1984 F350 sending unit on 6.9 (will this work?)

nick2020 · Jan 23, 2020

I can't find the sending unit.

So..

Can I replace my rear tank with a 1985 rear tank that has the 4 1/4 opening so that I can use the 1985 sending unit?

Local pick a part has the 1985 tank for $45.00 and it might be worth it to get past this issue.

Thewespaul · Jan 23, 2020

There’s no longer a direct replacement available for sending units in the factory diesel 83-84 trucks. I’m working on a solution but won’t have anything for a few months at least. I do have the factory sending units in my 83 race truck, I could drop the tanks and see if they are in good shape still. If you use an 85 sending unit and tank your gauge will read wrong.

dgr · Jan 23, 2020

That's interesting. I always thought the cut off for all Fords was 86/87. Why'd they use different ohm values in 83-84?

BeastMaster · Jan 24, 2020

Maybe they changed the gauge design from the old thermal bimetallic design to the newer electromagnetic?

I have been fishing around with those gauges and am quite impressed with their design. I want to drive them with an Arduino...I have some crazy ideas of repurposing some of the gauges to assist in other diagnostics and antitheft fake problem spoofing.

Thewespaul · Jan 24, 2020

Talking to @Trevtron last night he says he was able to swap in an 85+ tank and sending unit in his 83 and his gauge is accurate, so I would give that a shot. My 30+ year old ford literature says it wont, but I trust first hand experience.

chillman88 · Jan 24, 2020

Worst case I'm sure you could swap the fuel gauge from the donor to match the sending unit.

franklin2 · Jan 24, 2020

The changed the way the gauges worked in 1987. So 86-dwn should be the same. Unless that junkyard tank is perfect, I would consider a new tank. Most of them are in poor shape by now though I see the original thread starter does live in California, so I guess they don't have the salt problems we have over here.

1984 F350 sending unit on 6.9 (will this work?)

nick2020

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dgr

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