What sending units will work in an '84 tc? Where can I find one? (one that works).
Could always try to fit in a universal Ford 10 ohm full / 73 ohm empty sender, but fab work would obviously be needed. AFAIK, new stock replacements are not available anywhere. The float and rheostat assembly (the plastic "cage" attached to the flange) seem to be fairly universal to senders on many Fords from that era. I used the float / rheostat assy from a 87 Tempo I had laying around in my piles of junk. It attached perfectly to the TC mounting flange, and works great.
Sorry for the hijack. My '86 is in need of a new sending unit.
Jeff K, I have this post saved.................
http://natomessageboard.com/cgi-bin/ulti...1;t=002169
So, is it possible to purchase an '80's Tempo sending unit new from Ford (if they still offer them) and have it basically bolt in?
The whole sending unit doesnt fit. Use the TC mounting flange and bracket, and attach the Tempo (or likely many other Ford car / truck rheostat & float assys) rheostat / float assy to the TC flange / bracket. The plastic assy that has the rheostat and float just pops off the metal flange / holder easily. I just used one off an 87 Tempo because I had it laying around.
This is something i need to do, thanks for that info Jeff!
Jeff,
I love the idea of using the Tempo sending unit and building a hybrid part, but I have one concern. Not all 1985-88 Turbo Coupe Sending units are the same. Ford does list different sending units between 1985-1988 (likely due to the different sized tanks used between those years). I have the following service part numbers listed for each (I'm going to triple check these again and will edit this post if they are not correct):
1985 2.3L: E5SZ-9275-C
1986 2.3L: E6SZ-9275-C
1987/88 2.3L: E6SZ-9275-B
I actually have a 1985 Sending unit in a 1987/88 tank and when the gauge needle shows Empty (or very near) there is actually about 1/4+ tank of fuel left.
This makes sense to me since the 85 tank is the smallest of the bunch and when the float for the 85 sender reaches the bottom of its travel, the resistance is probably equal to the same resistance for "Empty" on an 87/88 sender. The problem being that the float has bottomed out since it was designed for a smaller tank.
So I guess what I am getting at is that the Tempo mod may work well for 87/88 cars (and maybe even 86) but it might not work in an 85.
The problem could be the opposite of what I experienced if you use it in an 85 car. As an example, the float could be at the 1/4 tank mark but in reality you could be at, or near empty since an 85 tank is smaller. I suspect the same may occur if the sending unit is used in an '83-'84 car. Plus, those have the old style cluster and fuel gauge and I wonder if the resistance range is different for the needle?
I'll have to pull the prints at work and take a look at all these senders and see what they say. Hopefully we can find a good alternative. Maybe it will just requrie a slight bend of the Tempo float arm to make it work for the various tanks?
The float arm length, angle etc was 100% identical between the stock 88 TC assy and the Tempo assy. I can see how the different tanks would require a different length rod / angle, etc, but it would be very easy to bend the rod, lengthen or shorten the rod. I have no clue if any of those senders are available new any more, but I would guess you cant buy just the rheostat / float assy seperate from the flange / bracket assy. The first one I was going to use (this was 5 or so years ago, so my memory is a bit foggy) was one that looked nearly identical from a early 90s Escort I had around, but that one had the resistance that went the "wrong way, and was different than the TC.
Update. More info for this good thread (and the answer to my problem of why my 1985 sending unit when placed in a 22 gallon 1988 tank read empty when there was still about 1/4 tank left). See the attached pictures.
http://natomessageboard.com/uploads/0000...C08385.JPG
http://natomessageboard.com/uploads/0000...C08386.JPG
What you have here are OEM 1985 and 1987 Turbo Coupe Sending units. Note that mechanically, everything is exactly the same except that on the part on the right with the pink plastic cover (which effectively houses the "guts" of the sending unit, the bi-metal strip) the unit is attached lower on the metal tube. This effectively places the float lower when it is bottomed out at empty to allow it to match the deeper 22 gallon tank. My 1985 unit was bottoming out well before the tank itself reached the empty region.
The good news is that since the geometry of the actual sending unit and float arm are the same, Jeff K's suggestion of using the Tempo part to repair exisitng sending units will work on all the different parts from at least 1985-1988.
Unfortunately, I still have the problem of needing a 1987-88 sending unit for my tank. The one in the picture is not only broken, but the metal on top is corroded through and the connector is destroyed!
Gentleman before i retired we had this problem on many old cars with obsolete senders. All that is needed is the FULL-EMPTY resistance readings as Jeff posted. (10-75) The unit on our cars are sender only so fibbing a top plate is a piece of cake. I use a sender from a dodge on my coupe and fibbed the top mounting plate and it works perfectly. Rod travel will have to be designed and its not a big deal. The original ford fast connector can be eliminated and a single wire will do just fine with an internal ground. I used silicone feed through connectors (fuel compatible)for the wire lead and eliminated the factory fast connector. With a little patience and some insight its really an easy FIX. Hope this helps Gentlemen.
Note i save all the old fuel pump assemblies that i replace from newer cars just for the sender resistor. Modern pumps are assembly units and they not only come with a pump but also the sender. I test the full empty resistance and install a tag on them for future use. Normally the whole thing is discarded when the pump goes bad. but the sender can be salvaged for an old or obsolete unit. Thank You
Will a 87-88 unit work. I pulled 4 tanks in the last two weeks and just left the units in those tanks. I may go back and get one for safe keeping if they fit/work on a 86.