Classic/Antique Car Repair/1950 Chevy pickup

Advertisement

Expert: - 4/1/2009


Question
Hello,I have a 1950 chevy pickup mostly original. 3 questions are: #1 The starer turns over slow even when the battery is full charged (6V). Is it time to get it rebuilt or is it normal to turn over slowly?? #2 The gas guage does not register. Is there away to trouble shoot the sender vs the actual guage?? #3 I just had the fuel pump rebuilt and it is leaking gas out of the flat area below the glass bowl. Does it sound like a bad gasket installed during the rebuilding??

Answer
1. Time to have the starter tested and check all the connections including the ground side. If the starter test OK and the connections are all good the it is rebuild time.
2. Disconnect the wire from the outlet side of the fuel gage that goes to the sender. Then ground the fuel gage and turn on the key. The gage should go to full and drop when the jumper wire is disconnected. If it does that then the dash gage is ok.
3. Yep.
Brad

Classic/Antique Car Repair

All Answers

Answers by Expert:

Ask Experts

Volunteer

Brad Sears

Expertise

All automotive including antique and collectible. However if the car has been modified I can only answer in general terms and maybe get you pointed in the right direction.

Experience

Automotive tech instructor. Syndicated auto columnist 1970's though the early 1990's. Syndicated auto radio talk show, Ask Brad About cars, CBS Radio 70's through 90's TV Show "Last Chance Garage" 1980's PBS-TV syndicated. Auto instructor for the following companies: Fram Autolyte Holly Carter AMF Ford Motor University Of Conn Blue Hills Technical School Sugar River Technical Center Grew up in a family garage in Needham Mass and turned wrenches from the age of 14.

Publications
Manchester Union Leader, Nashua Telegraph, Motor Service Magazine, Yankee Magazine, Popular Mechanics (Saturday Mechanic early 80's), Los Angeles Times, New York Times, and lots more.

Education/Credentials
More than I care to remember. Basically Franklin Technical Institute in Boston, Northeastern University, Fitchburg State Teachers College, Tufts University, and a lot of factory schools along the way.

Awards and Honors
Moto Award winner. And much more.

©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.