55 Cadillac Fuel Tank Float (sending unit) removal

[Bob Kielar]

I need to replace the sending unit in the gas tank for my fuel gauge I can not find how to remove it in my manuals and I tried to search for it on the forum. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks Bob

[The Tassie Devil(le)]

I am not sure if the '56 has an access hole in the trunk floor, but in most cases, the fuel tank has to be dropped.

Bruce.

PS.   Actually, carefully lowered after removing retainers.

[J. Gomez]

Bob,

There are 5 phillips screws holding the sending unit, I would suggest using a small ratchet with a #2 Phillips tip as you need to apply pressure to turn these, and the top one is hard to reach.

Just make sure you take as much gas out as possible from the tank, also work on a well ventilate area. The gasket could be prettified so be careful not to drop any debris inside the tank while prying off the unit.

One last suggestion, once you have the new unit in place make a short pig-tail with a 16 gauge wire and crimp a ring terminal at each end, connected one end to the sending unit using one of the sending unit screws and the other attached it to a good solid ground source.  This is optional and will provide a second ground source for the tank.

[The Tassie Devil(le)]

Further, before putting the tank back, replace the Neoprene Hoses if they are hard and brittle.

Bruce.

[Bob Kielar]

Thanks for the help:

                            Do you know of a good place to find a replacement ? I found them on e-bay for $89.00 but you know how e-bay goes sometimes.

                                                                                                Thanks Again

                                                                                                  Bob (aka) Cadillac Kielar

[Otto Skorzeny]

Try Classic Car Auto Parts.

They sell brand new tanks and sending units.

Contact info is in the link in my signature.

[Carfreak]

If you can't locate a replacement, there are companies that will rebuild your sending unit: 


Instrument Specialties, Inc.
14 Church Street
Oxford, MA 01540
508-932-1349
http://www.instrument-specialties.com/fuel.htm


S.U.R.&R. Auto Parts, Inc.
1969 S. Main Street
Akron, Ohio 44301
Ph: 800.390.3996 or 330.745. 3300
http://www.fuelsender.com/services.html


* Hey Otto, vendor(s) for your list!!!    

[marty55cdv]

Bob, the tank unit on my 55 coupe is fairly easy to get to. Put the rear of the car up on jack stands and look on the front of the tank on the drivers side you will not need to pull the tank, just remove the screws and the sending unit.  I would do this before you order a new unit because most of the time you will find that the brass float has rotted away, and that is all that needs to be replaced,(it snaps into the sender lever) .  You can find the float at Mcveys.