So my '82 F150 had a huge dent in the bottom of the front fuel tank and the fuel gauge would only register "F" after a fillup for maybe 15 miles. I decided to replace the tank and the sending unit with Spectra units from autozone. FYI, the tank fit perfectly.

I tested the sending unit before I installed it by plugging in the connector and moving the float arm to various points. It seemed to work fine, the gauge read correctly E to F and in between. Once I got everything installed and added 6 gallons to the tank, the gauge only came up to "E". I added 10 more gallons and the gauge went to 1/4. I even bounced the truck around, hoping that would help. Nope, 1/4 on the gauge.

I was able to pull the connector off the sending unit and use a jumper. My son watched the gauge, and it ran right up past full, so the gauge seems to work correctly.

It seems like I got a bum sending unit. From what I read, the Spectra units are kind of hit and miss. Now I'm wondering if I should get the Spectra swapped with another unit or try to find a different brand...

Has anyone had experience with Spectra senders?

 

How much did that tank & sending unit cost you, if you don't mind me asking?

 

The tank was around 95 and the sender was around 70.

 

How forcefully did you move the float arm? Is the mount for the sender in the same spot as OEM tank?

 

The float arm does not require force to move, I was quite gentle. The replacement tank is virtually identical to the OEM tank.

 

Was the unit adjustable? I installed an adjustable one in by brother in laws 85 and you have to measure the depth of the tank and adjust the length of the float arm. Before he had it set wrong and when the gauge read empty he still had 1/4 tank left. Now after I set the E means "End of the road" cause there is no reserve past it.

That unit as about 50$ but I forget the name brand.

 

So, I thought I'd follow up on this one.... I returned the first sender and tried another spectra sender with the same results.... After I yarded out the tank - again - I did a little more testing using a long set of jumpers with the tank out of the truck and the spectra sender in the tank.... when the Spectra sender was wet with gas, it simply did not work right. I returned that for a Dorman sender which is built much more like the original Ford unit. Tank all bolted back in, I added 6 gallons - gauge read a bit over 1/4, another 5 gallons, gauge read around 3/4, filled it all the way, "F". works perfectly! We swapped out the rear sender as well with a Dorman, it also works just fine. After all these years guessing how much gas I have in the tanks, I have a working gauge! I'm pretty happy about that, sometimes it's the little things!