Making a gas gauge for a cowl tank
Forum rules
If you need help logging in, or have question about how something works, use the Support forum located here Support Forum
Complete set of Forum Rules Forum Rules
If you need help logging in, or have question about how something works, use the Support forum located here Support Forum
Complete set of Forum Rules Forum Rules
-
Topic author - Posts: 140
- Joined: Sat May 30, 2020 9:54 pm
- First Name: Jim
- Last Name: Forbes
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1927 Coupe
- Location: Sierra Vista AZ
- Board Member Since: 2020
Making a gas gauge for a cowl tank
Since I've been driving my 27 coupe around more, including a trip to Tombstone this morning, I decided I need to start checking the fuel level occasionally. I haven't had much luck with the paint stick method. I tried a few other things, and decided that it needs to have a nice porous but high contrast surface, and also have a way to prevent me dropping it in the tank, plus it needs to stay vertical, which helps always go to the same depth. I looked at pictures of a bunch of others, and this is what I ended up making. It's all brand new, but the idea was to make it like it could have been made it a long time ago.
Time will tell how well it works. I think there's enough reserve capacity built into my measurements, to keep me safe. I like to fill up most cars around 1/4 tank, anyways. Note the slot at the bottom end....multi purpose tool.
. .
Time will tell how well it works. I think there's enough reserve capacity built into my measurements, to keep me safe. I like to fill up most cars around 1/4 tank, anyways. Note the slot at the bottom end....multi purpose tool.
. .
-
- Posts: 1045
- Joined: Sat Apr 13, 2019 6:06 pm
- First Name: Susanne
- Last Name: Rohner
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: Late '15 touring, "Angel".
- Location: Valfabbrica, (central) Italy
- MTFCA Number: 464
- MTFCA Life Member: YES
- Board Member Since: 1999
- Contact:
Re: Making a gas gauge for a cowl tank
The stick works because the gasoline discolors the wood at the level of the fuel while its wet with gas... I've done it with regular sticks off a forest floor.
If the stick is sealed, then it won't work, which may be your problem. People put clear lacquer on gas sticks to "preserve the markings" but it prevents the stick from working.
You can always get a yardstick at like Lowes or Home Despot and cut one from that - Just DON'T coat or paint it.
If the stick is sealed, then it won't work, which may be your problem. People put clear lacquer on gas sticks to "preserve the markings" but it prevents the stick from working.
You can always get a yardstick at like Lowes or Home Despot and cut one from that - Just DON'T coat or paint it.
-
Topic author - Posts: 140
- Joined: Sat May 30, 2020 9:54 pm
- First Name: Jim
- Last Name: Forbes
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1927 Coupe
- Location: Sierra Vista AZ
- Board Member Since: 2020
Re: Making a gas gauge for a cowl tank
I tried a couple different bare wood paint sticks, as well as some other things. The best results I got were with rusty steel! so that's what I used. It's easy to see the gas level with it.
Thanks for the suggestions! I guess a real stick, would work best. But this one kept me busy for half an hour making it, so I can't complain.
Thanks for the suggestions! I guess a real stick, would work best. But this one kept me busy for half an hour making it, so I can't complain.
-
- Posts: 307
- Joined: Mon Jan 07, 2019 9:09 am
- First Name: John
- Last Name: Zibell
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1926 Tudor
- Location: Huntsville, AL
- MTFCA Number: 30265
- MTFCI Number: 24046
Re: Making a gas gauge for a cowl tank
Lang's has them back in stock for all tank types. I asked for one with my last parts order and one arrived.
1926 Tudor
-
- Posts: 4956
- Joined: Sat Jan 05, 2019 1:57 pm
- First Name: Mark
- Last Name: Gregush
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1925 cutdown PU, 1920 Dodge touring, 1948 F2 Ford flat head 6 pickup 3 speed
- Location: Portland Or
- MTFCA Number: 52564
- Board Member Since: 1999
Re: Making a gas gauge for a cowl tank
here is another way;
http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/118802/177570.html
http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/25 ... 1346263614
http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/118802/177570.html
http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/25 ... 1346263614
I know the voices aren't real but damn they have some good ideas!
