BigBiscuit

i want to install an aftermarket fuel gauge in my 86 Z. this will require dropping the gas tank and inserting a level indicator.

do you guys know of any reason why installing an aftermarket fuel gauge is a bad idea? someone told me "ballast resistors" in the stock set up may cause me a problem. does this make sense? who has successfully installed one of these gauges? thanks.

1981LT1

iTrader: (1)

every gm fuel gauge operates off of the resistance reading from the sending unit. 90 ohms is full and 0 ohms is empty. This is the same for all gm vehicles going back many decades. I know for a fact that autometer uses the same values for their gauges and other vehicles (ford, dodge) require adapters.

I have never heard the term "ballast resistor" and fuel in the same sentence. Every ballast resistor i have seen is for the early points type ignition.

86camaro383

iTrader: (3)

No you will not have to drop the tank. remove your driver rear seat, and pick up the carpet a little. You will see a purple, tan, and black wire.

Tan is power
purple is for the sender (the one you need)
black is ground

Cut the purple and splice it to the aftermarket gauge!.

BigBiscuit

thanks a lot guys for the feedback and info.

onebad82z

iTrader: (7)

Or if you plan to mount the gauge in dash,find the wire in the main cluster connector and splice in there.

exotikcamaro

i have a stewart warner fuel gauge and it works perfectly for me. Like they said if u get a 0-90 ohm gauge, u won't have any problems.

BigBiscuit

cool. thanks guys. i appreciate the input.

1989karr

I was told that if you get a 0 - 90 gauge, you just gotta hook it up to the existing sending unit wire