Gas Gauge Problem - 1987 v6 Camaro w/ 350 swap
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Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 4
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From: Chicago, Illinois
Car: 1987 Camaro
Engine: 350ci 4bbl
Transmission: 700R4 Automatic
Gas Gauge Problem - 1987 v6 Camaro w/ 350 swap
Already posted a thread like this but I figured I'd try being more thorough.
I'm having a bit of a hard time with my latest acquisition, a 1987 Camaro that I bought off of a guy who tore out the stock v6 it came from the factory with, and stuffed a 350 in with a Rochester carburetor.
The issue is my gauges.
When I bought the car, it had the base model cluster with the gigantic fuel gauge and no tach. Two out of the five gauges were not working. That is, both my speedo and gas gauge were either not working or not working correctly. The speedo outright refused to move from 0, but the gas gauge jumped around to wherever it felt like. Sometimes it hovered at 1/2 tank, sometimes 1/4 tank, you get the idea.
The speedo issue I have diagnosed as possibly a bad speedo cable (this thing may or may not have had cruise control at some point, which may explain things).
However, its my gas gauge that I have no idea what's wrong with. I'm sure you guys understand that a big 350 drinks a crap ton of gas and I'd rather not end up on the side of the road or in traffic without any gas if I can help it. This thing has an aftermarket electronic fuel pump installed by the previous owner if that means anything.
Any idea what might be wrong with it?
I'm having a bit of a hard time with my latest acquisition, a 1987 Camaro that I bought off of a guy who tore out the stock v6 it came from the factory with, and stuffed a 350 in with a Rochester carburetor.
The issue is my gauges.
When I bought the car, it had the base model cluster with the gigantic fuel gauge and no tach. Two out of the five gauges were not working. That is, both my speedo and gas gauge were either not working or not working correctly. The speedo outright refused to move from 0, but the gas gauge jumped around to wherever it felt like. Sometimes it hovered at 1/2 tank, sometimes 1/4 tank, you get the idea.
The speedo issue I have diagnosed as possibly a bad speedo cable (this thing may or may not have had cruise control at some point, which may explain things).
However, its my gas gauge that I have no idea what's wrong with. I'm sure you guys understand that a big 350 drinks a crap ton of gas and I'd rather not end up on the side of the road or in traffic without any gas if I can help it. This thing has an aftermarket electronic fuel pump installed by the previous owner if that means anything.
Any idea what might be wrong with it?
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From: Mooresville NC
Car: LOWERED ♦ CRIMSON METALFLAKE
Engine: ► 400 KUBES ◄
Transmission: 765R4
Axle/Gears: EATON POSI 4.56
Gage Rage
Here’s how to test the fuel gage.
Remove the sender wire going to the gage.
Tape the bare end of the sender wire and put it aside.
Use a potentiometer with a value of 100Ω or the closest you can find.
Connect one end the potentiometer to the gage from the location you removed the sender.
Connect the wiper of the potentiometer to ground.
Turn the key to RUN.
Slowly adjust the potentiometer from 0Ω to 90Ω.
If the gage is bad it will exhibit the problem you have.
If the gage is good it will display a smooth transition from one end of it’s range to the other.
Therefore the problem is with the sender or wiring going to it.
You can use a loose potentiometer, or you can throw together a quick little panel like this one.
◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙
Happy Racing !
◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙
8 Wheels Corner Better Than 4, If You’re On The Outside You Have Fair Warning
Remove the sender wire going to the gage.
Tape the bare end of the sender wire and put it aside.
Use a potentiometer with a value of 100Ω or the closest you can find.
Connect one end the potentiometer to the gage from the location you removed the sender.
Connect the wiper of the potentiometer to ground.
Turn the key to RUN.
Slowly adjust the potentiometer from 0Ω to 90Ω.
If the gage is bad it will exhibit the problem you have.
If the gage is good it will display a smooth transition from one end of it’s range to the other.
Therefore the problem is with the sender or wiring going to it.
You can use a loose potentiometer, or you can throw together a quick little panel like this one.
◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙
Happy Racing !
◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙
8 Wheels Corner Better Than 4, If You’re On The Outside You Have Fair Warning
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