1925 Cut down pickup
1920 Dodge touring
1948 Ford F2 pickup
1925 Cut down pickup
1920 Dodge touring
1948 Ford F2 pickup
-
Topic author - Posts: 140
- Joined: Sat May 30, 2020 9:54 pm
- First Name: Jim
- Last Name: Forbes
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1927 Coupe
- Location: Sierra Vista AZ
- Board Member Since: 2020
Re: Making a gas gauge for a cowl tank
Thanks for all the suggestions. The cowl tank is a bit different than the under seat tanks, which led to my strange, long list of requirements...which my gauge meets, but none of the others do. The tank shape lets you put the gauge in at an angle, which you don't want to do, and also it's in an awkward place.
Like I said, time will tell how well mine works.
-
- Posts: 254
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 10:48 pm
- First Name: Steve
- Last Name: Bourgeois
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1914, 1926
- Location: Waco, TX
- MTFCA Number: 29784
- MTFCI Number: 22970
- Board Member Since: 2007
Re: Making a gas gauge for a cowl tank
One of our senior club members ran out of gas.
He check the level. Looked at the discolor of the stick.
The stick had been used for so many years it was permanently discolored.
Another member brought over a new stick and sure enough the tank was empty.
Needless to say. He received the new stick as a present.
The old stick went on the wall.
The sticks are plentiful and are usually free.
But, if the club stops at a gas station, I top off. Even if I put in 50 cents.
I have run out of gas once too often.
He check the level. Looked at the discolor of the stick.
The stick had been used for so many years it was permanently discolored.
Another member brought over a new stick and sure enough the tank was empty.
Needless to say. He received the new stick as a present.
The old stick went on the wall.
The sticks are plentiful and are usually free.
But, if the club stops at a gas station, I top off. Even if I put in 50 cents.
I have run out of gas once too often.
-
Topic author - Posts: 140
- Joined: Sat May 30, 2020 9:54 pm
- First Name: Jim
- Last Name: Forbes
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1927 Coupe
- Location: Sierra Vista AZ
- Board Member Since: 2020
Re: Making a gas gauge for a cowl tank
That does sound like the best plan. I've run out of gas many times in my life, with a working gas gauge...but lately, never in a car that does not have a working gauge. I guess complacency can be a problem!
-
- Posts: 6463
- Joined: Fri Jan 04, 2019 9:37 pm
- First Name: Steve
- Last Name: Jelf
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1923 touring and a few projects
- Location: Parkerfield, Kansas
- MTFCA Number: 16175
- MTFCI Number: 14758
- Board Member Since: 2007
- Contact:
Re: Making a gas gauge for a cowl tank
I use the traditional wood stick with Ford markings, but I gave it a coat of polyurethane and scuffed it with sandpaper so the wet part shows up.
Whatever you use for a gauge, I highly recommend these. They have saved me an unscheduled long walk more than once.
Whatever you use for a gauge, I highly recommend these. They have saved me an unscheduled long walk more than once.
The inevitable often happens.
1915 Runabout
1923 Touring
1915 Runabout
1923 Touring
-
- Posts: 3907
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 8:00 pm
- First Name: John
- Last Name: Kuehn
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 19 Roadster, 21 Touring, 24 Coupe
- Location: Texas
- MTFCA Number: 28924
Re: Making a gas gauge for a cowl tank
Steve —on your tank stick I’m assuming that the square tank reading would be for the 26-27 cowl tanks? The earlier square tanks in the early Coupes had a square tank. Just wondering.
I have a tank stick but it has oval and round tank markings only.
I have a tank stick but it has oval and round tank markings only.
-
- Posts: 6463
- Joined: Fri Jan 04, 2019 9:37 pm
- First Name: Steve
- Last Name: Jelf
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1923 touring and a few projects
- Location: Parkerfield, Kansas
- MTFCA Number: 16175
- MTFCI Number: 14758
- Board Member Since: 2007
- Contact:
Re: Making a gas gauge for a cowl tank
I don't know, John. I assumed it was 26-27, but maybe both tanks measure the same.
The inevitable often happens.
1915 Runabout
1923 Touring
1915 Runabout
1923 Touring
-
- Posts: 1045
- Joined: Sat Apr 13, 2019 6:06 pm
- First Name: Susanne
- Last Name: Rohner
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: Late '15 touring, "Angel".
- Location: Valfabbrica, (central) Italy
- MTFCA Number: 464
- MTFCA Life Member: YES
- Board Member Since: 1999
- Contact:
Re: Making a gas gauge for a cowl tank
Boyco cans are worth their weight!Steve Jelf wrote: ↑Tue Jul 14, 2020 11:52 pmIMG_0360 copy 2.JPG
Whatever you use for a gauge, I highly recommend these. They have saved me an unscheduled long walk more than once.
