Hey all. Im trying to figure out the size of the tank in my 54. It’s a newer tank but I’m reading some sites say 17 gallon, some say 19. The previous owner seems to think it was actually 14 gallons. Im asking because I had to replace the sending unit in the tank and I’m having a hard time getting the float arm to the right length. The tank reads Empty when there’s about 2-2.5” of fuel reading on my measuring stick when the tank is only 6-6.5” deep. I followed the float arm measurement instructions with the sending unit.
The Bob Drake BA-9002 tank measures 30 x 23 x 7.5 inches and stated to hold 17 Gallons. Replacement tanks were hard to get at one point, and 1956 tanks were substituted. That B5A-9002 tank from Drake measures 30.25 x 23.375 x 9 and stated to hold 19.5 gallons I set my float on my 53 with the correct tank to read empty with about 1.5 inches of fuel left.
I too had trouble getting my 56 to read right ended up bending the rod into z’s to shorten it. Stays on full for 40-50 miles but 1/4 and mt are right on.
I went and measured the tank on my 53. Excluding the 1" lip around it, the tank measures 28 x 21 x 7.5, and calculates at 19.09 Gallons. Concur with HRP.
Mathematical formula, or use calculatorsoup.com. Both use L x W x H for a rectangle. Not exact because of the ribs and curved corners, but very close. Actual formula is volume (L x W x H) in inches to get cubic inches. 231 cubic inches in a gallon. 28 x 21 x 7.5= 4410. 4410 divided by 231 = 19.09
The Jalopy Journal
