I'm wanting to calibrate a fuel stick for my 1925 Dalgety (Australian) Model T Ford.
It has a rectangular fuel tank and as best I can measure I reckon the inside dimensions are approximately 68cm x 33.5cm. This would then mean each 5 Litres would equate to approximately 22mm depth from the bottom of the fuel tank.
The Duncan & Fraser website http://duncanandfraser.com/dalgety%20original.htm says the tank capacity is 8 gallons (presumably the 4.55L Imperial gallon, not the 3.8L US gallon).
The tank would be approaching full at 154mm (about 35 Litres if my scale is correct) which is about 7.6 gallons. 8 gallons (36.37 L) would be about 160mm which is about what I measure the inside depth of the tank.
I'm thinking I'm pretty close - probably close enough.
Mark, I emptied the tank and then measured and marked a ruler as I added a gallon at a time.
Later on I found out there were gas gauge sticks out there! I have a MAC's give-away stick from some years ago. I'm never really sure though how to use it properly on an Improved Car cowl tank with its slanting bottom.
Upon reflection I guess it's pretty academic.
Before December 2002 the cars I had owned had a fuel gauge that showed Empty, Quarter, Half, Three Quarters and Full. If said gauge was actually working! Since then I've had cars with gauges that also tell me how far I can travel until I run out of fuel.
Perhaps it would be more useful if I calibrated my stick with how many km I can travel until empty. Hmmm...
The fuel gage in my 1971 Plymouth GTX is so non-linear that it isn't even funny:
Full on the gage is indeed full (21 gallons).
3/4 on the gage means the tank is half full.
1/2 on the gage means the tank is 1/4 full.
1/4 on the gage means you had better be looking for a gas station, now!
When I did my Dalgety I added 1 Imperial Gallon at a time and marked the stick.
Mark -- I have a Canadian gas gauge stick with markings in Imperial gallons. I could send you those measurements (in inches), if you like.
I'm with Eric I drive a 27 and the cowl tank is very hard to gage so my wife developed this system stick a blank paint stick in the tank as far as it will go when you pull it out if there less than 4 inches on the stick fill it up!
Mark,
Those Dalgety fuel tanks are unique to Australia and unless someone who has one can supply you with the measurements you will have to do what David has posted in the above thread.
Best regards, John
The Dalgety tank is a crook design and is real bad for looking full and running out up a hill. Although designed and made in Adelaide by Duncan & Fraser to allow a better seating angle and be more comfortable for the driver, it is definitely not one of their better ideas.
Having driven a Dalgety for many miles the thing I can say is keep the tank full if you are climbing any hills. I have backed up most hills out of Adelaide including Anstey's, Gumeracha, Break Neck Cutting and Clarendon where I was stopped by the police. They were intrigued to see going up in reverse and wanted to know if I was taking the mickey or something. When I explained the issue they let me go with a chuckle and no paperwork.
With today's 24 hour petrol availability there should never be an issue. If in doubt, fill it up to the brim!!!! Alternatively keep a gallon of fuel with you just in case.
The main problem with the Dalgety tanks is the flat bottom amd the outlet still being in the centre of the tank. There can be a considerable amount of fuel aft of the outlet when ascending a hill. Best to do as David suggests and keep the tank topped up.
Hope this helps.
allan from down under.
Garnet: can you tell me where to get a copy of that drawing in the forum I cannot make out the measurements I think they are as follows from 1 - 10 gallons respectively 1/4, 1-1/4,2-5/16,3,3-13/16,4-13/16,5-5/8,6-7/16,7-5/16 & 8-1/2 are those the correct measurements?
Is this the style of tank you want the measurement of.