Classic/Antique Car Repair: 36 desoto gas sending unit, hemmings motor news, desoto custom

Question
Hi, I have a 36 Desoto custom coupe.I have done a frame up and re wired the harness. It has a positive ground. The wire to the gas sending unit(one) is connected to the gas gauge. When I turned on the ignition key the 14 ga wire melted off. Is the gas sending unit shorting out? I do not want to fill the tank only to have it blow if there is a short. When I installed the sending unit the connection seemed to strip out or not tighten. Thanks James

Answer
What a great car!  My congratulations -  I envy you.

The problem seems to definitely be in the sending unit - it has to come out and be evaluated for sure.  To burn up a 14 gauge wire takes a LOT of current - so I'd check very carefully everything that is connected to that wire back at the dashboard - I'm amazed that the power supplied to the wire from the dash indicator unit would be able to do that much damage - so I suspect it is connected to the wrong point there. It sounds like it is connected directly to the negative 6 volt system, not to the correct dash gauge terminal, so check that carefully before connecting the sending unit again, after it is repaired.

The terminal on the sending unit should never be loose - so there is a problem there also.  There are vendors who will rebuild those senders for you.  I don't know of any particular source for that, but I'm sure you'll find one listed in the Hemmings Motor News "services offered" section.

Good luck, enjoy your unique vehicle!!

Dick