So I'm getting ready to put the tanks back on my 95' F350 7.3 long bed and upon removal of the sending units I have a few problems to fix prior to putting them back in the new tanks.

Problem #1 : The strainers on both sending units were both broken off....this seams to be a way to common of a problem to justify spending over $60 on new strainers that are just going to fail in a few years so is there any problem to just running no strainers and extending the pick up line down to where the strainer would usually sit using some fuel line and a hose clamp? I'm converting it to electronic fuel with dual frame mounted filters so I figure with it being a new fuel tank and having two fuel filters I can visually see into to check for debris it would be ok to run no strainers.

Problem #2 : The one sending unit has a plastic float and the other has a brass float....well I knew taking them out that one sending unit wasn't working and low and behold it was the brass one because it had a hole in it and was sunk to the bottom of the tank. Does anyone know of a plastic float that would work with minimal modification to get away from putting in another major problematic brass float?

Problem #3 : I've read a lot about guys moving the return line farther away from the pick up...what exactly is the benefit of doing this? I would assume it stirs up less crud near the pick up to get sucked up and into the fuel line but that's just my guess.

Any opinion's or help on the fuel tank problems would be greatly appreciated, thanks!

 

they last about 20 years.so if you get another one,your truck should be 40 years young before you need to replace them again.
you can grab them for 35 bucks on amazon.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0042HBSYE

 

Just take the brass float out, let it sit in the sun for a few days (or use a hairdryer - outside of course!) to heat it up and get all the diesel out of it.

Once you do that, get some sand paper and scuff up the surface around the hole, put some soldering flux on it, and then solder the hole up. Should only take about 5 minutes tops.

 

Agreed with both FORDF250HDXLT and Leadhead

 

Or spend $8.45 + shipping on a Mustang Fuel Tank Float Brass 1964 1/2 - 1973 float ... Probably could be found cheaper.

-Enjoy
fh : )_~

 

For $9 I think I'll just get that one, I saw them on Amazon and eBay but it only listed it for Broncos and f150's with gassers so wasn't sure if the diesel was different. I don't think it lasted 20 years though, because the one sending units not stock and that one still had a broken off strainer. I just here so many stories about everytime someone drops there tank that they discover a broken or cracked strainer so I figured I could just fab my own up or just don't run one in general because of you think about it guys that have them brake or crack and don't know it are pretty much running strainerless without even knowing it and being just fine.

 

Original pickup foot (showerhead) lasts ~20 years. Who knows about the replacements!

Ensure the float does not set on the bottom at empty.
Always keep the unused tank full ...

-Enjoy
fh : )_~

 

Well judging by the fact that the replacement sending units pickup foot seamed to be in worst shape then the factory one I'd say less then 20 for sure While the Ford pickup foot may last 20 years it's still a part that's almost guaranteed to fail even if it is 20 years down the road, I just feel like I could fab a better (longer lasting) one up on my own for cheaper or around the same price at least out of some stainless mesh, stainless tube, and some fuel line and stainless hose clamps or something like that. The only thing that I'm questioning is the actual size (surface area) of the stock "showerhead" compared to what I'm going to fab up. I was just going to get the same diameter stainless tube as the pick up has and wrap the end with the stainless mesh and either clamp the mesh on or maybe even hit it with a tiny spot weld on both sides....but if I did that then the surface area for filtered fuel to flow up and into the sending unit would greatly decrease and I feel like after years of build up in the tank I may get to a point where the junk inside will clog the strainer totally due to it's smaller surface area compared to the ford "showehead" style strainer and then once clogged will starve the motor for fuel or possibly cut it off completely if it's bad enough....which with that in mind makes me more and more leaning towards running no strainer in the tanks and just let the two frame mounted fuel filters do there jobs and just keep a close eye on them for contaminants.

 

I also like to only run the tanks til 1/4 full then switch to the full tank...we've done that on the other 96' F350 since new and never had any issues with the sending units.