have them calibrated, damn thing still didn't read right.
Well, after putting the cheap $50 sending unit in, the problem was solved. I had to tweak the float arm a bit, and thru trial & error I got the gas gauge to read correctly. Haven't had a problem since.

about wire lead and plastic floater... is jut that there is something about  what I don't like when we put together plastic ( or wire cover ) and gas...

although we know gas filter is plastic too... but simply I didn't want more than that.

Wire lead could get broken mounting or removing with gas tank edges etc ( I know is something extreme )... Metallic strap to me, just like the OEM

[Nacho-RT74]

BTW...

there is some safer and better way to hook 3/8" sending unit outlet with 5/16 car line ? better than simply tight A LOT the 3/8" hose to the 5/16" line

[bill440rt]

I got mine from Car Parts Discount, seller was on eBay. I bought 2, paid about $50 for each one. They are the ones with the wire leads, not the metal straps.

No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't get the one that was in my '68 to read right. It was the one with the METAL strap. I even sent the sending unit with the fuel gauge to have them calibrated, damn thing still didn't read right.
Well, after putting the cheap $50 sending unit in, the problem was solved. I had to tweak the float arm a bit, and thru trial & error I got the gas gauge to read correctly. Haven't had a problem since.

about wire lead and plastic floater... is jut that there is something about  what I don't like when we put together plastic ( or wire cover ) and gas...

although we know gas filter is plastic too... but simply I didn't want more than that.

Wire lead could get broken mounting or removing with gas tank edges etc ( I know is something extreme )... Metallic strap to me, just like the OEM

Only time will tell for those who got a perfect working "cheap unit" from the begining, but those facts, beside price made me choose that one!

BTW, most if not all gas tanks in modern cars ARE plastic, same with the in-tank fuel pumps.

The "cheapo" sending unit has been in my car since '06, no problems yet. However, I have the "correct" one in my '70, I think it was NOS. That one works fine as well.
I'm just happy the fuel gauge works & reads correctly to boot. To each his own...