The cork floats on my 38 are alive and well after 85 years. To my knowledge they've never been sealed.

@tiny 

That's good to hear. I saw posts saying they had to be shellaced. I'll go with you and The Filling Station and get my gauge working.

This is what my 38's corks look like.

OK,

The engine is back in the car and it runs. Gas tank had to be opened up as the pickup tube inside  was full of black gunk and I could not even push a wire through it. Tube was repaired and tank welded closed. Once installed in the car and my cork doesn't seem to float, at least not very . Out of the tank the gauge moves easily and is free. I only have about 4 gallons in the tank so I am going to add more gas and see what happens.

Any ideas?

4 gallons in my 38 won't move the needle off of empty. You can bench test it with a beaker full of gas. Dip the sending unit into the gas until the floats either float or don't. If they stay on top you're golden.