68 Dealer Installed Saddle Tanks: No Sending Units?

[crakarjax]

I'm guessing it was different for various dealers, but after trying to figure out where the switch was in my truck to user the 3 tanks' senders, I realized that the saddle tanks had no wires coming from them. I haven't pulled the tanks out but it seems like they just don't have sending units installed.

Was it customary back then to run the saddle tanks dry, relying on the cab tank's gauge when you get to it? I was told that running an engine out of gas was not good for it, but maybe that was only relevant to EFI setups.

BTW this truck originated in california.

[1968CHEVYC10]

in my truck I have one of the two dealer installed saddle tanks still there, the cab tank isn't there, not sure who took it out, dealer or PO. but on the one tank left there is one wire running out of the top of the tank, but from the looks of it it wasn't installed by the dealer, kinda looks like a hack job, maybe installed when the PO or whoever took out the cab tank. anyway hope that helps.

[Longhorn Man]

most saddle tanks were dealer installed, or aftermarket, and again, most were not hooked to the guage. Running them out of fuel isn't a big deal, while it isn't exactly GOOD for things, it's not detrimental on an engine.
EFI however, with an electric pump in the tank, that knocks off thousands of miles of pump life each time the pump gets uncovered or run dry.

[OhOneWS6]

Mine is a 72 but it has two saddle tanks and neither is hooked to a gauge.

[crakarjax]

I had planned on nixing the cab tank but since it's the only one with a sender I might keep it... I'll drop the empty saddle tank when I get a chance to see if it has a sending unit that isn't hooked up but I am guessing that's not the case.

Has anyone replaced/installed a sending unit on the saddle tanks, and if so where did you find it?

[mclairmo]

I bet any aftermarket sender and gauge combo like VDO or Autometer would work fine, but you are not easily going to get it to work with your original guage. I know my dad's 84 c10 had an extra tank with a switch on the dash that allowed you to switch between tanks and still have the guage reading it but not sure how you set that up with your saddle tanks.

[dfwright]

Mine had saddle tanks as well, and no sending unit. As you said, we ran the saddle tanks dry and then switched to the main tank.

[Stocker]

Here's a similar recent thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=400183