Gas gauge and tank issues

[demok83]

Hey guys! Just picked up a 1983 Chevy C10 silverado with a 350/350 in her. I am falling in love with this truck. I've only had it a few days and haven't started to dive in on repairs just yet. The first thing I wanted to tackle is the fuel gauge. It shows to be full, and I know that it isn't. Also, the guy I bought it from says only the driver side tank is functional as well. As stated earlier, I haven't gotten a chance to crawl under and check it out, I was just trying to get some tips and pointers from you guys before I do get to this weekend. Thanks again for all of your help as usual!

[old Rusty C10]

there are tons of threads on this subject on here. the first tip is to make sure the existing wiring to the fuel tank is clean and tight. Most of the gas gauge issues are easily fixed by messing with those wires. In addition if you want to make life easy start pb blasting the bed bolts now and daily so if you choose to go from above to mess with things its easy to get the bed off. If the bed comes off easy I find it a lot nicer to work from above than to mess with the tanks on the ground balance things and try to get the tank back into position. It can be done from underneath tho. Shop around for the senders and the valve. I found some chain auto parts places had the switch in stock and not the valve and that you cold have them cheaper if you shopped around. I used advanced and auto zone at the time and I had to show the child at auto zone what part I needed as he was clueless.

[hatzie]

I have to agree on the doing it from the top part. Yes it can be done from underneath but from the top is a heckuva lot less cussing and swearing. You can see stuff and reach stuff easier and the dirt falls away from your face.
Bed bolts are cheap and fairly accessible from the bottom. If they give you any grief you can just cut em off rather than fight with them. There's only one electrical plug on the LR frame rail. Give the new ones a Never Seeze coat and you won't have to worry about it again.

Test the dash switch first if you intend to fix the dual tank functionality. GM used a pretty cheap rocker switch. If you replace it ask for the 87-91 switch rather than that momentary switch that GM used from 81-86.

https://www.google.com/search?q=dual...hevytrucks.com