IDI van fuel tank sending unit question

Cubey

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Do IDI van fuel tank sending units have the shower head too? Or was that on trucks only?

Gassers (FI, I guess) got an in-tank fuel pump it appears, and the sending unit lacks a shower head:

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85 diesel truck ones seem to so maybe 85 vans do too.

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Thewespaul

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They’ve got them too I think, I saw your post in the other thread, I need to do some checking but I’m pretty sure the van sending units are the same design as the very early diesels (83-84) trucks which are a completely different design from the other diesel sending units, and are a bit trickier to modify for the deeper tank swing. Working on a solution, but currently don’t have a sending unit for them.
 

Cubey

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They’ve got them too I think, I saw your post in the other thread, I need to do some checking but I’m pretty sure the van sending units are the same design as the very early diesels (83-84) trucks which are a completely different design from the other diesel sending units, and are a bit trickier to modify for the deeper tank swing. Working on a solution, but currently don’t have a sending unit for them.

Yeah I think you're right. He doesn't mention it but the old sending unit from that 88 has a hose attached to fix the missing shower head, so it seems.

http://www.nickpisca.com/diesel/fue...rd-van-fuel-tank-sender-replacement-tutorial/

He mods a FI sending unit for IDI use.

I reckon budget wise, I'm better off just buying the full retail price dual tank selector valve (if I give up looking for o rings for mine) with a lifetime warranty, and having about 26 gallons of actual usable capacity without going under 1/4 per tank.

I'm guessing my rear tank is 18-19 like the front since at half way, it holds 9-9.5ish. The front tank was the same. Same on my F250's front tank.

I guess I need to go measure the tank again and run the dimensions through a liquid volume calculator. New placement tanks sold for 85 E350 are all 23gal. It's possible that's what it is. With only one accessible tank, i typically don't ever let it even reach 1/4 tank. Usually between 1/4 and 1/2 is as low as I let it get.
 

Cubey

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Hmm, there is a non-FI sending unit for the Bronco 33g tank. No return port, but I don't see why you couldn't feed the return line into the tank filler vent hose with a brass tee.

Who knows about fuel gauge compatibility though.

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Cubey

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Actually, another option would be to put in a pump like this on a switch to pump fuel from the rear tank's supply to the front's vent or return line, only running it as a means of a transfer pump from rear to front. They are cheap and wouldn't be a big deal if it fails, unlike a tank switch valve. I might go with that instead of a tank selector. If I put the switch at the driver's seat, I can transfer while going down the road without stopping. The fuel gauge would rise as it fills, so I'd know when to shut it off. It's easier to change that if it fails than a FSV.

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IDIBRONCO

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That's exactly what I'm going to do on my truck. That's after I buy one of Wes's big rear tanks. I figure that I'll know if there's an issue with the pump. The fuel gauge won't rise any more.
 

Cubey

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That's exactly what I'm going to do on my truck. That's after I buy one of Wes's big rear tanks. I figure that I'll know if there's an issue with the pump. The fuel gauge won't rise any more.

I will put a ball valve on the supply line from the spare tank's supply so the tank won't try to empty itself in case of pump replacement. That's the biggest mess maker when dealing with those fuel lines.

I'd rather not have an extra large rear tank, even if I put air bags on the rear, since the grey water tank is already back there putting extra weight even futher behind the rear fuel tank. The rear springs creak with relief a bit as the tank is draining.

If the rear tank's shower head is still in tact, I can almost fully transfer it, not just down to 1/4.
 

IDIBRONCO

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I will put a ball valve on the supply line from the spare tank's supply so the tank won't try to empty itself in case of pump replacement. That's the biggest mess maker when dealing with those fuel lines.
Thanks. I'm going to have to steal this idea for myself. My rear tank is shot so I figure that if I have to replace it, I may as well go big. That way, I won't have to worry when I find myself driving through the rural area late at night after the gas stations have closed. I seem to be good at doing that lately.
 

Cubey

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Thanks. I'm going to have to steal this idea for myself. My rear tank is shot so I figure that if I have to replace it, I may as well go big. That way, I won't have to worry when I find myself driving through the rural area late at night after the gas stations have closed. I seem to be good at doing that lately.

I ordered these for $8.xx. They're $1 cheaper than I paid, as of typing this. I haven't gotten my hands on them yet, they're about 475mi away at my mom's house waiting for me, but the reviews are good.

I ordered them as cutoffs and a bypass for the frame mounted Racor w/s filter, to cut off flow when changing the filter or to bypass it if needed for some reason by just turning a few valves. It'll take 3 for that, so the 4th can be used for a transfer supply cutoff.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0769H2GB4?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

By the way, I'm pretty sure you can often buy fuel when the convenience store is closed. The pumps are left turned on for paying with a card. I did at one somewhere one morning. I can't remember why the building was closed but the pumps still sold me fuel.
 
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IDIBRONCO

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I don't like paying with a card if I can avoid it. I have run into some that didn't take a card. I was praying that my shower head was still attached by the time that I made it into Pueblo, CO last June. I found a gas station that still had all of the lights on, but wouldn't sell me fuel because they were closed. The pumps didn't take cards. I do admit that I drove past an open truck stop an hour or so before that. It was my mistake.
 

Hagan

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Actually, another option would be to put in a pump like this on a switch to pump fuel from the rear tank's supply to the front's vent or return line, only running it as a means of a transfer pump from rear to front.

That's exactly what I do but I pump fuel from the front tank to the back tank. Been working for 3.5 years now.
 

IDIoit

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I was looking for sending units for my kids truck lastnight.

took me about an hour to search through all the senders on summit racing.com

they have ALOT of them.

does nothing for the pick up. but the new shower heads ive installed didn't last long.

a piece of hose is what I use now a days.

this is the one I bought for the kids F26e tank going into his 61 F100

will be using isspro gauges.

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/cin-sn40t11
 

Cubey

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I don't like paying with a card if I can avoid it. I have run into some that didn't take a card. I was praying that my shower head was still attached by the time that I made it into Pueblo, CO last June. I found a gas station that still had all of the lights on, but wouldn't sell me fuel because they were closed. The pumps didn't take cards. I do admit that I drove past an open truck stop an hour or so before that. It was my mistake.

A 5 gallon fuel can or two would help too.
 
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