I'm wondering what I should put in the blue one - Water, 50/50, waterless coolant, or ?? I worry it may someday rust out and then I'll have to rely on my desert bags...
-
- Posts: 1105
- Joined: Mon Jan 07, 2019 8:01 am
- First Name: Mark
- Last Name: Nunn
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1926 Runabout
- Location: Bennington, NE
- MTFCA Number: 50321
- Board Member Since: 2017
Re: Making a gas gauge for a cowl tank
The square markings are not for the cowl tank. The gallon markings are too evenly spaced. The cowl tanks have graduated markings due to their odd shape.John kuehn wrote: ↑Wed Jul 15, 2020 10:17 amSteve —on your tank stick I’m assuming that the square tank reading would be for the 26-27 cowl tanks? The earlier square tanks in the early Coupes had a square tank. Just wondering.
I have a tank stick but it has oval and round tank markings only.
-
- Posts: 892
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 12:28 pm
- First Name: James
- Last Name: Bartsch
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: '26 Coupe
- Location: Dryden, NY 13053
- MTFCA Number: 30615
- MTFCA Life Member: YES
Re: Making a gas gauge for a cowl tank
John: refer to Ken's post in: http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/25 ... 1346263614
By Ken Kopsky, Lytle TX on Friday, August 10, 2012 - 06:07 pm:
It really isn't Rocket Science. If you're so inclined to get up from your PC, you can make one.
By Ken Kopsky, Lytle TX on Friday, August 10, 2012 - 06:07 pm:
It really isn't Rocket Science. If you're so inclined to get up from your PC, you can make one.
-
- Posts: 6463
- Joined: Fri Jan 04, 2019 9:37 pm
- First Name: Steve
- Last Name: Jelf
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1923 touring and a few projects
- Location: Parkerfield, Kansas
- MTFCA Number: 16175
- MTFCI Number: 14758
- Board Member Since: 2007
- Contact:
Re: Making a gas gauge for a cowl tank
I'd say 50/50 for its anti-rust ingredients.I'm wondering what I should put in the blue one - Water, 50/50, waterless coolant, or ??
The inevitable often happens.
1915 Runabout
1923 Touring
1915 Runabout
1923 Touring
-
- Posts: 107
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 1:57 pm
- First Name: john
- Last Name: hardiman
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 26 coupe
- Location: stoughton, ma
Re: Making a gas gauge for a cowl tank
Looked at jab35 post referencing another post....the stick looks like the markings of a dox cup.
-
- Posts: 1311
- Joined: Thu Jan 10, 2019 5:47 pm
- First Name: Les
- Last Name: Schubert
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 27 roadster 13 touring
- Location: Calgary
Re: Making a gas gauge for a cowl tank
When I saw the title of the thread I was thinking this!!
-
- Posts: 1045
- Joined: Sat Apr 13, 2019 6:06 pm
- First Name: Susanne
- Last Name: Rohner
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: Late '15 touring, "Angel".
- Location: Valfabbrica, (central) Italy
- MTFCA Number: 464
- MTFCA Life Member: YES
- Board Member Since: 1999
- Contact:
Re: Making a gas gauge for a cowl tank
Me too... It's like the one on my space heater for my shop. And it works!Les Schubert wrote: ↑Thu Jul 16, 2020 6:00 pmWhen I saw the title of the thread I was thinking this!!
Orrrrrrrr.... one of those that have the spiral-ey insert that goes down into the tank... not sure how that would work on an improved car, but I'm sure where there's a will, there's a way!
Ya know, I wonder how well the old cork floats handle modern "gasoline"... would it be better to switch it to something like Nitrile, or maybe make one out of brass sheet...
-
- Posts: 4308
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 12:18 pm
- First Name: Steve
- Last Name: Tomaso
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1914 Touring, 1919 Centerdoor, 1924 TT C-Cab Express, 1925 Racer
- Location: Longbranch, WA
- MTFCA Number: 14972
- MTFCI Number: 15411
- Board Member Since: 2001
Re: Making a gas gauge for a cowl tank
Susanne - I have several original gas gauges in cars and I've replace the original cork floats with the Model A gas gauge modern material float - they work perfect BUT I only run "clear" gas in my T's !