Quite a frustrating day....

I took my time and swapped the wires.. reinstalled it and it read full tank (it ahs about 1/2). So I pulled it and out it comes in the basic same destroyed condition...a bit worse than one before it.

LIGHT BULB
I look under the fuel tank and notice it is dented in an inch or so...just enough to force the compression of the sending unit and blow it apart. Mind you that it doesn't hit when placing it in the tank prior to tightening it. The roughly 3/8" lower it goes with tightening was enough to break it up worse than it was. Fooled with it a bit more.. not a good idea in the state of mind I was in.

Can't rebuild it a 2nd time.. gonna track a new one down.

__________________
1980 300TD-T (82 Turbo and Trans) 159,000 Miles "Jackie-O"
1983 300SD 272,000 Miles "Aristotle"
1987 Jeep Wagoneer Limited - keeps the MB's off the ice and out of the snow
1994 BMW 530it