Beware of Repop Fuel Sender Units

[Bruzilla]

I discovered on Sunday that not all repop fuel senders are the same. They look the same, but they are not. The one that I was installing looked identical to the original, but there was a key difference.

On the original, the tube for the fuel outlet is bent to the rear of the car, and on my repop it is straight. This caused a bit of a headache with trying to route the fuel line so it wouldn't kink and be well clear of the exhaust pipe. So... if you have a 71-74 B Body and are looking at replacing the sender, shop around for one with a fuel tube that bends to the left when installed and not the straight one.

 

[moparnation74]

First can you warn everyone where you bought yours? So they do not make the same mistake....

Instrument specialties carries very nice units and Bill Rolik does as well......

When in doubt ASK the members here what they use before dropping $$$ on a potential headache.....

Even something as simple as a gasket....if I do not know I will ask others....The repop industry SUCKS!

 

[Bruzilla]

Doesn't much matter who sold it. I suspect most all of these are coming from the same factory out in Chinaland, so every vendor is selling the same thing. What's important is to look at the picture and make sure the outlet is angled and not straight. And make sure you check it when it comes in so you don't discover the error after the sender is in the tank and up in the car.

Reminds me of when I tore a belt on a 95 Police Interceptor. There were two belts in the Advance system, one for A/C and one for without. I found out they had the numbers backwards in their system, and they had given me the wrong belt. Wasn't long after that the internet came along and you could check part numbers online, and I saw every parts store out there had those numbers reversed as well. They all used the same system, and all had the same errors.

 

[moparnation74]

Doesn't much matter who sold it. I suspect most all of these are coming from the same factory out in Chinaland, so every vendor is selling the same thing. What's important is to look at the picture and make sure the outlet is angled and not straight. And make sure you check it when it comes in so you don't discover the error after the sender is in the tank and up in the car.

Reminds me of when I tore a belt on a 95 Police Interceptor. There were two belts in the Advance system, one for A/C and one for without. I found out they had the numbers backwards in their system, and they had given me the wrong belt. Wasn't long after that the internet came along and you could check part numbers online, and I saw every parts store out there had those numbers reversed as well. They all used the same system, and all had the same errors.

No they do NOT sell the same sender......Your sender is not the same one that IS and Bill Rolik sells...I have been down this road long before you may have even owned a Mopar...

I think we would like to know whom not to buy from.....

 

[Bruzilla]

No they do NOT sell the same sender......Your sender is not the same one that IS and Bill Rolik sells...I have been down this road long before you may have even owned a Mopar...

I think we would like to know whom not to buy from.....

What? You think these guys have their own secret sender factories out near Omaha or something?

I really wish I had a spare $150 or so to blow on one of those senders so I could compare them side by side with a $50 one everybody else sells. I suspect they would be identical.

 

[moparnation74]

What? You think these guys have their own secret sender factories out near Omaha or something?

I really wish I had a spare $150 or so to blow on one of those senders so I could compare them side by side with a $50 one everybody else sells. I suspect they would be identical.

They use different suppliers...That is a fact! You just went the el cheapo route and that is what you get....I do not see whats the issue relaying where you bought an inferior unit...

 

[moparnation74]

My Instrument Specialties unit.....

For a 69 B Body.....

 

[Charger72]

I bought mine from Dixie Restoration Parts.

 

[idrivemopar]

I got one from Year One, that was incorrect, had the straight out fuel line instead of curved, which makes it impossible to connect the ground strap from the body fuel line to the pickup. Note, this was 4 years ago.

 

[flypaper]

They use different suppliers...That is a fact! You just went the el cheapo route and that is what you get....I do not see whats the issue relaying where you bought an inferior unit...

if someone did their homework they would find out that
the only good ones are either sold by Dixie or Rolik or nos
the junk ones are very easy to identify,
they are sold by everyone else!

 

[moparnation74]

if someone did their homework they would find out that
the only good ones are either sold by Dixie or Rolik or nos
the junk ones are very easy to identify,
they are sold by everyone else!

