MTFCA Forum

Not Model T but...my '49 Plymouth's gas gage cork float is sunk. Is there a modern replacement for cork floats?

Lang's & Snyder's sell a modern composite float material which is alcohol resistant.

Martin, If you can't get a float from a vintage MOPAR parts supplier, try contacting Langs T parts and see if they can get you a big enough portion of alcohol safe float foam to make your own float using the old one as a pattern. https://www.modeltford.com/model-t-part ... age-8.aspx

If you decide to duplicate your old float in real cork, seal it with model airplane clear "hot fuel proof dope". Model airplane fuel is mostly methanol with some nitromethane and castor oil added.

Thank you all. I'll try the "slug" from Lang's.

Before you order from Lang's, how big is it? The Model A modern type float might work. (same material as the blank from Lang's)
https://www.snydersantiqueauto.com/Prod ... /gas-gauge

Got news for you...those black floats are made of a material called "nitrophyl" . Notice they are listed as "alcohol resistant", not alcohol proof. They too will absorb fuel and get heavy over a fairly short time. And it happens with non-oxygenated fuels as well. Had lots of trouble with them in various carbs that developed "heavy" floats and ran rich fuel/air mixes. About the only "cure" for that (and cork floats too) is to give them two or three coats of fuel-proof airplane dope. None of the cork or nitrophyl floats I have coated with that stuff have gone bad and absorbed fuel to date (about five years running) in various applications from outboards to snowmobiles and gas tank gauge floats. I still like the brass floats the best though. Just can't always find or adapt them for the applications I need.

Thanks to 1922Ford for the personal reply, and to everyone else for your forum replies.
I have already ordered the float material from Lang's. I'll see how well it works.
The good news: it's very easy to access the sending unit on a '49 Plymouth, so no big deal if it sinks again.