Brass balls?

I mean floats...brass floats. 

The aluminum screwcap bottle with hanger wire is doing well as a fuel float on the Pietenpol. But, prior to that solution, I had ordered some old-style brass floats that were used for several decades (at least back to 1948) in American and British cars as floats in the fuel tanks as part of the fuel level indicators. I figured these would make good fuel floats for the Pietenpol and would be sort of old-timey looking yet functional. 

These things are available from several sources online. All of the Big 3 (remember them?) and British Motor Corporation (BMC; British Leyland, Morris, Austin, etc.) used them in the day. The most common part number that works these days is COAZ-9202-B, which is a Ford part number. They run about $5.00 each. I also bought some 1/16th inch brass rod from Amazon; only cost 78 cents, but shipping kills it at about $6.00.

NOTE: The local Ford dealerships and NAPA parts do NOT carry these anymore. Get them from any of several sources online. Google the part number or just "brass fuel float."

So, same drill. Form the rod around a socket, bend stuff around with needle nose pliers, and wallah:

Looks very antique-y, right? But how does it perform?

Not as buoyant as the FREE aluminum screwcap bottle and hangar wire. Cheap is good but FREE is better! 

I'll probably use it on the Turbulent, though.