BJ8 Fuel Tank Sending Unit - Ground Wire

[pkmh]

Hello All,

My new fuel tank sending unit is installed, mimicking the same wire setup as I had before on my old unit.

On my unit though, or compared to the many other Healey trunk photos I've seen where there is usually only one wire connection, mine has two wire connections, one of which is serving as a ground as shown.

Just curious to know if this was by design at the factory or if this second wire was added later on and for what possible reasons.

Thank you and much appreciated!

Paul

 

[John Turney]

From what I can tell, they started out without a ground wire, but the wires have been added to make the sender work properly.

 

[drambuie]

I have the ground wire on my 67 BJ8, That is just the way they come from the factory.Most likely for the reason John stated above. What kind of compound did you use to seal your sender? I hope it is the fuel resistent type.... and i hope you used some on the little mounting screws threads as well! Michael.

 

[pkmh]

Hey all,

Well, my original sending unit wasn't working for reasons, I believe, having to do with the unit's 'float' mechanism having seized up. The float's armature connected to the sending unit proper was stuck in the empty position. After loosening it, it worked again. But because I had a new unit and the float is now made of a solid plastic enclosure (the old being constructed of soldered ferrous metal), I decided to replace it as good measure.

Compound used to seal the sending unit was [Brown] Permatex, designed specifically to resist "hot and cold water, steam, oil, gasoline, kerosene, grease, mild acids and alkalis". I never had a problem with Permatex and they make a variety of different types for different applications. Is there another solution, better?!

Thanks,

Paul

 

[drambuie]

I used Holomar sealant(made by permatex) with very good results. It is used on jet engines and withstands very high temps as well as being fuel resistent... i ordered it at my local napa dealer.

 

[pkmh]

Thanks for the sealant info.

By the way on a gasoline related question, can anyone say how long you should have gasoline sitting in the tank, especially the ethanol type? After doing an overhaul on my fuel system, I put some high test in and now the gas is about a month old, and I can assume it'll be another month or two before it gets replaced with a new batch.

Or, can a gas treatment be good enough for months of storage?

What is the general rule of thumb for having gasoline just sitting in a tank?

Paul

 

[Bob_Spidell]

I've had gas sit in the tank for several months with no (extra) additives and no problems with starting or running (and that's with the strange brew known as California gas). My tank was replaced many years ago and carefully prepped with Bill Hirsch sealant and I've had no fuel problems whatsoever.

Arguably one of the best things you can do if you're not going to be cycling the gas for awhile is to fill the tank up so you don't get as much condensation. Make sure the gasket on your cap is in good shape, too.

 

[pkmh]

Thanks Bob for that good advice!

I will fill it up. The one thing I think I should of done was to do a test of filling the tank anyway, before sealing up the sending unit, just to see if it reads full (and empty, perhaps) on the gauge accurately. I may of assumed too much by just installing it without assuming any adjustment was necessary.

 

[TimK]

I use 4-5 oz. of Stabil in a full tank for the 6 months (Nov-Apr) I store my Healey in the garage during Michigan's winters. I have the original gas tank in my 52 year old car. When I got it in 1981 it had some pin hole rust in a small patch in the bottom that I repaired with some kind of muffler repair paste. No problems since. My glass gas filter is clear. I cut open the old metal filter I had on for 30 years and it was clear as well.