Homework has been done Frank, lol I have only bought from IS and Bill Rolik....Good to know DR sells them as well...

However, I will say I would LOVE to have a correctly dated NOS unit....Now that I would pay some nice green for...Maybe you might have one Huh? Those are literally unobtanium these days.....Your a parts collector, right? Let that part have a chance to run fuel through it

 

[flypaper]

haha thats funny
i have many nos parts but i don't have one of those kickin around
i did manage to save up a few nice originals from parts cars for my project
the repop ones were junk over 20 years ago and still are junk today
i have come across a few nos ones in the past.
the thing is you know you won't find it anywhere when you want or need one.
yeah nos parts
you know you have flushed some serious coin away
the moment you bolt it on the car...
i think you and i should meet and burn hundred dollar bills in a pile together
it would be much cheaper on us in the long run..

 

[moparnation74]

haha thats funny
i have many nos parts but i don't have one of those kickin around
i did manage to save up a few nice originals from parts cars for my project
the repop ones were junk over 20 years ago and still are junk today
i have come across a few nos ones in the past.
the thing is you know you won't find it anywhere when you want or need one.
yeah nos parts
you know you have flushed some serious coin away
the moment you bolt it on the car...
i think you and i should meet and burn hundred dollar bills in a pile together
it would be much cheaper on us in the long run..

You got that right Frank...One heck of a bonfire that would be.....lol

Yeah a few NOS parts I have given up on with the hopes something may pop up eventually...I agree the rest is junk in comparison to original/NOS..

 

[B5bird]

After reading this I checked mine out. Yep I got it from Van's. It has the straight tube. Somebody post up the contact info for a better unit. Thanks

 

[moparnation74]

http://www.instrument-specialties.com

http://www.billrolikenterprises.com/products.asp?cat=23&pg=16

http://dixierestorationparts.com

 

[69bfan]

B5BIRD, could you post a picture of the unit with the straight tube? Also, what year model and body type would the unit be for? The reason that I ask, you might have gotten the wrong unit sent to you. Some of the units look very similar, but there are differences in them.
As for the availability of the sending units, I would say that there are basically three possibly four different manufactures that the vendors are selling. I just received a unit from Van's for a customer and it is the same unit as pictured from Instrument Specialties. I do not know how it will function, but I am very positive that they were made from the same plant. The grounding from some are a simple wire, some are a metal band. Then a couple of the units are stainless and one is a zinc plated metal.
I was involved with the reproduction units that were made initially by the original vendor to Chrysler. Even these units had some issues with them, with approximately 3% having a real issue with reading and even testing 10 units, you would see some variation in all 10 on the OHM spread for each unit. That is why it is necessary to tweak the float arm to get the most accurate reading. I know that it is pain, but it is necessary to insure accuracy.
At the time when I had these ran, almost 20 years ago, the manufacturing cost to wholesale them was in the $57 range. Year One who was the primary purchaser, found they could purchase a alternative in the $18 range. So needless to say, they went to the cheapenr variety with the issues as the profit margin increased for them. Fast forward to 2017, reputable vendors are retailing the units at prices that are close to what my wholesale was in 1997.
I still have a couple hundred of the different applications that I will probably go to my grave with. We all want stuff as cheap as possible, including myself, but you really do pay for what you get. I know looking at the construction of the two reproductions, I quickly noticed that the plate that the pickup tube is soldered into is thinner and the supplied lock ring is still an issue. But hopefully it will fit and function well as a fuel leak and improper reading gauge is not a pleasant reality to deal with in dealing with these ventures.

 

[B5bird]

Thanks Bfan. I bought this at the indy swap meet. I remember the package stating it was correct for my car but they may be trying to lump several models together. I will get a pic later tonight or in the morning.

 

[Fervantmender]

I just checked mine from AMD it also has the line straight up

 

[69bfan]

When you say the line is straight up, which line are you referring to? Again is this a 68 to 70 B-Body unit? Also, is this a 3/8 or a 5/16" unit as the the feed lines exit differently as I recall between the two sizes. Trying to just educate myself so that I can better help our customers

 

[Bb70charger500]

71-74