Leaks fuel from sending unit gasket

[Zymurgy]

I have never been able to put more than a half tank of gas, without leaking from the sending unit seal. I have not really gone on more of a 100 mile trip so I haven't really dealt with it.

I believe the problem is that the new sending unit with a new rubber gasket and locking ring do not fit tight. I can easy spin it off with my finger. I have even found it slightly loosened on its own.

Anyone else have this problem? I have looked for a thicker rubber gasket, none found. I thought of making a spacer out of something to make the fit tighter. Any reason not to use paper gasket type material as a spacer? Any other suggestions?

I am ready for a long trip and I want to fill this tank up.

 

[300rag]

This is a common problem. The locking ring on the new units are not as thick as the originals, and the gasket may be thinner too. On my 69, I re-used the old gasket and locking ring to fix this.

 

[Zymurgy]

This is a common problem. The locking ring on the new units are not as thick as the originals, and the gasket may be thinner too. On my 69, I re-used the old gasket and locking ring to fix this.

I thought I didn't throw anything original away, but it appear I did throw them away, I was going to try that. Thanks for confirming that this is an issue.

I think I better try and find an old set.

 

[Zymurgy]

I found a locking ring that is made in Canada not China, and also a stainless one sold through Detroit muscle. Anyone have any luck with either of these items?

 

[saforwardlook]

This is a common problem. The locking ring on the new units are not as thick as the originals, and the gasket may be thinner too. On my 69, I re-used the old gasket and locking ring to fix this.

I responded to a similar post earlier. But to repeat, I know of some guys that have also been spilling fuel using those new repop rings. They can't get tight enough to prevent leakage when fuel sloshes up against the sending unit under acceleration. I always keep my original thicker ring and throw out the repops. A real safety issue.

 

[polara71]

I'm surprised these haven't been resolved yet. After all the years they've been wrong.

 

[Zymurgy]

Unfortunately this was one of the first things I removed from my car 3 years ago. I still had the damaged fuel pump, which wasn't even original, but no ring or gasket found. I will look again, but I know I threw the sending unit away because it had rusted away.

It is a beautiful morning seems like a good excuse to take her out for a spin, my shop it about 13 mile drive of country roads.

 

[saylor]

 

[70bigblockdodge]

You could try to put a bead of weld on the tabs of repop ring and file/grind so that smooth enough to slide under tank lip, about twice as thick as the guage of the repop ring should get it tight.

If you look at saylor's pic you can see the guage difference, also the lip is not bent high enough at the end this is where I would put the bead.

 

[Zymurgy]

You could try to put a bead of weld on the tabs of repop ring and file/grind so that smooth enough to slide under tank lip, about twice as thick as the guage of the repop ring should get it tight.

If you look at saylor's pic you can see the guage difference, also the lip is not bent high enough at the end this is where I would put the bead.

Nice suggestion I just might try that.

 

[70bigblockdodge]

If I had pictures of both rings I would send them to you to see where to build up but saylors gives a good idea.

 

[Zymurgy]

Life just go easier located one for $5 at National Moparts.

 

[live4theking]

I have a couple of somewhat generic questions.

Is the locking ring the same on all of the tanks? Is the gasket the same on all tanks? Or do they at least fit a range of tanks?

I'm asking because through my work I work with a company that stamps steel parts and a couple of companies that make gaskets.

If this is a broad enough problem I'd consider contacting the stamping company about doing the rings correctly, I just happen to have my tank out right now. The gasket is the easy one a couple of measurements and I could have a quote from them.

What's your thoughts? I'd probably have to get at least 50, maybe 100, rings to offset the tooling charge.

:sFl_america2:

 

[65sporty]

You would have to ck the years but I believe they cover a lot of years. I used a aftermarket one I got from the auto parts and had to bend it some and bend the tank tabs some also

 

[Zymurgy]

Pretty certain they covered all Chrysler products for several years. The new gaskets seem fine. Once I installed an old ring with a new gasket no problem.

 

[saylor]

sweet. glad you got fixed up.

on stamping more - i bet it is something that you would sell 2 a week for the rest of your life. as people swap sending units, they gonna need the new lock ring...