Hello all, I have a 1969 Oldsmobile 98. My fuel sending unit is dodgy. I took it out last night, it looks like a large can of beans, with the fuel sock on the bottom and a fuel line and return line on the top. Along the side in a spiral pattern is a single line of about 6 or 7 holes about 0.030" each.. The resistance values appear to be good, but the float seems to stick moving in the upward direction, but is free moving toward empty. It appears to be crimped, so I have not disassembled it (yet). Does anyone know where I can get a fuel sending unit for a 1969 Ninety Eight? I cannot even find a part number online. Any help is greatly appreciated.

John G.

 

There is one on ebay. 67-70 Fuel Sending Unit

 

Thanks 70 cutty, mine is more like the one in this picture:


I think if I could get a part number I may find it...

 

Shoot me an email direct so I remember to dig in my inventory. I think I have one that looks like that new.

 

Forgot to add it. dead@mchsi.com or droldsmobilemuseum.com

 

My '67 Delta 88 used the same unit. No one makes repros, and any NOS I've seen on ebay costs an arm and a leg. The float on mine would get stuck, and I could never get it to reliably slide up and down the shaft. I didn't want to be taking down the fuel tank every 15 minutes to repair it, either.

So I put in a sender for a '72 Buick Lesabre, which is a drop-in replacment and looks similar to the ebay listing cited by 70cutty. (That ebay listing is not the correct sending unit for the '67 to '70 full-size Oldsmobiles despite what the seller says.)




The purpose of the canister with the holes in it is to dampen the effect on the float level of the fuel sloshing around in the tank as the car goes over bumps and around corners. The fuel enters and exits the canister only very slowly because of the holes. Because of this, the fuel tanks for these cars do not have baffles as they're not needed if the correct sending unit is in place. If you use the Lesabre sending unit, the gauge needle WILL bounce around a bit as the car moves. But the fuel gauge still works, and having a working fuel gauge is better than not having one. I put the replacement unit in my car in 2009, and it's been working fine ever since.



Here's the unit I replaced it with. Bought it from rockauto.com.

 

Hi there, jaunty 75,

How did you get yours apart? I thought it was crimped?
I will try taking mine apart.

John G.

 

Hello DeaDDS,

Did you recieve my email? juancappuccino@icloud.com

 

It was 10 years ago, and I don't recall the specifics. But I don't recall any problems or issues taking it apart and putting it back together.

 

Thanks,

I think I figured it out, it appears the strainer holds on to the fuel line and that holds the whole thing together....

John

 

Can anyone tell me the part number for the strainer?

 

I looked for a strainer back in 2009. Never found one. Even had some parts places check with sources at GM parts dealers "who might have something." Ended up not needing it after deciding to go with the later sending unit.

 

Thanks Jaunty,

I was able to get a modern strainer and had to use a small piece of silicone tubing around the pick up tube to hold it all together,

Still failed so will probably get DeaDDS unit if possible.

John G.