88 F150 2wd/5 speed/4.9L engine..... HELP!

[7.5L_STX]

so i got my uncles old F150 (he recently Passed Away) and the rear tank leaked so i took it out and plugged the old lines and now my gas gauge doesnt work .

second problem, on takeoff (1st through 2nd gear) it bogs down real bad. the fuel filters brand new and so are the plugs/wires and air filter so im not sure what the problem could be. it feels like its loading up and almost flooding because when i put the pedal to the floor it clears up by itself and runs fine. also the exhaust smells like its running rich.

any help with either problem would be greatly appreciated, im tired of not knowing when im gonna run out of gas

 

[adsm08]

Check the O2s for the bogging.

As for the fuel gauge, try plugging the old pump in and see what happens.

 

[7.5L_STX]

alright, i cleared up the bogging problem with some seafoam. runs much better now.

im still not sure what to do about the gas gauge though.

 

[adsm08]

Go find the rear pump and plug it in, see if the gauge starts working. I'm not quite sure how the dual tank systems work, but I know they are electrically complicated. I'm thinking that by completely removing the rear pump you may have broken part of the circuit.

 

[7.5L_STX]

alright so i got the old pump plugged it in and nothing still. the gauge doesnt move. the pump does turn on when i flip the switch so i know the pump is good. so im thinking it might be the gauge itself.

so what could be wrong wth the gauge? im not sure how it works and what i should be looking for.