Just a few words of "thanks" to those who responded to my inquiries about fuel gauge repairs and gas tank/ sending unit questions a few weeks back.
I finally got the '64 Valiant ragtop back on it's feet last night, after a 6-week stay in the garage with the rear end up on jackstands and the gas tank out...
A tank full of rust caused the fuel pick-up to clog up and the car left me stranded on a warm fall evening, having to come home on the flatbed...
When I dropped the tank and pulled the sending unit, I discovered that the float was riddled with holes and cracks and the filter "sock" was split and peeling, and was full of "red mud", as was the 180 degree bend in the pick-up tube.
I grounded the gas gauge wire, and the dash unit "magically" read "full"
I didn't get back to it for a few weeks, but finally had a chance to take the tank up to the car wash, and put about 10 ft of heavy welded chain inside and "sloshed" that around on all sides, trying to knock the rust out...what came out when I dumped the tank filled a small coffee can!
I then flushed the tank out with the high-pressure car wash wand, and took it home to dry out.
Another few weeks passed, and last night I finally got a chance to put it all back together with a new "sock" and float from Laysons.
Now I have a (reasonably) clean gas tank and a working gas gauge !
Thanks to those who offered tips on trouble shooting the fuel gauge !
De Soto Frank